The judging process for Architizer's 14th A+Awards is now underway. Subscribe to our Awards Newsletter to receive updates about Public Voting, and stay tuned — winners will be announced later this spring.
Architecture has shifted from a practice of “doing less harm” to one that aims to actively improve the places we inhabit. For a long time, sustainability meant hitting a lower number on a meter or using a bit less water. That baseline no longer feels sufficient. Today, many architects design buildings with the intention of enhancing the environments they inhabit. That thinking begins with the first design move and continues through how a building functions years later.
The firms celebrated in the Best Sustainable Firm category of the 13th A+Awards have moved beyond the idea of the one-off green project. For them, sustainability is not a box to be checked or a specialist requirement added at the end of a process; it is the lens through which everyday design decisions are made. The firms highlighted here treat sustainability as an integral design responsibility, not a special feature.
MGA | Michael Green Architecture
Jury Winner, Best Sustainable Firm, 13th Architizer A+Awards
Google Borregas by MGA | MICHAEL GREEN ARCHITECTURE, Sunnyvale, California
Founded by Michael Green and Natalie Telewiak, MGA has built its practice around advancing sustainability through advocacy, research, and material innovation. Notably, the firm played a central role in pioneering the mass timber movement, reshaping how large scale buildings are constructed. This approach is evident in Google Borregas, Google’s first ground up mass timber office, where timber structure is used to reduce carbon impact while supporting occupant wellbeing. Through innovations in wood composites and façade design, the project demonstrates how large workplaces can combine environmental performance with architectural quality.
Hennebery Eddy Architects
Popular Choice Winner, Best Sustainable Firm, 13th Architizer A+Awards
Multnomah County Library Operations Center Renovation & Expansion by Hennebery Eddy Architects, Portland, Oregon
Based in the Pacific Northwest, Hennebery Eddy Architects works with a regenerative mindset that connects environmental performance with long term use. In addition, the firm is recognized as a JUST organization, showing a clear commitment to equity alongside sustainability. This approach is visible in the Multnomah County Library Operations Center, which reused a vacant grocery store and turned it into a fossil fuel free workplace. The project combines adaptive reuse with on site solar power to cut embodied carbon while creating a bright and healthy environment for staff.
Chiangmai Life Architects
Finalist, Best Sustainable Firm, 13th Architizer A+Awards
The Bull @ Zab e Lee Cooking School by Chiangmai Life Architects, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Chiangmai Life Architects centers its practice on building directly with nature. Based in Thailand, the studio works almost exclusively with bamboo, earth and clay, using these materials to create low carbon buildings suited to tropical climates. This approach is evident in The Bull, a bamboo cooking pavilion designed for a growing culinary school. Built entirely from bamboo, the structure absorbs more carbon than it produces. At the same time, it creates a functional and open space deeply connected to nature.
CannonDesign
Finalist, Best Sustainable Firm, 13th Architizer A+Awards
Rosena Ranch Fire Station by CannonDesign, Riverside, California
CannonDesign works through a “living centered” approach that treats buildings as part of larger environmental systems. As a global firm, it combines design and long term performance to address complex site conditions. This philosophy is clear in the Rosena Ranch Fire Station, where a low slung roof and weathering steel help shield the building from strong winds and intense sun. Meanwhile, water-slowing landscape features improve groundwater recharge, turning a once underused site into an ecological buffer.
Arrowstreet
Finalist, Best Sustainable Firm, 13th Architizer A+Awards
Urban Grove by Arrowstreet, Boston, Massachusetts
Arrowstreet integrates sustainability through research and climate awareness. Based in Boston, the firm works across disciplines to address environmental challenges such as rising temperatures and urban heat. This approach is clear in Urban Grove, a shaded public installation in South Boston. Using sculptural canopies and reflective surfaces, the project reduces heat and creates a cooler place for people to gather. It shows how environmental protection and public space can work together through design.
Killa Design
Special Mention, Best Sustainable Firm, 13th Architizer A+Awards
Office of the Future by Killa Design, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Established in 2015 by Shaun Killa, Killa Design approaches sustainability through high-performance engineering and emerging construction technology. Based in Dubai, the studio specializes in low-carbon buildings designed to perform in extreme climates. This approach is evident in the Office of the Future, the world’s first permanently occupied 3D-printed building. Using additive manufacturing, the project reduced labor demands and material waste, lowering its environmental footprint. Deep overhangs, thick insulation, and controlled daylighting help the building maintain energy efficiency despite harsh desert conditions.
Utile, Inc.
Special Mention, Best Sustainable Firm, 13th Architizer A+Awards
Boston Harbor Islands Pavilion by Utile, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts
Based in Boston, Utile operates as a research-driven design studio focused on solving urban problems through practical architecture and policy thinking. The firm prioritizes long-term city building, with an emphasis on projects that are functional and grounded in their context. This approach is visible in the Boston Harbor Islands Pavilion, a small civic structure located along the Rose Kennedy Greenway. Using digital modeling, the pavilion’s roof form was shaped to collect rainwater and direct it toward on-site irrigation. At the same time, the project serves as a public information hub.
LSD architects
Special Mention, Best Sustainable Firm, 13th Architizer A+Awards
CASA VID E HIGUREA by LSD architects, Ostional, Costa Rica
Based in Costa Rica, LSD architects focuses on the relationship between human life and the natural environment. Founded by Rodolfo Tinoco and Luis Mauricio Solis, the firm designs projects that blend into their surroundings through careful site planning and sustainable systems. This approach is clear in Casa Vid e Higurea, a cliffside residence located near a protected turtle nesting beach. The house uses specialized lighting and non-reflective surfaces to reduce disruption to wildlife, while green roofs and solar systems support energy efficiency. By shaping the building to follow the land, the project respects the site’s fragile ecosystem.
The judging process for Architizer's 14th A+Awards is now underway. Subscribe to our Awards Newsletter to receive updates about Public Voting, and stay tuned — winners will be announced later this spring.
Top image: Oregon State University Forest Science Complex by MGA | MICHAEL GREEN ARCHITECTURE, Corvallis, Oregon
