16 Architecture Firms Win Top Honors at AIA Austin’s 2026 Design Awards

Austin’s architecture community gathered May 13 at Austin PBS in the Highland Campus development for the 2026 AIA Austin Design Awards, honoring standout work by architects and AIA members across the region.

Presented by the Austin chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the annual awards recognized projects in three categories: Excellence, Merit and Special Commendation. Mayor Kirk Watson also presented the Community Impact Award, which honors public projects designed to make a meaningful difference for Austinites.

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Brandy Becerra and Kaitlyn Nelson. (Photo courtesy of AIA Austin)

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David Dalgleish, Sara Swenson and Tye Jeffrey. (Photo courtesy of AIA Austin)

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Erika Wendel, Tanya Zal, Ingrid Spencer, Julia Brown, Rob Hoffman, Shannon Ratcliff and Judith Schomp. (Photo courtesy of AIA Austin)

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Alexandra Chaves and Emily Eisenhart. (Photo courtesy of AIA Austin)

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Ryan Lemmo, Sonora Lemmo, Stephanie Lemmo and Shelby Coppock. (Photo courtesy of AIA Austin)

“Great design doesn’t just respond to a place—it reveals it.” said AIA Austin Executive Director Ingrid Spencer in a recent press release. “This year’s winners range from a school that redefines what equity looks like in built form, to residences that hold their landscapes with extraordinary care, to a hotel that makes you stop and look twice at a city block you thought you knew. Sixteen firms. Eighteen projects. Every one of them proof that Austin’s design community is working at the highest level.”

2026 AIA Austin Design Award Winners

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Frame Hotel designed by Frame Hospitality Group. (Photo by Casey Dunn)

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Clarksville Residence designed by Michael Hsu Office of Architecture. (Photo by Casey Dunn)

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Marble Falls Arthouse designed by Lake Flato Architects. (Photo by Andrea Calo)

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Boggy Creek Residence designed by Alterstudio Architecture. (Photo by Casey Dunn)

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Henri II designed by Murray Legge Architecture. (Photo by Leonid Furmansky)

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Wolf Creek Ranch Residence designed by Low Design Office. (Photo courtesy Low Design Office)

Design Award of Excellence

• Frame Hotel — Frame Hospitality Group
• Clarksville Residence — Michael Hsu Office of Architecture
• Marble Falls Arthouse — Lake Flato Architects
• Boggy Creek Residence — Alterstudio Architecture
• Henri II — Murray Legge Architecture
• Wolf Creek Ranch Residence — Low Design Office

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Terrace Mountain Residence designed by A Parallel Architecture. (Photo by Chase Daniel)

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Yuki Aspen designed by Clayton Korte. (Photo by Clay Grier)

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River Hills Residence designed by Miró Rivera Architects. (Photo by Casey Dunn)

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Deer Creek Residence designed by Alterstudio Architecture. (Photo by Casey Dunn)

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Maraca Bench designed by Lemmo Architecture and Design. (Photo by Nick Blok)

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The Loren Hotel at Lady Bird Lake designed by Rhode Partners. (Photo by Casey Dunn)

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Meridian House designed by Specht Novak. (Photo by Douglas Friedman)

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Summer Camp designed by Cuppett Kilpatrick Architecture and Design. (Photo by Whit Preston)

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La Finca designed by Miró Rivera Architects. (Photo by Casey Dunn)

Design Award of Merit

• Terrace Mountain Residence — A Parallel Architecture
• Yuki Aspen — Clayton Korte
• River Hills Residence — Miró Rivera Architects
• Deer Creek Residence — Alterstudio Architecture
• Maraca Bench — Lemmo Architecture and Design
• The Loren at Lady Bird Lake — Rhode Partners
• Meridian House — Specht Novak
• Summer Camp — Cuppett Kilpatrick Architecture and Design
• La Finca — Miró Rivera Architects

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Westlake Tennis House designed by Baldridge Architects. (Photo by Casey Dunn)

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Multi-Family for Every Family designed by McKinney York Architects. (Photo by Casey Woods)

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Harris Elementary School designed by LPA Design Studios. (Photo by Cesar Bejar)

Special Commendations

• Westlake Tennis House — Baldridge Architects
  Commendation: Material, Detailing and Restraint
• Multi-Family for Every Family — McKinney York Architects
  Commendation: Neighborhood Scale and Density

Community Impact Award

• Harris Elementary — LPA Design Studios

AIA Austin includes more than 1,300 members and more than 200 Allied members. The organization advocates for thoughtful, exceptional design while fostering appreciation for Austin’s built and natural environments.

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