AIA Virginia is pleased to announce the 2025 Design Awards. These honors celebrate projects no older than seven years that contribute to the built environment and are clear examples of thoughtful, engaging design. Within each award category, consideration was given to sustainability, affordability, social impact, innovation, durability, addressing the natural and built context, and meeting the client’s specific needs.
From a field of 125 entries, only 24 were selected by the jury for recognition. These few projects stood above the rest and were particularly notable. Awards of Merit are presented to those projects worthy of recognition and an Award of Honor is reserved for those projects deemed by the jury to be truly exceptional. Consideration is given to aesthetics, social impact, innovation, context, performance, and stewardship of the natural environment — with particular emphasis on the Framework for Design Excellence.
About the Jury
Andrew Chin, Assoc. AIA, Dean of the School of Architecture + Engineering Technology (SAET) at Florida A&M University (FAMU) mustered a tremendously dignified jury to deliberate over the 2025 Design Awards. Joining him was a veritable council of deans, including Abimbola Asojo, FAIA, Dean of the School of Architecture and Planning at Morgan State, C.L. Bohannon, FASLA, Senior Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs and Community Engagement at the University of Virginia, José L.S. Gámez, Dean of the College of Arts + Architecture at UNC Charlotte, Marilys Nepomechie, FAIA, DPACSA, Associate Dean for Architecture at Florida International University, and Quilian Riano, Dean of Pratt Institute’s School of Architecture.
Celebrate these winning designs and designers at Visions for Architecture, the evening of November 6th at the Downtown Richmond Marriott. Purchase Your Tickets>>
In the ARCHITECTURE category
In their deliberations, the jury considers aesthetics, adherence to the client program, proven and projected building performance, and concept development.
Award of Honor
Sycamore & Oak (Washington, D.C.)
Architecture Firm: Adjaye Associates
Architect of Record: Winstanley Architects & Planners
Contractor: Banneker Ventures
Photographer: Dror Baldinger
Awards of Merit
New U.S. Embassy Windhoek (Windhoek, Namibia)
Architecture Firm: Honore Carmona / Page
Contractor: Dan Hogan / B.L. Harbert International
Woodlands Stewardship Education Center (Chantilly, Virginia)
Architecture Firm: Quinn Evans (Washington, DC)
Contractor: Cooper Building Services, LLC
Photographer: Joseph Romeo Photography
Honorable Mentions
Ferguson Headquarters 3 (Newport News, Virginia)
Architecture Firm: Clark Nexsen
Contractor: WM Jordan Company, Inc.
Photographer: Mark Herboth Photography LLC
Virginia Tech Academic Building One (Alexandria, Virginia)
Architecture Firm: SmithGroup
Contractor: Whiting-Turner Contracting Company
Photographers: Judy Davis – Studio HDP and Alan Karchmer
James A. Buzzard River Education Center (Richmond, Virginia)
Architecture Firm: 3North
Contractor: Kjellstrom & Lee
Photographer: Yuzhu Zheng Photography, 3North, and QPH Photo
University of Miami Centennial Village (Coral Gables, Florida)
Architecture Firm: VMDO Architects
Contractor: Coastal Construction
Photographer: Alan Karchmer
NASA Langley Research Center Measurement Systems Laboratory (Hampton, Virginia)
Architecture Firm: AECOM
Contractor: W.M. Jordan Company
Photographers: Robb Williamson – AECOM, Scott Wertz – Studio SMW
Micron Team Member Center (Manassas, Virginia)
Architecture Firm: Jacobs
Contractor: The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company
Photographer: Jeffrey Totaro
Howard University Myra Miner Building (Washington, DC)
Architecture Firm: Studio Twenty Seven Architecture
Contractor: MCN Build
Photographer: HDP Studio
Dorothy Height Elementary School (Washington, DC)
Architecture Firm: CGS Architects
Contractor: GCS-Sigal / Grunley JV
Photographer: Chris Ambridge Photography
In the CONTEXTUAL DESIGN category
The awards for contextual design are chosen based on outstanding architecture that perceptibly reflects the history, culture, and physical environment of the place in which it stands and that, in turn, contributes to the function, beauty, and meaning of its larger context.
