Introducing AN’s 2026 Best of Practice Awards Winners

The votes are in! Earlier this year, AN called for entries from firms across North America to find those not only with the best design, but also designing a better place to live and work. This program, AN’s 6th annual Best of Practice Awards, celebrates the design of a studio itself—and the 2026 results are in.

A panel of jurors, seen below, analyzed submissions across portfolio, office culture, and social impact. A sense of place emerged as a winning through-line, uniting many of the winners and finalists. These firms engaged in community, through on-going meetings and conversations, and the work reflects this consideration to local specificity. Forms and materials are put in dialog with the site and city. Below, meet the winners, honorable mentions, and editors’ picks of the 2026 Best of Practice Awards, where winners are also featured alongside a quote from the jury highlighting the selection.

Jury

Architect (XL Firm) – Canada

Ādisōke Ottawa Library (Justin Van Leeuwen)

WinnerDiamond Schmitt

“In terms of design and innovation, the work that Diamond Schmitt is producing—in the context of a very large firm—is at the upper level in North America.”—Thomas Robinson

Architect (XL Firm) – Midwest

The team at Studio Gang (Courtesy Studio Gang)

WinnerStudio Gang

“Studio Gang pushes the boundary of shape. Its materiality is interesting, its work is definitely creative, and the design’s relationship between the outside and the inside is well connected.”—Hervé Descottes

Architect (XL Firm) – Northeast

Trinity Place Learning Center (David Sundberg/Esto)

WinnerDattner Architects

“The message about the firm’s culture and the strength of the work is compelling.”—Phillip Bernstein

Architect (XL Firm) – Southeast

Architect (XL Firm) – Southwest

Trinity University Dicke Hall (Robert Benson)lake flato

WinnerLake Flato

“I appreciate Lake Flato’s work as it always has some connection to nature. Projects of different scale play this out with a regional expression of the varied Texas landscapes.”—Gerdo Aquino

HKS

Architect (XL Firm) – West

Olson Kundig’s New York office (Angela Hau)

WinnerOlson Kundig

“Olson Kundig’s design sensibility, combined with its expanded, second-generation ownership, and robust office culture, make it a clear winner for Best of Practice.”—Jack Murphy

CO Architects

Architect (Large Firm) – Midwest

Evanston Labs (Andrew Bruah)

WinnerESG Architecture & Design

“I am drawn to the firm’s commitment to cultivating firm culture, particularly within their mentorship program. Their emphasis on community carries over to their approach to design, as well.”—Isabel Ling

Legat Architects

Architect (Large Firm) – Northeast

2300 Market (Sahar Coston-Hardy/Esto)

WinnerKieranTimberlake

“It has its own shop, and really looks into how things come together based on the materials selected. A lot of the work deals with merging new and old, historic projects with modern twists, and I think that that’s really unique.”—Melissa Wong

GWWO Architects

Architect (Large Firm) – Southeast

Architect (Large Firm) – Southwest

Thaden Home Building (Tim Hursley)

Architect (Large Firm) – West

Anderson Towers (Kevin Scott)

WinnerMontalba Architects

“I like the work. I think it’s very contextual. I like the relationship with the surroundings, the materiality, and the textures are appropriate to the purposes of the project.”—Hervé Descottes

LMN Architects

Architect (Medium Firm) – Canada

Williams Parkway (Tom Arban)

WinnerRDHA

“This is a historic firm that has been reanimated or energized by recent leadership, and I think that’s interesting.”—Jack Murphy

Architect (Medium Firm) – Midwest

Treetop Trail at the Minnesota Zoo (Corey Gaffer)

WinnerSnow Kreilich Architects

“I was impressed about the equal priority of design quality and support for the office and Minneapolis.”—Jack Murphy

Architect (Medium Firm) – Northeast

Harvard University District Energy Facility (Brad Feinknopf)

Architect (Medium Firm) – Southeast

Crystal Bridges, Art Park (Tim Hursley)

Architect (Medium Firm) – Southwest

City Park Residence (Casey Dunn)

Architect (Medium Firm) – West

The Prow (Adam Rouse)

WinnerAidlin Darling Design

“I’m impressed by the scope at which the firm engages with the community, from their public projects to their promotion of a more robust design discourse in the Bay Area with their Craft Work series and DIALOGUES program.”—Isabel Ling

Architect (Small Firm) – Canada

Hemlock House in a Steel Shed behind a Wood Barn (Scott Norsworthy)

WinnerWORKS OFFICE of Brian O’Brian Architect

“The series of client testimonials and office selfies, just the sheer number of enthusiasm here is really different than in a lot of the other entries.”—Jack Murphy

Architect (Small Firm) – Midwest

Kulas Hall (Kevin Scott)

WinnerJ. KURTZ Architects

“The firm’s civic projects are eye-catching, and the commitment to reshaping the cultural landscape in Ohio is particularly compelling.”—Isabel Ling

Architect (Small Firm) – Northeast

The team of Caples Jefferson Architects (Ed Marshall)

WinnerCaples Jefferson Architects

“Caples Jefferson is modeling how architecture can serve as embodied engagement with history, community, and culture.”—Isabel Ling

Architect (Small Firm) – Southeast

Baileywick Park (Courtesy in situ studio)

Winnerin situ studio

“Its programming initiatives are interesting. The studio demonstrates that beyond design, architects should be engaged members of the design community.”—Isabel Ling

Architect (Small Firm) – Southwest

Hadohilljo Townhouse (Youngchae Park)

