IIDA Announces Best of Competition Winner of the 2026 ALA/IIDA Library Interior Design Awards

CHICAGO — The International Interior Design Association (IIDA) and the American Library Association (ALA) are pleased to announce the Best of Competition winner of the 2026 ALA/IIDA Library Interior Design Awards, recognizing excellence in library interior design. The 2026 ALA/IIDA Library Interior Design Awards Best of Competition winner is Lake Flato Architects for their design of the Cedar Park Public Library in Cedar Park, Texas.

The Cedar Park Public Library is an innovative and inspiring project that we are proud to recognize as this year’s Best of Competition winner,” said Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA, Executive Vice President and CEO of IIDA. “The project seamlessly balances flexibility, warmth, and a strong sense of place, creating welcoming spaces that support evolving community needs while serving as a vibrant civic destination.”

Entries were reviewed by a jury of interior design and library professionals: Principal at LJC Design & Engineering, Sarah Doriani; Librarian III and Associate Dean of University Libraries at the University of Nevada, Linda Kopecky; Principal and Commercial Market Leader at CannonDesign, Emily Stampanato, IIDA.

“The jury was impressed by how wood was employed throughout the project, creating its primary design language,” said Stampanato on behalf of the jury. “Deliberate variations in species, grain, and scale built depth and visual rhythm, resulting in a warm, welcoming civic interior with a timeless quality that will age gracefully.”

The Cedar Park Public Library, along with the other winning projects, was honored at a celebration on Sunday, June 28 during the ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition in Chicago. The winning projects will be published in a future issue of American Libraries Magazine, published on IIDA.org, and will be highlighted with IIDA’s more than 400,000 social media followers. 

For questions or more information on this or other IIDA design competitions, contact competitions@IIDA.org.