The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has unveiled the 10 recipients of its prestigious 2025 Architecture Awards. The honored projects span the globe and include notable designs such as a conservation-focused campus in Rwanda by MASS Design Group, a striking astronomy museum in Shanghai by Ennead Architects, and a revitalized steel mill in Pittsburgh transformed by MSR Design.
The awards were presented at a ceremony in Boston, celebrating achievements across several categories, including the Architecture Awards for contemporary design excellence, the COTE Awards for sustainable design, as well as accolades for educational, justice, and small-scale projects.
“Each of these 11 award categories showcases how architecture can profoundly shape our communities,” said AIA President Evelyn Lee. “Architecture isn’t just about constructing buildings—it’s about creating environments that inspire, connect, and uplift. These awardees reflect the very best of what design can accomplish for society.”
2025 AIA Architecture Award Winners:
- Shanghai Astronomy Museum, China – Ennead Architects
Completed in 2021, this museum visually embodies cosmic geometry and is considered the world’s largest museum devoted solely to astronomy.
- 11 NOHO Mixed-Use Housing, USA – Brooks + Scarpa
Situated in North Hollywood, California, this five-story affordable housing complex features a central raised courtyard, with a bold façade cut-out that opens it to the street.
- Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture, Rwanda – MASS Design Group
This campus in Gashora serves as a model for sustainable agriculture, constructed with locally sourced materials and centered around a unique figure-eight shaped rammed earth housing block.
- RIDC Mill 19, USA – MSR Design
In Pittsburgh, a former steel mill has been transformed into a tech campus with vibrant new structures and one of the largest rooftop solar arrays in the country.
- Damen Green Line Station, USA – Perkins & Will
This Chicago station re-establishes a vital transit link on the city’s West Side, replacing the original 1948 structure with a modern, accessible design.
- Kresge College Expansion at the University of California, United States, by Studio Gang
- Architecture practice Studio Gang created four new mass timber buildings for this expansion project to Kresge College in Santa Cruz, California, which were informed by the growth patterns of fungi.
- The Rose Apartments, USA – Brooks + Scarpa
Located in Los Angeles, these supportive housing units for youth transitioning from group homes feature a central courtyard inspired by local vernacular architecture.
- US Consulate General Guadalajara, Mexico – The Miller Hull Partnership
Designed to ease the visa application experience, this consulate offers a calming and welcoming space to visitors.
- US Consulate General Hyderabad, India – Richärd Kennedy Architects
Inspired by the local topography and traditional Jali screens, the building integrates modern performance with cultural context, filtering sunlight and reducing heat.
- Seattle Ferry Terminal at Colman Dock, USA – NBBJ
Marking the transformation of Seattle’s waterfront, the new terminal features twin buildings joined by an elevated walkway, visually resembling a glowing lantern guiding ships to shore.
Each of these projects stands as a powerful example of architecture’s role in fostering inclusivity, sustainability, and human-centered design.
