Perhaps one of the lesser discussed design typologies is the design of a practice itself. Much like crafting a welcoming healthcare facility or planning an enjoyable park, structuring a design business is a meticulous, ever-evolving project with direct impact on the built environment. The evolution—and successes—of designing a practice are chronicled in The Architect’s Newspaper’s annual Best of Practice Awards.
Throughout the entries, winners, and jury deliberations for the 2025 edition, an emphasis on employee wellbeing and a studio’s impact on the industry at large and local communities remained top of mind for many. Many of these companies that stood out to the jury impressively leveraged scale, expertise, and influence for larger endeavors like conducting further impactful research, empowering other generations, and finding solutions for new, global challenges. Meet the winners, honorable mentions, and editors’ picks for the 2025 Best of Practice Awards below, along with quotes from the jury taken from the deliberation discussion with insights on why each was selected.
The Best of Practice Awards Jury:
Jury
Architect (XL Firm) – Canada
Diamond Schmitt
“The efforts here in terms of sustainability and energy saving are noteworthy and deserving of an award.”—Enrica Oliva
Architect (XL Firm) – Midwest
Multistudio
“Multistudio’s work speaks to me. The design seems committed to longevity—not novelty—which impressed me.”—Steve Radom
Architect (XL Firm) – Northeast
Ayers Saint Gross
“Ayers Saint Gross does education, and, quite frankly, it does it pretty damn well. I appreciate the fact that the firm is definitive in its design approach.”—Antoine Bryant
Architect (XL Firm) – Southwest
Lake|Flato Architects
“In addition to having a stellar reputation for sustainability, the firm’s a thought leader, creating a movement towards regionalism, sustainability, and incorporating landscaping”—Steve Radom
Architect (XL Firm) – West
Hennebery Eddy Architects
“It has a good balance of civic projects and smaller-scale projects. A breadth of work was really represented.”—Tizziana Baldenebro
Architect (Large Firm) – Midwest
Legat Architects
“The firm shared projects not because they were the flashiest, but because they meant something to the community. It shows how they made a difference there.”—Enrica Oliva
Architect (Large Firm) – Northeast
KieranTimberlake
“This is a firm that puts its money where its mouth is. It cares about good design and integrating research into practice, including tracing and addressing critical issues in the supply chain.”—Jacob Reidel
Architect (Large Firm) – Southeast
HASTINGS Architecture
“HASTINGS does work at a very high level across typologies, and is a center of excellence in the region.”—Jacob Reidel
Architect (Large Firm) – Southwest
Architect (Large Firm) – West
Olson Kundig
“The designs are beautiful and the narrative demonstrates a strong push towards improving office culture.”—Diane Lipovsky
Architect (Medium Firm) – Canada
Michael Green Architecture
“The environmental chops are there, the work is evocative, and the firm has really solid endorsement.”—Tizziana Baldenebro
Architect (Medium Firm) – Mexico
Architect (Medium Firm) – Midwest
Dake Wells Architecture
“The studio culture seems really healthy. I liked the firm culture, annual studio trips, and encouraging others to strengthen their relationship with one another.”—Tizziana Baldenebro
Architect (Medium Firm) – Northeast
CO Adaptive
“What I appreciate about CO Adaptive’s submission was the emphasis on teamwork, craft, and identifying the supply chain.”—Steve Radom
Architect (Medium Firm) – Southeast
EOA Architects
“EOA is comprehensive. The firm addresses sustainability, talks about workplace culture very definitively, and has good design.”—Antoine Bryant
Architect (Medium Firm) – Southwest
Studio Ma
“I love that it’s a second-generation firm that’s distinguishing itself in a new way. It leverages the success of the original and takes it a step further.”—Anne Marie Duvall Decker
Architect (Medium Firm) – West
Architect (Small Firm) – Canada
AAmp Studio
“AAmp is excellent. The commitment to academics while still practicing is impressive—and so is the pro-bono work.”—Antoine Bryant
Architect (Small Firm) – Mexico
Michan Architecture
“I love the work. It’s very beautiful and integrates with the landscape.”—Diane Lipovsky
Architect (Small Firm) – Midwest
Future Firm
“Ten years in, Future Firm has established itself as a smart office that delivers thoughtful design for civic-minded clients.”—Jack Murphy
Architect (Small Firm) – Northeast
NDNY Architecture + Design
“Serious, interdisciplinary, and exceptional design: the firm is applying its skill to diverse endeavors.”—Anne Marie Duvall Decker
Architect (Small Firm) – Southeast
Architect (Small Firm) – Southwest
CONTENT Architecture
“It seems like a great place to work. CONTENT has created a happy and collaborative environment with a flat organization.”—Steve Radom
Architect (Small Firm) – West
RA-DA
“The public and commercial work is playful, collaborative, and community-centered. All of the work is thoughtful and well-crafted”—Anne Marie Duvall Decker
Architect (New Firm) – Canada
Architect (New Firm) – Northeast
aanda architects
“I appreciate aanda’s work, and will always be particularly grateful for the work it did for the Brooklyn Public Library during COVID, successfully—and beautifully—activating the street with a library version of the streeteries when so many of our institutions were closed to the public.”—Jacob Reidel
Architect (New Firm) – Southwest
Architect (New Firm) – West
Acoustic Consultant & Engineer
Fabricator
Pure + FreeForm
“The company spends time doing charitable initiatives, sustainability, and recycling of their products.”—Enrica Oliva
General Contractor
Interior Designer – Northeast
HUXHUX Design
“Retail is an under-appreciated type of design commission. HUXHUX Design showcases how it can be done in an experimental way while keeping a focus on people.”—Jack Murphy
Landscape Architect – Midwest
Merritt Chase Landscape Architecture
“The firm is really committed to positive social impact and helping their region. The practice does a lot of research and work on Appalachia and how they can contribute to the regenerative generation of those areas.”—Diane Lipovsky
Landscape Architect – Northeast
Mikyoung Kim Design
“The practice has been dedicated to art and play in design and they do a lot of research on play. I was super excited by their research on neurodivergent design.”—Diane Lipovsky
Landscape Architect – Southwest
Lighting Designer
L’Observatoire International
“The work is really stunning. The firm is a clear standout in terms of design and narrative.”—Tizziana Baldenebro
Structural Engineer
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