2026 Excellence in Design Awards Winners List
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2026 EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN AWARDS WINNERS
At the 2026 Design + Leadership Awards celebration on Thursday, October 22, the AIA Potomac Valley community gathered at the College Park Aviation Airport Operations Center to honor nine (9) exceptional projects recognized in this year’s Excellence in Design Awards. AIAPV Awards Committee Chair Scott Knudson, AIA—joined by President Emily Lally, AIA, and President‑Elect Caitlin Smith, AIA—led the evening’s recognition of outstanding architectural achievement.
View our 2026 Design Awards Winners Gallery for more information.
PROFESSIONAL AWARDS
PV AWARD — Recognizing "Best in Show"
Design Exemplifying Elements of AIA’s Framework
for Design Excellence
Modern Cottage
Architect: Fowlkes Studio
GOLD AWARD — Recognizing "Best in Show"
Residential Design
Edgemoor House II
Architect: Anne Decker Architects
Commercial or Mixed-Use Architecture
COMMENDATION AWARD
The Oliver
Interior Architecture
Contractor: Added Dimensions | Alan Kanner
Multi-Family Architecture
COMMENDATION AWARD
Residential Architecture
HONOR AWARD
Residential Architecture
MERIT AWARD
Residential Architecture
MERIT AWARD
Residential Architecture
MERIT AWARD
Institutional Architecture
COMMENDATION AWARD
Small Projects
EMERGING PROFESSIONAL AWARDS
DESIGN AWARD – FIRST PLACE
Project Sandbox
Princess Anne, MD
Design Team Brandon Clear, Thomas Long, Rafael Gonzalez, David Otieno
Architecture Firm Torti Gallas + Partners, Inc.
View Project
STUDENT AWARDS
DESIGN AWARD – FIRST PLACE
Project Timber Point
NE Washington, DC
Student Team Olivia Gargano and Elizabeth Romero Andrade
School University of Maryland, College Park
Professor Peter Noonan, FAIA
Course ARCH 601
View Project
DESIGN AWARD – SECOND PLACE
Project TIMBER TIER
Chevy Chase, MD
Student Team Madison Sunshine and Xuan Vo
School University of Maryland, College Park
Professor Peter Noonan, FAIA
Course ARCH 601
View Project
DESIGN AWARD – HONORABLE MENTION
Project Overcrowding to Opportunity: Reinventing the Portable Classroom
Silver Spring, MD
Student Evan Lehner
School University of Maryland, College Park
Professor Peter Noonan, FAIA
Course ARCH 798/799 Thesis in Architecture and Master's Thesis Research
View Project
DESIGN AWARD – HONORABLE MENTION
Project Tectonia Botanicus
Bowie, MD
Student Peter Vawdrey
School University of Maryland, College Park
Professor Brittany Williams, AIA
Course ARCH 600
View Project
