Top School Designs Announced for 2025 Awards
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Date PostedSeptember 18, 2025
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CategoryNews
Twenty-five school designs were submitted for this year’s Exhibition of Educational Environments sponsored by the IASB Service Associates. A jury of architects and school administrators met on September 11 to judge the 2025 entries.
Seven projects were selected to receive awards.
Two projects earned the top honor, the Award of Distinction. BLDD Architects, Inc. earned the award for work with Springfield SD 186 at Lanphier High School.
Also taking the highest award was DLA Architects, Ltd. for work on the Homewood-Flossmoor High School Science Addition at Homewood-Flossmoor CHSD 233.
In addition to the Award of Distinction, the jury chose three projects for Awards of Merit and two Honorable Mention recipients. All 2025 award winners are listed below.
The Exhibition of Educational Environments recognizes 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 2025-2026 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 21-23, 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 three decades.
Awards of Distinction
Lanphier High School
Springfield SD 186
BLDD Architects, Inc.
Homewood-Flossmoor High School Science Addition
Homewood-Flossmoor CHSD 233
DLA Architects, Ltd.
Awards of Merit
Harlem High School Career and Technical Education Program Addition and Remodel
Harlem SD 122
DLA Architects, Ltd.
Maine Township High School District 207 Master Facility Plan Projects
Maine THSD 207
Wight & Company
Resilience Education Center (R.E.C.)
East Aurora USD 131
Cordogan Clark & Associates
Honorable Mentions
Prairie Grove School Additions & Renovations
Prairie Grove Cons SD 46
Wight & Company
Thomas Jefferson Middle School
Palatine CCSD 15
ARCON Associates, Inc.
Seven projects were selected to receive awards.
Two projects earned the top honor, the Award of Distinction. BLDD Architects, Inc. earned the award for work with Springfield SD 186 at Lanphier High School.
Also taking the highest award was DLA Architects, Ltd. for work on the Homewood-Flossmoor High School Science Addition at Homewood-Flossmoor CHSD 233.
In addition to the Award of Distinction, the jury chose three projects for Awards of Merit and two Honorable Mention recipients. All 2025 award winners are listed below.
The Exhibition of Educational Environments recognizes 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 2025-2026 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 21-23, 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 three decades.
Awards of Distinction
Lanphier High School
Springfield SD 186
BLDD Architects, Inc.
Homewood-Flossmoor High School Science Addition
Homewood-Flossmoor CHSD 233
DLA Architects, Ltd.
Awards of Merit
Harlem High School Career and Technical Education Program Addition and Remodel
Harlem SD 122
DLA Architects, Ltd.
Maine Township High School District 207 Master Facility Plan Projects
Maine THSD 207
Wight & Company
Resilience Education Center (R.E.C.)
East Aurora USD 131
Cordogan Clark & Associates
Honorable Mentions
Prairie Grove School Additions & Renovations
Prairie Grove Cons SD 46
Wight & Company
Thomas Jefferson Middle School
Palatine CCSD 15
ARCON Associates, Inc.