WinnerUNITEDLAB Associates

“UNITEDLAB Associates leads impactful work across scales, from a single home to urban parks and masterplans.”—Jack Murphy

Architect (Small Firm) – West

Gradient House (Jeremy Bittermann)

WinnerObservation Studio

“The studio’s work is substantive, and it took the time to curate its material in a way that’s easy to evaluate.”—Phillip Bernstein

Architect (New Firm) – Mexico

Historic facade within urban context (João Morgado)

WinnerInca Hernandez Atelier

“Despite operating as a global studio, this firm demonstrates a grasp of place and context.”—Isabel Ling

Architect (New Firm) – Midwest

Free to All (Randy Crandon)

WinnerArchitecture for Public Benefit

“I’m interested in this firm for how it reaches beyond traditional modes of practice and clients to get to nonprofits, public agencies, and mission-driven organizations. It’s compelling.”—Jack Murphy

FOCAL Design Studio

Architect (New Firm) – Northeast

Double House (Leonid Furmansky)

WinnerDouglas Works

“Douglas Works exemplifies a new generation of thoughtful solo practitioners. I can’t wait to see its Double House completed.”—Jack Murphy

Architect (New Firm) – Southwest

Wash Park Workshop (Daniel Jenkins)

WinnerisoA/D

“isoA/D introduces a quiet, sophisticated design across its projects.”—Isabel Ling

Architect (New Firm) – West

Four-Roof Pavilion (Courtesy Schran Images)

WinnerFound Projects

“The work is really lovely. The firm manages to do a lot with very little.”—Phillip Bernstein

Fabricator

Sabin Cylinder (Erin Lyle)

WinnerSabin

“It’s not easy to work with felt, but Sabin does. The work is good.”—Hervé Descottes

Facade Consultant

Metro Transit Center (Anthony Cortez)

WinnerArup

“Arup’s strength lies in its integrated approach.”—Thomas Robinson

Graphic Design & Wayfinding

Designing Affordability (Magda Biernat)

WinnerOnce–Future Office

“These graphic interventions are memorable and bring life to the chosen projects.”—Isabel Ling

Historic Preservation

The team at Huntington Library Education Visitor Center (Courtesy Architectural Resources Group)

WinnerArchitectural Resources Group

“Architectural Resources Group is outstanding. Its projects, office culture, and contributions to modernist preservation ought to be celebrated.”—Jack Murphy

Interior Designer – Canada

Peridot Bar (Virgile Simon Bertrand)

WinnerStudio Paolo Ferrari

“The portfolio of Studio Paolo Ferrari reflects a firm that has gained the trust and respect of its clients. It’s really hard to deliver that level of design without that complete trust.”—Elizabeth Lowrey

Interior Designer – Northeast

412 West 15 (Connie Zhou)

WinnerFogarty Finger

“In today’s world of commercial real estate, it’s a challenge to break out of ‘ubiquitous beige,’ and Fogarty Finger has done that with quality and sophistication. Congratulations!”—Elizabeth Lowrey

Interior Designer – Southwest

200 E 83rd (Eric Laignel)

WinnerRottet Studio

“Lauren designs with an architectural point of view, a focus on materials and finishes, all the way through to artwork curation. And she’s a real entrepreneur: She saw a need, started a furniture company, and figured out how to succeed in that market.”—Elizabeth Lowrey

Interior Designer – West

Lighthouse Brooklyn (Yoshihiro Makino)

WinnerWarkentin Associates

“Already with its two Lighthouse campuses, Warkentin Associates has proven that its hands-on, material-focused approach works wonders.”—Jack Murphy

Landscape Architect – Midwest

The team of TEN x TEN (Courtesy TEN x TEN)

WinnerTEN x TEN

“A meaningful body of work. The office is involved with nonprofits and institutions, public and private—all with close ties to the cultural, historic and ethnic layers that shaped a landscape”—Gerdo Aquino

Landscape Architect – Northeast

Memorial Park (Nick Hubbard)

Landscape Architect – Southwest

Houston Arboretum & Nature Center (Brandon Huttenlocher)

WinnerDesign Workshop

“Design Workshop, an employee-owned firm, has created some of the best parks and public spaces in this part of the country.”—Jack Murphy

Landscape Architect –West

Lands End Lookout (Marion Brenner)

WinnerSurfacedesign

“I appreciate Surfacedesign’s attention to detail, both in terms of overlooked land in the city and in the material resolution of their projects.”—Jack Murphy

Lighting Designer

Anthony Timberlands Center (Tim Hursley)

WinnerTM Light

“TM Light has illuminated some of my favorite buildings in recent years. Their expert work helps the architecture shine.”—Jack Murphy

MEP Engineer

Principal Kari Nystrom presenting to an all-girls high school class (Courtesy Altieri)

WinnerAltieri

“Altieri’s motto of Making Bold Visions Work and its deep support for women in engineering is truly commendable.”—Jack Murphy

Structural Engineer

Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center (Michael Moran/OTTO)

WinnerTYLin

“The firm is very collaborative and works on some very intricate structures.”—Melissa Wong

Sustainability Consultant

Jewel Changi Airport (Tim Hursley)

WinnerAtelier Ten

“The practice is able to scale its holistic and precision-based approach to sustainability across various project types.”—Isabel Ling

Technology

Crinkle Cuts (Courtesy Before Building Laboratory)

WinnerBefore Building Laboratory

“This academic lab unites digital technology with low-carbon wood solutions. This is important research for the future of the profession.”—Jack Murphy