Tag: community

Read about all the winners and finalists of the 2025 Honor Awards event!

A Tribute to Leadership: Honoring Sascha Wagner

This year’s Leadership Award was presented to Sascha Wagner, President & CEO of Huntsman Architectural Group. A respected voice in the industry and longtime member of IIDA, Sascha’s contributions to our community are wide-reaching—from his time as Northern California Chapter President to his leadership as IIDA International Board President. His work continues to reflect a deep commitment to creating human-centered environments that inspire.

Sascha was introduced by Brian Graham—designer, friend, and former Honor Awards co-host—whose words underscored the impact of Sascha’s mentorship and vision.

On March 20, the IIDA Northern California community gathered once again for a night that honors design excellence in our community. The 2025 Honor Awards, held at The Masonic Auditorium in San Francisco, celebrated the creativity and innovation of our region’s design professionals and students, recognizing outstanding projects across a wide range of categories.

A Night Led by the Board

For the first time, all presenters at the Honor Awards were members of our IIDA Northern California Board. Their presence on stage brought a sense of pride and purpose to the evening, reminding us that this event is truly built by our community, for our community.

And the Honors Go To…

Across all categories—HEAL, JEWELBOX, LIVE, PLAY, SERVE, and WORK (Small, Medium, Large)—this year’s winning projects pushed the boundaries of innovation, beauty, and function. We also recognized standout achievements with our CRAFT, LONG VIEW, and JURY’S CHOICE Awards. Congratulations to this year’s winners:

🏆 And for the first time, our Jury wanted to give a special recognition with the JURY’s CHOICE Award that went to San Francisco’s FORGE for San Mateo Science Center.

For more information on the winners and their projects, visit our awards page.

Student Design Awards

We’re proud to spotlight the next generation of design leaders. Congratulations to our 2025 student winners:

🥇 First Place: Leta Pham — San Jose State University
🥈 Second Place: Lufan Yang — California College of the Arts
🥉 Third Place: Amy Nicole Zumout — San Jose State University

The Celebration Continued…

New this year: the first-ever Honor Awards After Party, held at Fifth Arrow in San Francisco. Presented by Principal Builders and Two, with additional support from One Workplace, Insidesource, Pivot, CRI, and NOVO Construction, the after party kept the celebration going into the night. We’re grateful to our sponsors for helping us foster connection and community—on and off the stage.

Read about all the winners and finalists of the 2024 Honor Awards event!

Evening Highlights

Cocktails and Conversations
The evening kicked off with cocktails in the gorgeous mid-century lobby of the Masonic Auditorium. Attendees enjoyed reconnecting with friends and colleagues before moving to the main hall for dinner and a memorable night.

Welcoming Remarks
Our emcee, Jonathan Chow, Event Committee Chair and Designer at DLR Group, warmly welcomed the attendees. He recalled his journey from a past IIDA Student Award winner to emceeing this grand event and expressed gratitude towards the Honor Awards committee. Jonathan’s introduction set the stage for a night where tradition meets innovation.

Acknowledging Excellence
Cheryl Durst, IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO, highlighted our advocacy efforts and forward-thinking legislative actions in California. She praised the designers of tomorrow while introducing the recipients of the Student Awards, which included the promising sophomore Kami Huynh, multi-year winner Electra White, and trailblazing senior Soojee Choi.

On March 14, 2024, energy buzzed through the Masonic Auditorium in San Francisco, as the IIDA Northern California Chapter Honor Awards celebrated stellar interior design projects. These projects not only define spaces but also set new standards. The event embodied a spirit of innovation and camaraderie, and we extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated. Your contributions inspire our community, fostering confidence and optimism.

Award Highlights

Innovative Design Recognized
The awards segment was filled with excitement as presenters spotlighted exceptional projects:

• LIVE Category: Katelyn Hoffman and Enrique Sanchez showcased projects that turn spaces into homes.
• JEWEL BOX Award: Jones Haydu presented the award for intimate design to Caffe by Mr. Espresso.
• PLAY Award: Ian White and Whitney Feussner celebrated EHDD’s transformation of the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium.
• HEAL Award: Stantec was honored for Care Essentials by Kaiser, a space where wellness thrives.

Sustainability and Craftsmanship
The evening continued with Ai Hamaji and Damien Watson presenting the SERVE award to HMC Architects for Sierra College, a beacon of community and learning. The LONG VIEW award went to EHDD for their sustainable design of the YouTube Campus Expansion. The CRAFT award recognized DLR Group for the SFMTA Subway Chinatown project, a testament to detailed and thoughtful design.

Corporate Creativity
The WORK awards highlighted functional creativity in corporate spaces:

• SMALL Category: Gensler for LinkedIn Maude Deep Focus.
• MEDIUM Category: Aidlin Darling Design for The Prow.
• LARGE Category: Gensler again shone with NVIDIA Headquarters.