2025 IIDA RMC BEST Awards

The BESTawards is a design excellence awards program that recognizes interior design projects going beyond a pretty picture and truly encompassing Brilliantly Executed Spaces and Thinking. We recognize that successful interior design requires a collaboration between many disciplines, consultant teams, project managers, vendors, contractors, manufacturer reps, etc; therefore, the awards will acknowledge all who contribute to the project success.

Moment

Reception Desk and Coffee Bar at Paradigm River North

Tryba Architects

Paradigm River North is a striking eight-story Class AA office and retail development in Denver’s RiNo Art District, designed to embody a next-generation workplace that blends industrial elegance with biophilic design. Its centerpiece—a sculptural dual-purpose reception desk and coffee bar—anchors a lush, two-story lobby that fosters connection, creativity, and comfort through thoughtful materials, curated art, and nature-inspired amenities.

Work 15K or Below

Workplace Resource

Gensler

Work/Haus is a home for ideas. The design creates a dynamic environment that sparks curiosity and movement, unveiling the industry’s most iconic brands in a series of thoughtfully curated moments, mirroring the vibrancy and character of its surrounding urban neighborhood while blurring the lines of workplace and showroom. 

Maker

Crusoe Energy

Gensler

Crusoe’s workplace design embodies its mission to unite climate-conscious innovation with computing, using storytelling and expedition-inspired elements—like climbing gear installations and environmental graphics—to reflect its adventurous spirit and core values. The space serves as a dynamic, visual narrative of Crusoe’s commitment to sustainability, resource efficiency, and technological progress.

Government

George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Mickey Leland International Terminal D

Fentress Architects

Houston’s new consolidated international terminal blends city and nature through thoughtful architecture that enhances passenger experience, daylighting, and wayfinding while celebrating the region’s identity. With innovative solar mitigation, dynamic lighting, and LEED Silver design strategies, the concourse creates a harmonious, sustainable, and locally inspired travel environment.

Community

Thornton Community Center

Studiotrope Design Collective

Reimagined in 2024, the Thornton Community Center unites recreation and library services in a single, architecturally cohesive facility that reflects its historic roots while embracing modern design. Featuring a lenticular form, dynamic interiors, and a clerestory spine that connects vibrant activity spaces with serene reading areas, the center fosters both physical and intellectual engagement for all ages.

Heal

LaVie Institute

Davis Partnership Architects

The LaVie Institute reimagines a medical office as a refined escape into industrial elegance, blending exposed architectural elements with warm, luxurious finishes to create an inclusive, comforting environment for all patients. Thoughtful coordination and design elevate the space into a visually balanced, high-functioning healthcare setting that sets a new standard in patient experience.

Work 15K – 30K

BCG Detroit

Tryba Architects

Boston Consulting Group’s new Detroit office embraces the city’s revitalization with a flexible, light-filled workspace that blends industrial heritage, local culture, and dynamic amenities to foster collaboration and comfort. Designed to attract employees and reflect BCG’s values, the space offers a café-like atmosphere with diverse work settings, greenery, and art inspired by Michigan’s identity.

Hospitality 

Asher Adams

JNS Architecture + Interior Design

Salt Lake City’s historic 1908 Union Pacific Railroad Depot has been transformed into a sophisticated hotel that blends restored architectural grandeur with modern design, creating a vibrant hub for connection and cultural storytelling. With 225 guestrooms, curated art, and dynamic public spaces, the project honors the city’s railroad legacy while offering a contemporary hospitality experience.

Education K-12

Woodland Elementary School

RTA Architects

Woodland Elementary School was designed to alleviate overcrowding and embody Cherry Creek Schools’ mission by creating flexible, collaborative, and inspiring learning environments rooted in the District’s Five Core Values. Developed through extensive stakeholder input, the school features dynamic classroom clusters, a central Library of Innovation, and vibrant design elements that support creativity, wellness, and community.

Work 30K – 60K

Perkins Coie – Phoenix

Stantec

The Perkins Coie Phoenix office reimagines the legal workplace with an inclusive, post-COVID design that eliminates hierarchy, celebrates regional and indigenous culture, and fosters collaboration through equitable access to light, views, and amenities. Thoughtful spatial planning and curated artistry create a vibrant, community-connected environment that reflects the firm’s values and evolving professional needs.

Multi-Family

One River North

Davis Partnership Architects

One River North offers a seamless blend of organic exterior forms and refined interiors, creating a tranquil yet dynamic living experience that connects residents to nature. Through sculptural plaster elements, biophilic design, and a soft, natural material palette, the space harmonizes canyon-inspired aesthetics with modern urban sophistication.

Residential

116 Tesemini Lane

Studio 4D Inc.

This Colorado mountain retreat masterfully blends angular modern architecture with natural materials and cultural accents, creating a luxurious yet grounded escape that celebrates its rugged surroundings. Thoughtful design choices—from expansive glass views to Navajo textiles and curated art—offer a rich, immersive experience rooted in comfort, craftsmanship, and connection to place.

Work 60k and Above

SRAM

DLR Group

SRAM’s reimagined headquarters is a high-performance workspace designed to mirror the brand’s precision and innovation, integrating cutting-edge technology with outdoor-inspired elements to fuel rapid prototyping and collaboration. From immersive trail-themed installations to flexible labs and community hubs, the space embodies SRAM’s adventurous spirit and commitment to redefining cycling.

Student

Imagine: Education, Workplace, and Community Center

Reagan Schneckloth

“Imagine: Education, Workplace, and Community Center” is a visionary senior capstone project designed to support families with children who have complex medical conditions by integrating accessible education, remote workspaces, and communal areas into a unified, inclusive environment. Inspired by child-like imagination and rooted in universal design, the building offers innovative architectural solutions that accommodate visible and invisible disabilities while fostering equity, connection, and discovery.

Higher Education 

Swarthmore College Community Commons

DLR Group

Sharples Commons reimagines Swarthmore’s beloved dining hall as a vibrant, biophilic campus hub that nurtures connection, well-being, and sustainability while honoring its historic roots. Inspired by the rhythms of nature, the design integrates study, social, and engagement spaces into a living ecosystem that supports the evolving student experience.

Restaurants

Jaguar Bolera

FAM Design

Jaguar Bolera is a vibrant, chef-driven entertainment venue that blends duck-pin bowling, karaoke, and self-pour drinks with a whimsical 1950s-inspired design rooted in the personality of a bold, fashionable muse. Every detail—from vintage brooches and jaguar-print wayfinding to playful fabrics and floral lighting—creates a dynamic, inclusive space that celebrates fun, flair, and flexibility for all guests.

Sports and Recreation

Foothills Golf Clubhouse

JNS Architecture + Interior Design

This redesigned Denver-area golf clubhouse elevates the public course experience with sustainable architecture, expanded amenities, and panoramic mountain views, all anchored by a striking exposed timber structure. Thoughtfully raised above the 18th hole, the new facility blends indoor-outdoor spaces, social lounges, and a modern Pro Shop to serve both daily golfers and community events.