Spaces4Learning Launches 2026 Education Design Showcase Awards

Spaces4Learning has opened submissions for the 2026 Education Design Showcase! The awards program launched in 1999 with the goal of celebrating innovative, practical solutions in the planning, design, and construction of K–12 and higher-education facilities. EDS recognizes new developments that help achieve optimal learning environments, as well as the architecture firms that brought the ideas to life.

Winning projects will be showcased in:

  • an enhanced listing online at spaces4learning.com
  • the Spaces4Learning K–12 or Higher Education Update e-newsletters
  • social media
  • a press release.

Head over to the Education Design Showcase page to learn more about the entry process and required materials. There’s no fee to submit your project—if it’s selected for publication, you’ll receive an invoice in April to help cover program costs. The jury will select two Grand Prize winners (one from K–12 and one from higher education), as well as Projects of Distinction in each category. All other projects selected for publication will be designated as Honorable Mentions.

The submission deadline is Friday, March 27, 2026. Please contact Mallory Bastionell with any questions or for further information. Review the winners of last year’s Education Design Showcase here!

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • LSU Breaks Ground on $200M Residential Project

    Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La., recently broke ground on a new residential complex, according to university news. The South Quad residential project will consist of two buildings and add a total of 1,266 beds for freshmen students. The development comes with a price tag of $200 million, and it’s scheduled to open to students in fall 2027.

  • Upcoming University of Alabama Performing Arts Center Hits Construction Milestone

    The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala., recently celebrated the topping out of its new Smith Family Center for Performing Arts, according to a news release. The university is partnering with HPM for program and project management on the facility, which broke ground in 2023 and is scheduled for completion in November 2026.

  • Pitzer College

    Designing for Change in Higher Ed Learning Environments

    Higher education will continue to evolve, and learning environments must evolve with it. By prioritizing adaptable infrastructure, thoughtful reuse, strong energy performance, and wellness-centered design, campuses can create spaces that support learning today while remaining flexible for the future.

  • Niles West High School Natatorium Renovation

    Natatoriums are highly specialized spaces, and luminaires in this setting face several unique challenges. Perhaps the most significant is corrosion, which is exacerbated by high indoor humidity, condensation, and pool chemicals, often resulting in material degradation in luminaires not certified to perform in corrosive environments.

Digital Edition