Twenty-two 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 10 to judge the 2026 entries. Nine projects were selected to receive awards.

Two projects were named Award of Distinction winners.

Earning top honors was Bailey Edwards Design, for work with the Chicago Public Schools at the Barbara Vick Western Branch.

Also taking the highest award was Hurst-Rosche, Inc., for additions to Hillsboro High School, Hillsboro CUSD 3.

The jury also chose three projects for Awards of Merit and four Honorable Mention recipients. All 2026 award winners 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 2026-2027 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 20-22, 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
Barbara Vick Western Branch
Chicago Public Schools
Bailey Edward Design, Inc.
 
Additions to Hillsboro High School 
Hillsboro CUSD 3
Hurst-Rosche, Inc.

Awards of Merit
Bloomington Career Academy (BCA) 
Bloomington SD 87
BLDD Architects, Inc.

Venice Elementary School
Venice CUSD 3
FGM Architects

Full-Day Kindergarten Center Addition at Churchill Elementary School
Glen Ellyn SD 41
Wight & Company

Honorable Mentions
Kimball Middle School Addition and Renovation
School District U-46 (Elgin)
DLA Architects, Inc.

The QUAD
Rockford SD 205
DLR Group

Rich Township High School, STEM Campus, Additions & Renovations
Rich THSD 227 (Matteson)
STR Partners LLC

Ravinia Elementary School Additions and Renovations
North Shore SD 112 (Highwood)
Wight & Company