October 1, 2019

Text: Carlene Olsen

Shaw Contract Announces Winners of Global Design Awards

Trend Micro in Singapore, designed by M Moser Associates. Photography by Owen Raggett.

At times, design contests can feel insular—showcasing beautiful pieces created by and for those with a keen eye for innovative craftmanship. Rarely do such competitions feature awards that focus on the end-user’s experience, whoever that may be, let alone hold such an honor in esteem. Shaw Contract’s Design Awards is the exception.   

Now in its 14th year, the company’s Design Awards recognize the creative vision of architects and designers who inspire new ways of living, working, learning, and healing. In late August, Shaw Contract, in collaboration with an esteemed panel of judges, announced six Final winners as well as a People’s Choice Award winner—SITE Architecture Studio, based in Perth, Australia—representing the highest caliber of work within the industry.  

SITE Architecture Studio created a lounge area for Hale Junior School in Australia, which mirrors its educational philosophy to Prepare, Teach and Connect, despite the building’s outdated construction.  Photography by Dion Robeson.

The winning design firms created versatile forms, which could adapt to suit a range of environments, including residential and commercial spaces. Each winning design draws on connectivity—imbuing warmth and a sense of home in even the most sterile environments, including tech labs, healthcare settings, and schools. “The Design Awards winners have created some of the most uniquely impactful spaces in the world,” says John Stephens, VP of marketing for Shaw Contract. “Today we celebrate that impact and congratulate the winning firms for creating human-centric and optimistic spaces.”

The Calgary Central Library in Alberta, Canada, designed by Snøhetta. Photography courtesy of Michael Grimm.

The jurors evaluated more than 700 entries submitted from 32 countries, analyzing each project’s ability to solve a design challenge. The judges looked beyond aesthetics, taking into consideration a team’s overall processes and results. Judges include: Amy Sickeler, Perkins & Will Atlanta; Anisa Heming, Center for Green Schools at USGBC; Chau Tran, MTA | Urban Design Architecture Interior Design; David Tracz, Studio 3877; Dehne Sibbernsen, HOK New York; Faith Marabella, Wellesley Design Consultants, Inc.; Jessica Collins, HOK Dallas; Linzi Cassels, Perkins & Will London; Ramesh Subramaniam, M Moser Malaysia; Shannon Murphy Gaffney, SkB ARCHITECTS.   

To see the complete list of Shaw Contract’s Design Awards winners, go here. 

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