RECAP: 2025 IIDA Kentucky Design Awards

October 23, 2025 | Speed Art Museum, Louisville, Kentucky

The Speed Art Museum set the stage for a dazzling evening of creativity and recognition as Kentucky’s design community gathered for the 2025 IIDA Kentucky Design Awards, presented by the IIDA Ohio Kentucky Chapter. Designers, students, and industry professionals came together to celebrate exceptional work that defines the spirit of design excellence across the Commonwealth.

The night began with a spirited cocktail reception and networking among peers, followed by an inspiring awards ceremony highlighting the year’s most innovative and impactful projects.

This year’s distinguished panel of judges included Bruce Hannah (Hannah Design, NY), Catrina Cook (RDG Planning & Design, St. Louis), Dani Hann (CannonDesign, St. Louis), Jack Weber (Gresham Smith, Nashville), and Nicole Tiessen (aodbt architecture + interior design, Saskatchewan).

---

2025 Award Winners

Student Project

Olivia Tharp – University of Kentucky – Fremont Public Library

Live

Honor Award: Leslie Lewis & Associates – The Grandview

Learn – Education

Honor Award: JRA Architects – JCPS Echo Trail Middle School

Merit Award: Miranda Construction – Carriage House Expansion

Workplace – Large Corporate

Honor Award: Studio 360 – Churchill Downs Corporate Headquarters

Workplace – Small Corporate

Honor Award: Champlin | EOP Architects – Dentons Bingham Greenbaum Lexington Office

Merit Award: Champlin | EOP Architects – Louisville Tourism Headquarters

Heal

Honor Award: Stengel Hill Architecture – Baptist Health Hardin Medical Pavilion

Culture

Honor Award: Omni Architects – Boone County Public Library

Merit Award: Champlin | EOP Architects – Lexington Public Library, Marksbury Family Branch

Social

Honor Award: Joseph & Joseph – Green River Louisville Tasting Room

Merit Award: Joseph & Joseph – Trail Hotel

Creative Install

Honor Award: ID+A – Louisville Tourism Headquarters

Merit Award: ID+A – Berea College CMIT

---

Member Awards

Student Award

Sophia Dant – Western Kentucky University

Legacy Award

Stephanie McCrery – Reese Design Collaborative

Member of the Year

Leslie Lewis Sheets – Leslie Lewis & Associates

---

Congratulations to Our Winners!

The IIDA Kentucky Design Awards continues to honor those who elevate the profession through innovation, collaboration, and a passion for creating spaces that inspire. Congratulations to all the 2025 award recipients for their outstanding achievements and for representing the best of Kentucky design.

Here’s to another year of creativity, community, and design excellence — we can’t wait to see what’s next!