Awards to be given on October 1 at Designight 2026, AIA Chicago‘s signature award program, at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park
For Immediate Release
Media contact: Dan O’Connell, dan@danoconnellmedia.com, 617-480-6585
AIA Chicago Digital Media Kit
(August 20, 2026) CHICAGO – AIA Chicago, the second largest local chapter of The American Institute of Architects and the collective voice of over 3,500 licensed architects, emerging professionals, architecture students, and allied professionals, today announced the finalists for the 2026 Design Excellence Awards, Divine Detail Award, Decarbonization Award, and Roberta Feldman Architect for Social Justice Award. All project finalists in each category will receive either an Honor Award or a Citation of Merit which will be announced at Designight 2026, an event which honors Chicago architects’ global design achievements, to be held at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park on Thursday, October 1, 2026.
“This year’s finalists reflect the full range of what Chicago architects do, from the design of an intimate backyard cottage to the complexities of a corporate headquarters in China,” said AIA Chicago’s Executive Director Jen Masengarb Assoc AIA. “Our architect members are carefully listening to clients’ needs, shaping civic infrastructure, advancing decarbonization, and designing with communities, not just for them.”
The Design Excellence Awards (DEA) recognize projects of all scales, from Architecture Extra Small to Extra Large, and Interior Architecture Small to Large. The Divine Detail Award honors details that enhance the project’s design concept through craftsmanship, technology, and/or material choices.
Jury A reviews Divine Detail, Interior Architecture M, L: Sean Flaharty, AIA, Principal, Arcturis | Square Feet Studio, Atlanta, Georgia; David Herron, FAIA, Principal, herron + partners, Prairie Village, Kansas; Maija Kreishman, AIA, IIDA, Senior Principal, Michael Hsu Office of Architecture, Austin, Texas; Nat Madson, AIA, Design Principal, HGA, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Adrienne Nelson, AIA, IIDA, Principal, Pickard Chilton, New Haven, Connecticut.
Jury B reviews Architecture XS, S, and Interior Architecture S: Jordache K. Avery, AIA, NOMA, Owner / Principal, XMERTICAL, Atlanta, Georgia; Kevin J. Kelly, AIA, Partner, Robert AM Stern Architects (RAMSA), New York, New York; Stephanie Lemmo, Assoc. AIA, Principal and Co-Founder, Lemmo Architecture and Design, Austin, Texas; Evan Morris, AIA, Partner, Lake Flato Architects, San Antonio, Texas; Mindy Aust, AIA, LEED AP, Principal/Owner, MA Architecture, Des Moines, Iowa.
Jury C reviews Architecture M, L, and XL: Michelle Cintron, AIA, Vice President/Palm Beach Office Director, Arquitectonica, Palm Beach, Florida; John Frane, AIA; Design Principal, HGA Architects, Los Angeles, California; Andrea Love, FAIA, LEED Fellow, Principal/Director of Building Science, Payette, Boston, Massachusetts; Brian Masuda, AIA, Principal, Ennead Architects, New York, New York; Paul Stanbridge, AIA, LEED AP, Well AP, Partner, Foster + Partners, New York, New York.
