AIA Chicago Celebrated Design Excellence at 2026 Gala
The annual Designight event honored 52 architectural projects and two industry leaders in Chicago.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Awards
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AIA Chicago presented awards to 52 architectural projects and firms at its 2026 Designight gala. The ceremony took place at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance.
Why it matters
The awards program recognizes the best projects designed by local architects. The Firm Award specifically honors a practice's body of work over the last 10 years.
A total of 52 projects were honored at the ceremony. This includes the $30 million Humboldt Park Health Wellness Center, which received a Design Excellence Honor Award.
The players
Jeanne Gang
She is a prominent architect and the founding principal of Studio Gang, which received the 2026 Firm Award.
Lamar A. Johnson
He is an architect who received the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award and co-founded Lamar Johnson Collaborative.
AIA Chicago
This is the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects that hosted the annual Designight gala.
Wheeler Kearns Architects
This architectural firm won an Honor Award for their work on the Summit Community Center.
SOM
The firm, also known as Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, won an Honor Award for the Sany IROOTECH Headquarters in China.
The details
At the event, Studio Gang received the 2026 Firm Award for its professional work. Meanwhile, the public selected United Yards 1A for the Lerch Bates People's Choice Award after reviewing a pool of finalists.
Timeline
October 1, 2026: AIA Chicago held the Designight 2026 awards gala.
2017: Lamar Johnson co-founded Lamar Johnson Collaborative.
Culture Shift
The 2026 ceremony follows the established pattern of recognizing Chicago-based architectural contributions through the AIA Chicago Designight tradition. This annual celebration underscores the city's ongoing influence in global design and urban development.
The recognition of projects like the Humboldt Park Health Wellness Center highlights new architectural landmarks available to the local community. These award-winning spaces often define the evolving aesthetic and functional landscape of neighborhoods across the city.
The takeaway
The recognition of these diverse projects reflects a broad appreciation for both community-focused developments and international design excellence. Residents can look for these highlighted sites to see how modern architecture is actively shaping the local urban fabric.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest industry honors at the Chicago Awards section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Chicago Sun-Times.
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Should local architecture awards prioritize neighborhood community projects over international building designs?
