IIDA Announces Recipients 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 recipients of the 2026 ALA/IIDA Library Interior Design Awards. This biennial competition, celebrating its 10th edition, recognizes excellence in library interior design and promotes examples of extraordinary design reflected through innovative concepts in nine entry categories.

“Libraries continue to evolve as vital hubs for learning, collaboration, and community connection, and this year’s winning projects demonstrate how design can actively shape those experiences,” said Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA. “We celebrate forward-thinking environments that balance innovation, accessibility, and human-centered design while redefining what modern libraries can offer their users.”

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 the breadth of design solutions, from adaptive academic environments to welcoming civic spaces that foster engagement and discovery,” said Stampanato on behalf of the jury. “Each winning project demonstrated a strong sense of purpose through thoughtful materiality, spatial planning, and user experience, illustrating the transformative impact of design within libraries today.”

The recipients of the 2026 ALA/IIDA Library Interior Design Awards are:

Academic Libraries—30,000 Square Feet and Under
Project: The Confluence Library, Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong
Firm: Design Action, Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong

Project: Hawai‘i Baptist Academy Innovation and Discovery Center, Honolulu
Firm: G70, Honolulu

Academic Libraries—Over 30,000 Square Feet
Project: Columbia University Li Lu Law Library, New York
Firm: Perkins Eastman, New York

Project: SCAD Jen Library, Savannah, GA
Firm: Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA

On the Boards
Project: Lincoln City Libraries Central Library, Lincoln, NE
Firm: MSR Design and BVH Architecture, Minneapolis

Public Libraries—30,000 Square Feet and Under
Project: Liberty Park Library, Spokane, WA
Firm: Integrus Architecture, Spokane, WA

Project: Gateway Public Library, Mesa, AZ
Firm: Richärd Kennedy Architects with White Baux Studio, Phoenix

Public Libraries—Over 30,000 Square Feet
Project: Cedar Park Public Library, Cedar Park, TX
Firm: Lake Flato Architects, San Antonio

Project: Redmond Library, Redmond, OR
Firm: The Miller Hull Partnership, LLP, Seattle

The winning projects will be honored at a celebration on Sunday, June 28 during the ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition in Chicago. The Best of Competition winner will be revealed during the celebration. Winners will be published in a future issue of American Libraries Magazine, published on IIDA.org, and will be shared 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.