Design Excellence Awards Finalists by Category
ARCHITECTURE FINALISTS
Arch XL
Sany IROOTECH Headquarters, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM); Sany Group (client), Guangdong, China
Arch L
360 N Green, Gensler; Sterling Bay (client), Chicago, IL
Alcove, Goettsch Partners; Giarratana LL (client), Nashville, TN
Fourth Ward Office Project, Olson Kundig; New City Properties (client), Atlanta, GA
Suzhou Science and Technology Museum, Perkins&Will; Suzhou Science and Technology Museum (client), Suzhou, China
Arch M
Computer Design, Research, and Learning Center, University of Illinois Chicago, LMN + Booth Hansen; University of Illinois Chicago (client), Chicago, IL
Encuentro Square, Canopy; Evergreen Real Estate Group and LUCHA (client), Chicago, IL
Humboldt Park Health Wellness Center, JGMA; Jose R. Sanchez (CEO) (client), Chicago, IL
Missouri University of Science and Technology Protoplex, Perkins&Will; Missouri University of Science and Technology (client), Rolla, MO
National Public Housing Museum, LBBA Architects; National Public Housing Museum (client), Chicago, IL
Portland Art Museum – Rothko Pavilion, Vinci | Hamp Architects & Hennebery Eddy Architects; Portland Art Museum (client), Portland, OR
Arch S
Judy and Stanley Frankel Detroit Observatory Addition, HED; University of Michigan (client), Ann Arbor, MI
Metra Electric District South Side Stations, GFT; Metra Commuter Rail (client), Chicago, IL
Shoreline Reflections, Robbins Architecture and Interiors; Confidential (client), Illinois
Summit Community Center, Wheeler Kearns Architects; Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago (client), Summit, IL
The Haven on Lincoln, Gensler; City of Chicago Department of Housing (client), Chicago, IL
Arch XS
Collector’s Cottage, dSPACE Studio; Confidential (client), Chicago, IL
Entertainment Barn, Shafer Crowe | Architecture + design; Confidential (client), Chicago, IL
Frond + Frame, Woodhouse Tinucci Architects; Anshe Emet Synagogue (client), Chicago, IL
Maxon Studio, Olson Kundig; Lou Maxon (client), Carnation, WA
INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE FINALISTS
Interior Arch L
Architecture and Design Firm’s New Headquarters, SCB; SCB (client), Chicago, IL
Confidential Law Firm, Perkins&Will; Confidential (client), Austin, TX
McGrath Family Performing Arts Center, Krueck Sexton Partners; Loyola Academy (client), Wilmette, IL
The Bell, SCB & Ste. Marie; Onni (client), Chicago, IL
Interior Arch M
Hallstar, SCB; Hallstar (client), Chicago, IL
House for Art Collectors Interiors, Kwong Von Glinow; Caitlin and Anthony Gonka (clients), Highland Park, IL
Secrist | Beach, Vinci | Hamp Architects, Inc.; Carrie Secrist (client), Chicago, IL
Interior Arch S
Cullerton Residence, Vladimir Radutny Architects; Heather and Nick Payne (clients), Chicago, IL
Mobile Makers Chicago, Future Firm & Maya-Bird Murphy | Mobile Makers Chicago; Mobile Makers Chicago (client), Chicago, IL
No Longer Human, SCPA; No Longer Human (client), Evanston, IL
DIVINE DETAIL FINALISTS
Damen Green Line Station, Perkins&Will; Chicago Department of Transportation (client), Chicago, IL
Sany IROOTECH Headquarters, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM); Sany Group (client), Guangdong, China
SUPREME Bowl Miami, SCALA+MANA and SIMPARCH; Supreme (client), Miami, FL
Terminal 5 Garage, O’Hare International Airport, SCB; City of Chicago (client) Chicago, IL
DECARBONIZATION AWARD FINALISTS
AIA Chicago’s Decarbonization Award recognizes projects that have gone above and beyond base level energy reduction goals and showcases those project vanguards that exemplify the profession’s abilities to pursue the goals of the 2030 commitment while also upholding the functional and aesthetic goals of the design.
2026 Decarbonization Award Jury: Nadav Malin, Hon. AIA, LEED Fellow, Living Future Accredited, CEO, Green Commons LLC, Battleboro, Vermont; Chandra Robinson, AIA, NOMA, Founder, chromatografica, llc, Portland, Oregon; Doris Sung, AIA, Professor, USC, Principal, DOSU Studio Architecture, Los Angeles, California.
Building 48, CannonDesign; General Services Administration (client), Lakewood, CO
Midcentury for the Next Century, TBDA; Confidential (client), Arlington Heights, IL
The Conservatory Apartments, HED; Interfaith Housing Development Corporation (client), Chicago, IL
“The breadth of this year’s finalist pool, in scale, geography, and typology, speaks to the versatility of our members’ practices,” said AIA Chicago President Kelly Moynihan, AIA. “Our jurors evaluated work ranging from single-family residences to international headquarters, and their selections reflect both rigorous technical review and a shared commitment to design that serves the public good.”
