2026 Honor Award Winners
Congratulations to the 2026 Honor Award for Washington Architecture Projects!
- Billie Tsien | Studio Tsien
- Omar Gandhi | Omar Gandhi Architects
- Z Smith | Eskew Dumez Ripple
- with Lauren Gallow as moderator
From 116 submissions, the jury chose 23 award winners from three submission categories – Built, Conceptual, and Research & Innovation.
The jury was impressed by the dignity that our design community brings to its work and imbues in the projects themselves; considering context, the natural landscape, and a building’s inhabitants both today and in decades to come. They admired our community’s deep knowledge of regional materials and the consideration taken to showcase them in clear ways that are not only beautiful, but foster opportunities for learning and understanding of the environment around us.
Juror Billie Tsien asked: How do you make something that has resonance in a place where no matter what you do, it will never outweigh the natural beauty around you? For some, this meant making a tremendous effort to create beautiful, thoughtful civic designs in even the most remote of landscapes. For others, this was dignifying the work of those who care for the environment and communities around us, through exceptional level of detail and execution at every scale. In a time where our only constant is change, creating efficient buildings that earn their space, breathe new life into pre-existing spaces, and create a sense of pride for the client – whether that is one or multiple families, or a city as a whole – is imperative to fostering design that endures. The jury echoed the importance of stewardship; taking responsibility for what we pass forward by creating projects that inspire care and maintenance.
We’re thrilled to celebrate these projects, and consider how they embody our vision and strategic imperatives of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion; plentiful, quality, diverse and sustainable housing; and positive climate action accelerating towards our shared goals of a decarbonized, equitable and resilient built environment.
In addition to the main juried awards, it was the eighth year of the Young Voices Selection (YVS), a program with the aim to engage and elevate the voices of young designers through direct participation and representation in the Honor Awards. The three YVS panelists, Wenya Zhao (GO’C Architects), Carla Slabber (Miller Hayashi), and Jeff Xia (LMN Architects) selected 1 Built Project as the Young Voices Selection winner for a total of 24 awards presented.
Congratulations to all the winners, and thank you to our esteemed jury, moderator, and Honor Awards Committee! All of this would not have been possible without you.
Visit the Online Gallery to learn more about the projects, as well as project team and collaborator information. Missed the live show? You can catch the replay here.
Award of Honor
Bellevue Fire Station 10 by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson is a five-bay fire and EMS station with integrated sustainability strategies. The jury celebrated this project’s intentionality and level of execution at every scale. They noted that there was delight, care and a nobility in everything from the building details to the open engagement with the surrounding wetlands and community beyond.
Photo by Kirk Hostetter
Lagerberg Mooring by E. Cobb Architects Partners is a compact dwelling built entirely over-water, continuing the site’s immersive engagement of Salmon Bay. The jury appreciated this tiny but complex and robust project that blended so well with the industrial elements and landscape around it. They celebrated how it operated like a ship, adjusting the conditions to achieve comfort economically.
Photo by James Leasure
French Creek Workshops by Wittman Estes is a Courtyard House & Workshop, nestled alongside a wetland, which captures rainwater into garden pools. The jury appreciated that while this project was large, it was all purposeful, made up of a series of lovely small-scale moments and immaculate detailing that earned its area. They were impressed that it was a project not about showing off, but truly about living and making, while connecting to the landscape.
Photo by Andrew Pogue.
Forest House by Olson Kundig is a renewal and expansion of a mid-century home set in a forest. The jury appreciated how every detail and space was thoughtfully considered. There was a consistent and rich controlled palette, with moments of surprise and amazement, and a beautiful connection to the landscape as well.
Photo by Aaron Leitz
Caretaker’s Quarters by GREY Architectural Studio is an adaptive reuse of a former law office into a residence, studio, and public gallery. The jury celebrated this project’s architecture of revealing – beautifully crafted with care and softness in juxtaposition to its context. They appreciated the ability of the project to feel both open and shielded – thoughtfully responding to its context in a courtyard building within Pike Place Market.
Photo by Eric Petschek
Blakely Island Cabin by Wittman Estes is a tiny cabin nestled between a glacial erratic boulder and Douglas Fir tree. The jury celebrated this ‘perfect jewel’ that exemplified a home’s purpose of connection to one’s surroundings and allowed for experimentation and control over craft. They specifically appreciated the openness of the first floor connecting directly to the environment, while the upper floors meant for sleeping being more enclosed, allowing a feeling of protection. Photo by Andrew Pogue
Energy in Design Award
Kaiser Borsari Hall by Perkins&Will is a Groundbreaking certified zero energy and carbon STEM building as a bridge between industry and education.
Photo by Kevin Scott
Special thanks to the University of Washington Integrated Design Lab (IDL) and sponsor BetterBricks for their partnership on the Energy in Design Award.
Award of Merit
Seattle Aquarium Ocean Pavilion by LMN Architects
The Century Project Space Needle Elevator Modernization by Olson Kundig
CITY ERASED by Elisa Renouard / UW Architecture (Research & Innovation)
Evergreen High School by Bassetti Architects
Holden Portal Museum by SHKS Architects
El Grove by Olson Kundig
Menizei Camp by GO’C
Crow Woods by HYBRID architecture
“pencil” pantheon by NBBJ
Honorable Mention
Georgetown Wet Weather Treatment Station by The Miller Hull Partnership, LLP with Signal Architecture + Research
Deschutes Central Library at Stevens Ranch by The Miller Hull Partnership, LLP in collaboration with Steele Associates Architects
505 First Avenue Reposition by Olson Kundig
Shed by Mutuus Studio
HE SHED_SHE SHED by Linework Architecture
Walk Your Plans Seattle by Dominique Remy (Research & Innovation)
Henrico County Center for Environmental Studies and Sustainability by Perkins&Will (Conceptual)
Young Voices Selection
Crow Woods by HYBRID architecture
