The Pittsburgh chapter of the American Institute of Architects hosted its annual Design Pittsburgh Awards ceremony on Thursday, November 6, marking a significant milestone in the organization's recent history. For the first time in years, the prestigious Silver Medal—the highest honor bestowed by the organization—was awarded to design firm Hord Coplan Macht for their exceptional work on the Glasshouse apartments at Station Square. The ceremony came on the heels of last year's successful 125th anniversary celebration, continuing the tradition of recognizing outstanding local architecture.
The judging panel consisted of five distinguished architects from the Potomac Valley chapter, who evaluated submissions across multiple categories. This year's awards introduced several new categories alongside traditional recognitions, including the Excellence in Masonry Award, The Young Architects Studio Competition Award of Excellence, and the People's Choice Award, reflecting the evolving landscape of architectural achievement in the region.
The Silver Award-winning Glasshouse project by Hord Coplan Macht, which operates offices across the East Coast, impressed jurors with its thoughtful integration with the waterfront environment. The jury praised the project, stating they "enjoyed everything about it, particularly the public connection: taking advantage of and enriching the waterfront without monopolizing it." They noted that the massing was "well executed and broken down into nicely composed elements reducing the scale of this massive project without feeling artificial."
In the Small Projects category, two projects received recognition. The Certificate of Merit was awarded to Margittai Architects for their Hillside Residence on the South Side Slopes. Jurors appreciated how "the adaptive reuse still shows the rhythm of the original facades." LGA Partners' Martini project at Nashville International Airport also received this honor, with the jury commenting that "this is a well-executed result of strong branding. This is what good architecture should be."
The Small Projects Honor Award went to Bohlin Cywinski Jackson for Liten Hyde in Northern Michigan, which jurors described as a "very well-crafted jewel box in the woods" with "a nice composition and good balance/dichotomy between rough plywood/corrugate metal and highly finished interior volumes." Wildman Chalmers Design received recognition for their Mid-Century Modern Renovation & Addition in Squirrel Hill, praised as "a seamless project that is cohesive throughout the existing building, the addition and the exterior spaces, which all share the same soft inviting palette."
Medium-sized projects garnered significant attention, with multiple Certificate of Merit awards. AE7's City of Pittsburgh Medic Station 4 on the North Side was recognized for its sustainability focus, with jurors noting that "sustainability is the driver of this design" and praising the "graphic storytelling of the submission." GBBN's Richard King Mellon Foundation Headquarters in the Strip District was commended as "a good example of transformation of an existing building to a modern use" where "the structure could have led to a cold aesthetic, which was luckily avoided."
Additional Medium Projects Certificate of Merit winners included NEXT Architecture's Premier Custom Paint & Collision in Zelienople, celebrated for bringing design attention to an "everyday, oft-ignored use" and "using architecture to elevate the business and the customer experience." R3A Architecture received multiple recognitions, including awards for their Digital Foundry in New Kensington and Arnold Palmer Learning Center in Squirrel Hill. The Digital Foundry was praised for its "strong concept, particularly seeing everywhere from everywhere, and the incorporation of sawtooth rooflines and ceiling lines that echo that rhythm, to forge some connection between the digital and the historical."
Stantec's Victor K. Phillips Nursing and Allied Health Building in Butler impressed jurors with its innovative floor plan that "creates variegated angles that bring people together and bring light deep into the space." Strada's State College Family Services Center was recognized for its "focus on biophilia and aviation themes" that "resonates well with the execution," featuring "many dynamic forms that create a sense of movement."
The Medium Projects Honor Award was presented to GBBN for the Ronald McDonald House Charities in Dayton. The jury expressed particular enthusiasm for this project, stating they "loved this project. The concept of beginning with a kids sketch of home carrying through not only the overall form but the interior design decisions makes it a home away from home." PWWG Architects' Allegheny Branch House Lofts on the North Side also received this honor, with jurors appreciating "the repurposing of this industrial building" and the "thought of how to deal with noise from adjacent train tracks," concluding they "would live here in a heartbeat."
Large Projects category recognition went to several notable developments. Stantec's Form Factory 1 in Weirton received a Certificate of Merit for demonstrating that "it's difficult to turn the mundane into the extraordinary with a simple gesture" and showing that "sometimes basic architecture deserves the same credit as more complex typologies." PWWG Architects was recognized for The Eatery at Litchfield Towers in Oakland, which jurors called "one of the best [college eateries] we've seen," noting that "the logistical planning of phasing and occupancy was as challenging as the design."
R3A Architecture's Slippery Rock University Performing Arts Center earned recognition for its distinctive design approach. Jurors admitted they "don't know why, but we really like the arched thing that is going on here. Something feels silly, but it really works, reminding us of Roman theaters, curtains and box seats." Perkins Eastman's Dickie McCamey & Chilcote Pittsburgh Headquarters Downtown was praised for its "innovative rethinking of what it means to be a law firm office."
The Large Projects Honor Award was presented to MCF Architecture for Christ the Teacher Academic Hall in Steubenville. The jury appreciated that "it doesn't feel like a performative representation of traditional forms—the architect has used depth and shadows and contrasting modern elements to create a level of authenticity."
Special recognition categories highlighted additional achievements in the field. The Excellence in Masonry Award went to Desmone Architects for The Park at SouthSide at SouthSide Works. Jurors praised "the combination of the block as an architectural element, along with the protruding brick pattern and the floating balcony blend extremely well together," noting that "the fact that masonry was chosen for this project, when other materials would have been acceptable, shows the true desire for excellence."
The People's Choice Award was determined by public voting, with DRAW Collective's New Trinity Intermediate School in Washington receiving the honor after garnering 449 of the 2,358 votes cast. This democratic element of the awards process allows the broader community to participate in recognizing architectural excellence.
The Young Architects Studio Competition Award of Excellence addressed contemporary urban challenges by asking designers to create a multiuse space on the North Shore or Downtown that could accommodate both large-scale events like the 2026 NFL Draft and the daily needs of average city residents. The winner was Alyssa Penrod of RM Creative for "The Connection." Jurors praised the proposal for demonstrating "strong attention to detail and a compelling narrative, presenting a vision that feels relevant in both the short and long term," noting that "the chosen site was well suited to the prompt, and the presentation board was beautifully executed." They concluded it was "the most complete and cohesive submission, effectively communicating the full range of ideas requested by the competition brief."
