Cleveland, Ohio –April 7, 2025– Learning By Design has published the annual Spring 2025 Educational Facilities Design Awards Showcase. The April 2025 edition features an assortment of exemplary PK-12 and post-secondary campus environments. These recently or soon to activated projects include newly constructed entire buildings and or renovated early childhood, elementary school, middle school, high school, specialized education, higher education, and other space types. In total ninety-two entries were judged based on six criteria of: Design Challenges and Innovation; Sustainability and Social Impact; Interior Architecture/Design; Next Generation Learning; Functional Design/Effective space Planning; and Community Needs.
A distinguished panel of four architects and education facility professionals reviewed and debated the merits of all submissions. Nine of the highest scoring submittals won top awards. These well-designed projects stood out for their novel design thinking, transparency, connectivity, safety, sustainability, great interiors, and sophistication.
The jury awarded four Grand Prize Awards: Three sized over 100,000 square feet and one sized under 100,000 square feet. Three runners-up were designated with Citation of Excellence Awards, two sized over 100,000 square feet and one project sized under 100,000 square feet. Two Honor Awards were granted, one for being a historic preservation project and another for its unique Adaptive Reuse
Spring 2025 Learning By Design Jury Members
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| Trey Barnett Project Manager Katy Independent School District Facilities, Planning and Construction Katy, TX |
Dr. Christina Counts Vice President of Education, MiEN Company Grand Rapids, MI |
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| Jim Determan, FAIA Principal Craig Gaulden Davis, Inc. Baltimore, MD |
Michelle Rossomando, AIA, RID Principal, McKinney York Architects Austin, TX |
The selected four GRAND PRIZE AWARD winners combined all the elements that make a learning environment successful—
HMFH Architects (Cambridge, MA) for the Josiah Quincy Upper School (Boston, MA) >100,000 sq. ft. Grand Prize Award – “Outdoor classrooms, gardens, and rooftop spaces promote movement, hands-on learning, and well-being. Thoughtful vertical stacking and interstate mitigation create a cohesive, high-performance educational environment.”
NAC Architecture (Seattle, WA) for the James Baldwin Elementary School (Seattle, WA) – <100,000 sq. ft. Grand Prize Award – “Thoughtful features like mini libraries, quiet spaces, and diverse learning areas enhance student well-being and focus. The Lite Brite map is a standout element, and the use of natural finishes and daylight supports health and learning."
Integrus (Spokane, WA) for the Peperzak Middle School (Spokane, WA) >100,000 sq. ft. Grand Prize Award – “The design seamlessly integrates nature, farmland, and industrial elements, offering diverse, inviting learning spaces that build a strong sense of community and support student engagement at every turn.”
Urbahn Architects (NY, NY) for the Lehman College, Nursing Education, Research & Practice Center (The Bronx, NY) >100,000 sq. ft. Grand Prize Award – “The building’s modern design, with clean lines, contemporary materials, and glass, creates an inviting, professional atmosphere. A collaborative planning process ensured alignment with the nursing department’s goals.”
The three CITATION OF EXCELLENCE Award winners include:
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- Alexandria City High School: Minnie Howard Campus (Alexandria, VA) –Perkins Eastman (Washington, DC) >100,000 sq. ft.
- École Hammond Bay Elementary Expansion (Nanaimo, British Columbia) – KMBR Architects Planners Inc. (Vancouver, British Columbia) <100,000 sq. ft.
- North Canton Primary School (North Canton, OH) – SōL Harris/Day Architecture (North Canton, OH) >100,000 sq. ft.
The Two HONOR AWARD recipients are:
- Geneva Heights Elementary School (Dallas, TX) –BRW Architects. (Dallas, TX) for Historic Preservation
- Oakland University South Foundation Hall Addition and Renovation (Rochester, MI) – Stantec Architecture Inc. (Berkley, MI) for Adaptive Reuse
To review all Spring 2025 Projects visit:
WWW.LEARNINGBYDESIGNMAGAZINE.COM
Learning By Design Magazine is a publication of Designquest Media, LLC.
