UC Berkeley Grimes Engineering Center Wins Design Award

The University of California, Berkeley—Grimes Engineering Center, designed by Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill (SOM), has been honored as the winner in the architectural design category of Fast Company’s 2026 Innovation by Design Awards. This award recognizes outstanding achievements in solving problems within the built environment through innovative architectural solutions. The Grimes Engineering Center stands out for its implementation of a novel seismic-responsive structural system, which sets a precedent for enhanced earthquake resilience in building design. This adaptive-reuse project transforms an existing structure, demonstrating a commitment to sustainability and forward-thinking engineering practices.

Fast Company’s Innovation by Design Awards celebrate a wide range of design disciplines, with the architectural design category specifically focusing on buildings, structures, and interior designs that address critical challenges. The selection process involves a rigorous evaluation of projects that exhibit creativity, functionality, and a significant impact on their surroundings. The Grimes Engineering Center's victory highlights the critical importance of structural integrity and safety, particularly in seismically active regions, by integrating advanced engineering to mitigate earthquake risks. Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill, the architectural firm behind the project, is a globally recognized leader in architecture, urban planning, and engineering, known for its large-scale and complex projects.

Beyond the top honor, Fast Company also recognized several other notable projects as finalists and honorable mentions. Among the finalists were Gateway Library by Richärd Kennedy Architects, the Longwood Gardens West Conservatory and Waterlily Court by Weiss/Manfredi, the TCC DAKA Renewable Resource Recycling Center by KPF, and The Challenge Program’s Gibbs Center Production Studio by Digsau. These projects represent diverse approaches to architectural innovation, from public spaces to critical infrastructure. The honorable mentions included the Avicii Arena Modernization by HOK, the David Rubenstein Treehouse at Harvard University by Studio Gang, the Life and Mind Building at the University of Oxford by NBBJ, the Norton Rose Fulbright Tower by Skanska USA Commercial Development, and Roig Arena by HOK and ERRE. The Washington School for the Deaf, Divine Academic B was also listed among the honorable mentions. Each of these projects showcases unique contributions to the field of architecture and design, reflecting a broad spectrum of innovation in addressing contemporary challenges.

The architectural design category aims to identify projects that not only possess aesthetic merit but also demonstrate practical problem-solving capabilities and contribute positively to society and the environment. The Grimes Engineering Center's success underscores the growing emphasis on resilient design and the adaptive reuse of existing structures as key strategies in sustainable development. The award ceremony and full list of honorees are part of Fast Company's broader initiative to highlight innovation across various industries, encouraging further advancements and setting new benchmarks for design excellence.