A modern waterfront refuge, a second life for a stretch of abandoned Baltimore rowhouses, and a rustic mecca for distilled spirits in rural Montgomery County were just some of the Terp-designed projects to amass accolades at this year’s AIA Maryland Excellence in Design Awards. University of Maryland students, alumni and faculty were honored in a ceremony September 17, 2026 for projects that exemplify sustainable design and shape quality of life through beautifully crafted places.
Over 100 designers vied for one of just 22 top spots in this year’s competition, which were evaluated by a jury of leading practitioners, industry leaders and educators. Alumni and faculty earned distinction through institutional, commercial and residential projects, including McInturff Architects’ St. Michael’s Community Center, which won Public Building of the Year.
In the student category, Maryland once again came out swinging, clinching eight of the 10 awards (out of 57 entries) in the undergraduate and graduate categories; ‘26 B.S. Architecture graduate Fikir Mantegaftot took both awards—merit and citation—for undergraduate upper level design for her projects, Sweetgum Visitor Center and Carved vs. Constructed.
“It’s wonderful to again see our students and alumni recognized for their outstanding design work, and this year’s entries truly embody the creativity, innovation and meaning that make vibrant places.” said Mohammad Gharipour, director of UMD’s Architecture Program.
UMD’s 2026 AIA winners include:
Student Awards:
Ryan Cramer: Forest Bridge / Honor Award, Graduate, Beginning Design
Peter Vawdrey: Tectonia Botanicus / Honor Award, Graduate, Beginning Design
Alexis Joseph: C.O 1360 Research Center / Citation, Graduate, Beginning Design
Evan Lehner: Overcrowding to Opportunity: Reinventing the Portable Classroom / Citation, Graduate, Upper Level Design
Lauren McNamara: REBUILDING HOME / Citation, Graduate, Upper Level Design
Shannon Sinnicki: The Sprout Children's Health Center / Honor Award, Graduate, Upper Level Design
Fikir Mantegaftot: Sweetgum Visitor Center / Citation, Undergraduate, Upper Level Design
Fikir Mantegaftot: Carved vs. Constructed / Merit, Undergraduate, Upper Level Design
Professional Awards:
Harker’s Point / Citation, Residential Architecture
Amy Gardner, FAIA and Brittany Williams, AIA ’05 M.Arch ‘07—Gardner Architects
Song Dog Distillery / Honor Award, Commercial Architecture
Peter Noonan, FAIA ’88, M.Arch ‘92—McInturff Architects
St. Michael’s Community Center / Citation & Public Building of the Year
Mark McInturff ‘72—McInturff Architects
Death and Co. D.C. / Merit Award, Interior Architecture
Alick Dearie '99, M.Arch '04, Brian Grieb '99, M.Arch '01 and Justin Obringer '10, M.Arch '12—GRiD Architects
Eastern Shore Medical Center / Citation, Institutional Architecture
Devin Kimmel M.Arch ‘06—Kimmel Studios
Penn State Health, Hampden Medical Center / Honor, Institutional Architecture
Monica Pascatore M.Arch ‘02—CannonDesign
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Building 201 / Citation, Institutional Architecture
Monica Pascatore M.Arch ‘02—CannonDesign