ROBERTA FELDMAN ARCHITECTURE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AWARD FINALISTS
The Roberta Feldman Architecture for Social Justice Award, administered by the AIA Chicago Foundation, was established in 2020 to honor excellence in built projects and design programs guided by the conviction that access to high quality architecture is not a privilege, it is a human right. The award is named for Roberta Feldman, Ph.D., Professor Emerita at the University of Illinois Chicago, School of Architecture, an architectural activist and researcher committed to democratic design.
2026 Jury for Roberta Feldman Architecture for Social Justice Award: Kerl LaJeune, Assoc. AIA, Public Building Commission of Chicago, AIA Chicago Foundation Trustee – Chair; Annabel Ren, Converge Architecture, 2025 Honor Award Recipient; Dawn Schuette, FAIA, Threshold Acoustics, AIA Chicago Foundation Trustee; Lynette Stuhlmacher, Assoc. AIA, Read Leaf Studio Inc., AIA Chicago Foundation Trustee; Dan Wheeler, FAIA, Wheeler Kearns Architects, External Juror.
Crate Town, Claudia Ansorena & Rogelio Cadena (IIT College of Architecture); Chicago Park District (client), Chicago, IL
Garden 2 Table Pipeline, Odile Compagnon Architect; Young Men Educational Network (YMEN) & North Lawndale Greening Committee (NLGC) (clients), Chicago, IL
Revolution Workshop, Future Firm; Revolution Workshop (client), Chicago, IL
“The Roberta Feldman Architecture for Social Justice Award recognizes design that puts equity and community at its center, not at its periphery,” said AIA Chicago Foundation President Trish VanderBeke, AIA. “This year’s finalists show architects working directly alongside the communities they serve, from urban agriculture to hands-on workforce training, proving that thoughtful architecture can open doors as much as it shelters people.”
Other awards to be given at Designight 2026 on October 1 include the AIA Chicago 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Clune Construction Company, conferred upon Lamar A. Johnson, FAIA, LEED AP, AIA Chicago’s 2026 Firm Award presented by Pepper Construction, conferred upon Studio Gang, and the fifth annual Lerch Bates People’s Choice Awards, presented in partnership with the Chicago Architecture Center. The Lerch Bates People’s Choice Award finalists will be announced in early September with information on how the public can vote for their favorite designs.
Designight 2026
Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park
205 East Randolph Street, Chicago, IL 60601
Thursday, October 1, 2026
6:00 PM to 7:30 PM with After Party to follow
Award Ceremony tickets will be available through the Harris Theater in the coming weeks:
Harris Theater Box Office: 312-334-7777
Harris Theater Website: https://www.harristheaterchicago.org
Harris Theater Address: 205 East Randolph Street
Theater rental and services have been underwritten through support of the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park.
Combined Awards Ceremony and After Party tickets are available for purchase now at: AIAChicago.org/Designight2026
About AIA Chicago
With a membership exceeding 3,500 individuals—including licensed architects, architectural designers, and a broad network of industry partners and students—AIA Chicago is one of the largest and most influential local chapters of The American Institute of Architects in the country. AIA Chicago’s mission builds on the city’s architectural legacy by advocating for the profession, sharing knowledge among members, and partnering with communities. The chapter fosters a culture of design excellence for equitable, sustainable places and spaces.
AIA Chicago offers lectures and continuing education courses; specialized, issue-specific Knowledge Communities; advocacy for architects; and help for consumers looking for an architect.
AIA Chicago is the local Chicago chapter of The American Institute of Architects. Based in Washington, D.C., the AIA has been the leading professional membership association for licensed architects, emerging professionals, and allied partners since 1857. Learn more by visiting AIAChicago.org.
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