Announcements June 11, 2025

We’ve Won Five AIA National Awards

From a sustainable workplace in Houston to a new station reconnecting Chicago’s West Side, these projects show how design can respond to community needs with creativity, care, and vision.

Five of our projects have received national acclaim from the American Institute of Architects—among the most esteemed distinctions in the profession. The annual program celebrates architecture that enhances everyday life, reflects community values, and rises to the challenges of our time. This year, our teams were recognized across workplace, healthcare, education, and civic infrastructure. Congratulations to our clients and collaborators on this outstanding achievement.

“We’re honored to receive so many national awards from the AIA,” says Chief Design Officer Casey Jones. “We work hard every day to deliver state-of-the-art buildings that improve lives, are well-crafted, help not hinder the environment, build up communities, and meet the needs of the people they serve in ways that are not just functional but also beautiful and poetic. Each of these awards is a testament to the trust our clients have in the work of our talented teams.”

Here’s a look at the winning projects:

WM Headquarters — Interior Architecture Award
Houston, Texas

WM Headquarters transforms nine floors of Houston’s Bank of America Tower into a light-filled workplace that balances collaboration, wellness, and sustainability. A self-irrigating, nine-story living wall in WM’s signature green and yellow palette brings biophilia and brand identity to every level, while an open floor plan with wellness suites, nursing rooms, and a café supports flexibility and comfort.

Located in the first LEED v4 Platinum Core and Shell certified building in the U.S., the design team prioritized materials vetted for chemical safety, selecting low-emitting, locally sourced, third-party certified, and recycled products. Interactive features like a full-size truck cab simulator and an 8,000-square-foot sustainably harvested wood gallery highlight WM’s commitment to innovation and employee engagement.

“We’re honored to receive this recognition from AIA for the WM Headquarters in Houston, TX,” says Jennifer Carzoli, associate principal of interiors in our Chicago studio. “I want to thank our amazing Perkins&Will team, as well as Harvey Builders, Wylie Engineering, Walter P Moore, Waveguide, Xibitz, and McCoy Rockford for partnering with us on this incredible opportunity. A special thanks to WM for trusting us to embed their brand, people-first culture, and values throughout their new workplace, and for challenging us to design a highly sustainable headquarters while pursuing as many LEED credits as possible.”

In every decision, we asked: how can this place give more than it takes? The answer is a school that belongs to its community and to our shared environment, equally.

Patrick Cunningham, design director, Boston

Belmont Middle & High School — Education Facility Design Award
Belmont, Massachusetts

Belmont Middle and High School is designed to foster connection, collaboration, and community within a flexible, future-ready campus. The project weaves together academic spaces, shared amenities, and outdoor learning environments to support a dynamic student experience. It is tracking to be the largest certified Zero Net Energy school in the U.S., with design strategies that maximize natural light, ventilation, and sustainability. Thoughtful circulation and gathering areas encourage interaction across grade levels and with the surrounding neighborhood. The school stands as a model for inclusive education that prepares students to thrive today and into the future.

“We designed Belmont Middle and High School to be more than a building—it’s a living framework for connection,” says Patrick Cunningham, design director and design principal in our Boston studio. “Connection to the land, through restored landscapes and views that pull the pond into the heart of the school. Connection to each other, through spaces that welcome, include, and adapt. In every decision, we asked: how can this place give more than it takes? The answer is a school that belongs to its community and to our shared environment, equally.”

Malone Family Tower — Healthcare Design Award
Portland, Maine

The Malone Family Tower is an eight-story addition to Maine Medical Center’s historic campus in Portland, Maine. It marks the culmination of a decade-long initiative to improve access to hospital-based care, increase the number of private rooms, and support better patient outcomes. As the hospital approaches 150 years of service, it faced the challenge of remaining on its original site while addressing aging infrastructure, inefficient space, and a shortage of surgical beds. To meet the needs of Portland’s growing and aging population—particularly in cardiac care—it expanded with the Malone Family Tower, which includes 40 pre- and post-surgical beds, 19 procedure rooms, and 96 universal patient rooms.

Maine’s rugged coastline, with its rocky shores, dense forests, and pristine waters, served as the inspiration for this structure’s design and materials. A striking, faceted facade gives way to a soaring seven-story atrium that seamlessly links the public concourse, clinical spaces, and lounges. This central atrium serves as the heart of the building, unifying all seven levels, filling the interiors with natural light, and transforming enclosed areas into open, welcoming spaces.

“The Malone Family Tower provides a critical expansion of healthcare access for Maine while honoring the natural beauty and character of the state,” says Jeffrey Keilman, managing principal and associate principal. “By integrating elements of wood, stone, and glass, the design reflects a deep connection to the community and landscape, creating a space that is both state-of-the-art and rooted in place.”

The Damen Green Line Station shows the potential for infrastructure to act as a civic and cultural symbol.

Ralph Johnson, firmwide design director

Damen Green Line Station — Architecture Award
Chicago, Illinois

Bringing accessible train access back to a Chicago neighborhood last served in 1948, the new Damen Green Line “L” station will spur community-supportive reinvestment and redevelopment on the West Side. The station’s modern, light-filled design features elevated glass towers, a grand staircase, and green steel trusses that pay tribute to Chicago’s iconic bridges. Its location allows seamless connections to CTA buses, bike share programs, and nearby walkable destinations, encouraging sustainable, multi-modal transit. Designed with accessibility, safety, and community engagement in mind, Damen reconnects people and place with care and intention.

“The Damen Green Line Station shows the potential for infrastructure to act as a civic and cultural symbol,” says Ralph Johnson, firmwide design director and co-design director of our Chicago studio. “It’s more than a point of transit—it’s a welcoming, inclusive public space that reflects the character and aspirations of the Near West Side. Thoughtful design has the power to reconnect communities, support local identity, and inspire future growth.”

Eastside Early College High School — Education Facility Design Award
Austin, Texas

Established in 1953, L.C. Anderson High School stood as a beacon of excellence and pride for Austin’s Black community until its closure in 1971. Recognizing its profound impact as a community center, we collaborated closely with alumni and community members to integrate elements of the original school’s history into the new campus design. This includes dedicated spaces showcasing memorabilia, photographs, and narratives that honor the school’s past.

The revitalized campus now serves as a bridge between generations, offering current students a tangible connection to the history that shaped their community and ensuring its legacy continues to resonate throughout East Austin.

“The new Eastside Early College High School at the original L.C. Anderson High School is far more than a school building,” says Angela Whitaker-Williams, managing principal and education practice leader of our Austin studio. “The community-focused design collaboration was an opportunity to listen to and heal a community so that, together, we could create a school-community hub that promotes social justice, academic innovation, and community hope.”

We’ve Won Five AIA National Awards

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