Foundations of Excellence: 6 Instances of Institutional Architecture at Its Finest

Dive into the stories behind this year’s best institutional designs.

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Design holds the power to enrich the lives of communities and people around the world. For this year’s Architizer A+ Awards program, projects were submitted across institutional architecture that stand out for their profound impact on how they bring people together. These buildings encompass an array of libraries, schools, community centers and civic buildings — spaces integral to the fabric of cities. In an era marked by rapid urbanization and societal shifts, the relevance of exceptional institutional architecture has never been more pronounced. These structures not only provide essential services but also foster community, inclusivity and innovation.

The A+ Awards highlight the most inspiring and innovative architectural projects from around the globe. This year’s winners in the institutional architecture category exemplify some of the best in contemporary design. From state-of-the-art educational facilities to inviting community hubs, these projects showcase a commitment to accessibility and beauty. Each design also reflects a deep understanding of the unique needs and aspirations of the communities they serve. Discover a few of the winners below, and see the full list of human-centric designs here.

Kresge College Expansion at the University of California, Santa Cruz

By Studio Gang, Santa Cruz, California

Popular Choice Winner, 12th Annual A+Awards, Higher Education and Research Facilities

Located in a redwood forest in northern California, Kresge College has been an experiment in student-driven education since 1971. Originally designed by Charles Moore and William Turnbull, the “hill town” campus features a playful village anchored by a winding pedestrian street where students could practice participatory democracy and explore new ways of living and learning. Fifty years later, Studio Gang’s campus expansion plan aims to rejuvenate this experimental environment while making it more inclusive and connected to the surrounding university and landscape.

The expansion includes four new buildings — three residential halls and an academic center — that complement the original design’s rectilinear, angular language with a more organic one of curvature and porosity. These buildings are carefully sited to preserve redwood trees and integrate with the natural topography. The project extends the original pedestrian street into a loop path, incorporating accessible pathways and connecting the campus with the surrounding forest and university. Enhancements to the historic runnel system improve stormwater management, while the redwood canopy and operable windows optimize passive cooling and ventilation.

Dich Vong Hau Kindergarten

By Sunjin Vietnam Joint Venture Company, Hanoi, Vietnam

Popular Choice Winner, 12th Annual A+Awards, Kindergartens

This 20-year-old suburban school, now within an urban growth area, has been restored to meet modern land use planning standards and updated teaching requirements. Originally a two-story building in poor condition with limited amenities and no play areas, the structure lacked the necessary facilities for contemporary education. The redesigned school retains the original framework but adds a third story with a steel frame coated in plastic wood, embracing a “students as the center” philosophy.

Two additional four-story blocks are being constructed on the west side, creating a secure central playground that serves as the school’s main skylight and promotes cross-ventilation. Classrooms have been reconfigured to increase their size by 1.5 times, featuring villa-like designs with lush gardens for natural ventilation and roof overhangs for shade. The roof is transformed into a green space, providing an area for learning and play while contributing to the city’s ecological landscape.

Nunawading Community Hub

By fjcstudio, Australia

Jury Winner, 12th Annual A+Awards, Community Centers

This new community hub, located on the former Nunawading Primary School site, is interlinked with its old football oval and Tunstall Park. Built on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri Woiwurrung People of the Kulin Nation, the site is historically referenced as a place of gathering. This heritage schoolhouse remains at the threshold, reflecting local materiality and celebrating the collective memory of those who spent their childhood there. Abstract white forms rise as a backdrop to the heritage fabric and park, creating a sense of monumentality and dignity for this important public place.

The design team’s approach was to create an open, inviting public space, expressing equitable access for all. The scheme includes flexible settings for a wide range of community activities, while addressing specific user group needs. An inviting and transparent architecture reinforces the connection to the natural assets of the landscaped setting and residential suburban context. The design, with its simple forms and appropriate proportions, celebrates people, their creativity and their sense of togetherness, honoring the highly valued park and school building integral to Nunawading’s community.

Tainan Public Library

By Mecanoo and MAYU, Tainan City, Taiwan

Popular Choice Winner, 12th Annual A+Awards, Libraries

Mecanoo and MAYU’s design for the Tainan Public Library embodies the convergence of cultures, generations and histories. Inspired by Tainan’s local culture and tropical climate, the library houses the city’s cultural heritage, modern art, music, films and over a million books, including 16,000 from the Japanese occupation period. Equipped with modern library technologies, it serves as a cultural hub. The library’s most striking feature is its inverted stepped shape, supported by slender columns reminiscent of a bamboo forest.

The crown of the building, adorned with vertical aluminum slats carved with flower patterns, filters light and reduces heat, creating a distinctive façade visible from afar. The library’s design seamlessly transitions between exterior and interior spaces. The stepped structure provides shelter, with four sunken patios for outdoor activities, such as lectures, concerts and exhibitions. The interior features a spacious double-height atrium with art by Paul Cocksedge and interactive installations. A red sculptural staircase intersects all levels, while upper floors offer stunning city views from the uppermost levels.

PEGS Gymnasium

By McBride Charles Ryan, Keilor East, Australia

Jury Winner, 12th Annual A+Awards, Primary and High Schools

McBride Charles Ryan has been developing projects for the Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School (PEGS) senior campus for a number of years, creating a rich and diverse architectural experience. The campus is reimagined as a vibrant mini-city, with the latest addition, the ‘Palazzo della Regione,’ serving as the central meeting place. This building fosters civic engagement among students while offering flexible, utilitarian functions and a distinct civic presence. It seamlessly integrates with the existing gymnasium through a full-height operable wall, doubling the space for performances and competitions and maintaining its unique character.

The new facility enhances the school’s interaction with the larger community. It frames the main school oval to the north, intensifying the connection between players and spectators, while the south facade serves as the main civic interface with a welcoming colonnade and scalloped brickwork. The design leverages the natural topography for tiered seating, reducing excavation costs and providing flexible space for gatherings. The building includes basketball courts, fitness centers, classrooms and multipurpose rooms, with sustainable features like a vaulted ceiling for passive cooling and a rooftop photovoltaic farm for electricity.

Changsha International Conference Center

By SCUT Architectural Design and Research Institute, Changsha, China

Popular Choice Winner, 12th Annual A+Awards, Government and Civic Buildings

The Changsha International Conference Center is located in the High-speed Railway New Town of Changsha City, overlooking Changshanan Railway Station and adjacent to the Changsha International Convention and Exhibition Center. The building consists of three above-ground floors and one underground floor. It features 60 conference halls and rooms that can accommodate up to 10,500 people, including a column-free main venue, a roundtable conference hall, a banquet hall, and a roof garden, making it the largest conference center in central China.

The design of the conference center draws on traditional Chinese aesthetics and cultural symbols, integrating natural, architectural, and cultural elements such as mountain contours, sloped roofs, and unfolded Chinese folding fan patterns. This approach highlights the harmonious coexistence of human civilization and the natural environment, embodying the core values of Chinese culture. The building’s façade is inspired by ink paintings of the Chinese landscape and local guqin masterpieces, showcasing the dynamic scenery of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers.