2023 Winners of School Design Awards Announced

Twenty-one school designs were submitted for this year’s Exhibition of Educational Environments sponsored by the IASB Service Associates. Three architects and three superintendents met on September 7 to judge the 2023 entries.

Two school design projects were named Award of Distinction winners. Earning this top honor was Perkins&Will for the planning and design of a major addition to Centennial High School in Champaign CUSD 4.

Also taking the highest award was BLDD Architects, Inc. for work on Mattoon CUSD 2’s LIFT Regional Innovation Center.

The jury selected eight projects to receive awards in 2023. In addition to the Award of Distinction, the jury chose three projects for Awards of Merit and three Honorable Mention recipients. The award winners and all the entries submitted for the Exhibition of Educational Environments are listed below.

The Exhibition of Educational Environments awards recognize outstanding examples of school design and planning. Criteria considered for each project include challenges met, design, energy use reduction, safety, and how well each facility meets the educational needs of students. To be eligible, construction had to be completed in time for occupancy with the start of the 2023-2024 school year.

Projects were submitted by design firms with permission from their school district clients. Entries in the competition have been invited to display at the Joint Annual Conference, November 17-19 in the Grand Hall, East Tower of the Hyatt Regency Chicago.

All entries will be added to IASB’s School Design Data File, a collection of data, illustrations, and commentary featuring nearly 700 projects spanning more than 30 years.
 
Award of Distinction
Centennial High School
Champaign CUSD 4
Perkins&Will
 
LIFT Regional Innovation Center
Mattoon CUSD 2
BLDD Architects, Inc.
 
Award of Merit
Adlai E. Stevenson High School Patriot Wellness Center
Adlai E. Stevenson HSD 125
Wight & Company
 
Bright Futures Preschool
Galesburg CUSD 205
Legat Architects
 
Lincoln Elementary School
Elmhurst CUSD 205
Wight & Company
 
Honorable Mention
Barrington Middle School – Station Campus Addition
Barrington CUSD 220
DLR Group
 
International Prep Academy
Champaign CUSD 4
BLDD Architects, Inc.
 
Niles North Addition
Niles THSD 219
Studio GC architecture + interiors
 
Additional 2023 Projects Invited for Display
Caruso Middle School
Deerfield SD 109
Green Associates, Inc.
 
District 21 Community Service Center and Administrative Office
Wheeling CCSD 21
ARCON Associates, Inc.
 
Galesburg Junior Senior High School
Galesburg CUSD 205
Legat Architects
 
Glenview School District 34 Full Day Kindergarten
Glenview CUSD 34
FGM Architects
 
Gower West Elementary School
Gower SD 62
Green Associates, Inc.
 
Highcrest Middle School Additions & Renovations
Wilmette SD 39
STR Partners LLC
 
Hinsdale Central High School
Hinsdale THSD 86
ARCON Associates, Inc.
 
John Mills Elementary School Addition & Remodeling
Elmwood Park CUSD 401
DLA Architects, Ltd.
 
Kewanee High School AG. Science Center
Kewanee CUSD 229
PCM + Design Architects
 
Lane Elementary School: Early Childhood Center
Alsip-Hazelgreen-Oaklawn SD 126
Tria Architecture, Inc.
 
Niles North + West High Schools Library Renovations
Niles THSD 219
Studio GC architecture + interiors
 
Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School Media Center Renovation
Oak Lawn-Hometown SD 123
JMA Architects
 
Rich THSD 227 District-wide Additions & Renovations
Rich THSD 227
STR Partners LLC