Award of Honor
The Burying Ground Memorial at the University of Richmond (Richmond, Virginia)
Architecture Firm: Baskervill
Contractor: Team Henry Enterprises LLC
Photographers: Ansel Olson and Aaron Doggett
Award of Merit
Reservoir District Master Plan: Recreation Center and Park (Washington, DC)
Architect of Record: Quinn Evans
Master Planner and Design Architect: Perkins Eastman DC
Contractor: Gilbane Building Company
Photographers: Quinn Evans and Alan Karchmer Architectural Photographer
Honorable Mentions
Virginia Institute of Marine Science EARC (Wachapreague, Virginia)
Architecture Firm: VIA design architects, pc
Contractor: E.T. Gresham Company, Inc.
Photographer: Yuzhu Zheng Photography
General Assembly Building (Richmond, Virginia)
Architect of Record: Robert A.M. Stern Architects
Associate Architect: Glavé & Holmes Architecture
Contractor: Gilbane Building Company
Photographers: Francis Dzikowski/OTTO and Thomas Holdsworth
Beaverdam Reservoir Park (Loudoun County, Virginia)
Architecture Firm: Studio Twenty Seven Architecture
Contractor: Meridian Construction Co, Inc.
Photographer: HDP Studio
In the Extended Use: ADAPTIVE or CONTINUED USE category
Projects submitted in this category should include either a renovation within an existing building or new construction that expands an existing structure or site. This award intends to recognize thoughtful interventions that create synergy between old and new construction, improve functionality, and energy efficiency, meet contemporary standards for comfort and utility, and/or capitalize on the embodied energy of an existing structure.
Honorable Mentions
Center City Public Charter School, Maker Space (Washington, DC)
Architecture Firm: Page
Contractor: Chiaramonte Construction Company
Photographer: Allen Russ
Slayton House Renovation and Addition (Washington, DC)
Architecture Firm: Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, Architect
Contractor: Peterson & Collins
Photographer: Anice Hoachlander
In the INTERIOR DESIGN category
Interior design projects are judged on mastery of composition, functionality, material and color palettes, and well-integrated adherence to the highest levels of accessibility, health and safety, environmental, and occupant-comfort considerations, standards, and regulations.
Awards of Merit
Goochland Elementary School (Goochland, Virginia)
Architecture Firm: Stantec
Contractor: Howard Shockey & Sons, Inc.
Photographer: Tom Holdsworth Photography and Jerry Marinzel Photography
Riggs (Washington, DC)
Architecture Firm: Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, Architect
Interior Designer: Baron Gurney Interiors
Contractor: Peterson and Collins, Inc.
Photographer: Anice Hoachlander
Honorable Mention
Capital Turnaround (Washington, DC)
Architecture Firm: MTFA Design + Preservation, PLLC
Contractor: Forrester Construction
Photographer: Matt Johnson
In the RESIDENTIAL DESIGN category
Aesthetic appeal and functionality are two long-established criteria for home design, as are affordability and resource efficiency. The jury looks at each submission in its totality toward meeting those goals.
Award of Merit
Vienna Zero Energy 2024 (Vienna, Virginia)
Architecture Firm: Peabody Fine Architect
Contractor: Allen Built Inc.
Photographer: Kate Wichlinski
In the SMALL PROJECTS category
Design excellence can be achieved, no matter the size or scope of a project. These awards celebrate projects with modest budgets that have a substantial impact. Small Project Awards are given in three categories, offering opportunities for recognition to a wide range of project sizes and budgets. All projects must demonstrate design achievement, including how the project fits into its environment and how the project connects to the Framework for Design Excellence.
Projects under 5,000 Square Feet
Honorable Mention
CASA Playhouse/Brown Bear’s Cave (Richmond, Virginia)
Architecture Firm: Hanbury
Contractor: DPR Construction
Photographer: Hanbury
Projects up to $500K
Honorable Mention
Houselet (Richmond, Virginia)
Architecture Firm: Fuller/Overby Architecture
Contractor: Peregrine Builders LLC
Photographer: Paul Warchol