WoodWorks names recipients of 2026 Wood in Architecture Award

WoodWorks names recipients of 2026 Wood in Architecture Award June 15, 2026 | 6:00 am CDT

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Woodworking Industry News

Design

WoodWorks names recipients of 2026 Wood in Architecture Award

By

Larry Adams

June 15, 2026 | 6:00 am CDT

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WASHINGTON, D.C., WoodWorks, Wood Products Council has announced eight 2026 Wood in Architecture award winners, celebrating excellence and innovation in mass timber, heavy timber, light-frame, and hybrid building design. The annual award program recognizes developers and design teams using wood in innovative ways that positively impact the environment, occupants, and communities throughout the U.S.

“WoodWorks was founded to support innovation in modern wood design, and we’re fortunate to work alongside the teams taking on that work every day. Our award program gives us a chance to step back and celebrate what they’ve accomplished, and the projects that represent the best of what wood can achieve,” said Jennifer Cover, PE, WoodWorks President & CEO.

An independent jury of design professionals reviewed, deliberated, and selected the winning projects based on four criteria: design excellence, innovative use of wood, sustainability & resilience, and market impact. 

The 2026 jury includes:

David J. Odeh, SE, PE, F. SEI, F, ASCE | WSP

Jessie Johnson, AIA, LEED AP | DLR Group

JoAnn Hindmarsh Wilcox, AIA, LEED AP | Mithun

Michael LeBlanc, AIA | Utile Design

Winning projects reflect a broad and evolving landscape for mass timber and light-frame wood construction, ranging from urban campuses to rural communities, and from small-scale buildings to flagship headquarters.

“The winning projects illustrate not only what is possible today, but where the industry is headed,” shared Cover. “High-performance envelopes, advanced acoustic and vibration solutions, and hybrid structural systems are enabling wood to meet rigorous program requirements while delivering warm, human-centered spaces.”

2026 Winning Projects Winning projects can be viewed in an online gallery here. 

Photo by Jeffrey Totaro

Amy Gutmann Hall, Data Science & AI Building  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  Architect: Lake Flato Architects (Design Architect, Architect of Record); KSS Architects (Associate Architect)  Structural Engineer: Buro Happold General Contractor: Gilbane Building Company  Developer/Owner: University of Pennsylvania

Photo: Ryan Kurtz Photography

Cincinnati Public Radio Cincinnati, Ohio  Architect: emersion DESIGN  Structural Engineer: Schaefer  General Contractor: Skanska  Developer/Owner: Cincinnati Public Radio

Photo: Cherylynn Tsushima, courtesy of Jacob’s Pillow

Doris Duke Theatre at Jacob’s Pillow  Becket, Massachusetts  Design Architect: Mecanoo; Architect of Record: Marvel  Structural Engineer: TYLin  General Contractor: Allegrone Companies  Developer/Owner: Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival

Photo: Chuck Choi

Knight Building Big Sky, Montana Design  Architects: Integrated Design Cubed (IDCUBED) / NKBAK / Peter Rose + Partners; Architect of Record: Peter Rose + Partners  Structural Engineer: RSE Associates, Inc.  General Contractor: Highline Partners  Developer/Owner: Lone Mountain Land Company

Photo: C.W. Newell; Timothy Hursley

The Kreher Preserve & Nature Center Environmental Education Building  Auburn, Alabama  Architect: Leers Weinzapfel Associates  Structural Engineer of Record: Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH);  Delegated Design Engineer: KPFF  General Contractor: W.W. Compton Contractor, LLC  Developer/Owner: Auburn University, College of Forestry, Wildlife, and the Environment

Photo: Aranisse Smith-Njigba

Mercer Middle School  Seattle, Washington  Architect: Bassetti Architects, A Design Studio of HMC Architects  Structural Engineer: Coughlin Porter Lundeen  General Contractor: Cornerstone General Contractors  Developer/Owner: Seattle Public Schools

Photo: Dan Schwalm © 2024 HDR

Orange County Sanitation District Headquarters  Fountain Valley, California  Architect: HDR  Structural Engineer: HDR General Contractor: Swinerton  Developer/Owner: Orange County Sanitation District

Photo: Connie Zhou

Under Armour Global Headquarters  Baltimore, Maryland  Architect: Gensler  Structural Engineer: Thornton Tomasetti  General Contractor: The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company  Developer/Owner: Under Armour

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About the author

Larry Adams

| Editor

Larry Adams is a Chicago-based writer and editor who writes about how things get done. A former wire service and community newspaper reporter, Larry is an award-winning writer with more than three decades of experience. In addition to writing about woodworking, he has covered science, metrology, metalworking, industrial design, quality control, imaging, Swiss and micromanufacturing . He was previously a Tabbie Award winner for his coverage of nano-based coatings technology for the automotive industry. Larry volunteers for the historic preservation group, the Kalo Foundation/Ianelli Studios, and the science-based group, Chicago Council on Science and Technology (C2ST).

Read more articles from this author

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