2026 Student Design Program Winners!

AIA DAYTON ANNOUNCES ART IN ARCHITECTURE

STUDENT DESIGN WINNERS

The American Institute of Architects, Dayton Chapter (AIA Dayton) announced the winners of its 45th annual Art in Architecture Student Design Competition on April 4, 2026 at an Awards Program at Dayton Public Library, Southeast Branch. Students from nine Miami Valley counties were invited to compete for $2,000 in scholarships and prizes, including 15 credit hours to Sinclair Community College's Pathways program.

This year's program was designing a multi-generational home in the Huffman Historic District in Dayton, applying principles of universal design, including ADA components, into their final residential design. The program was open to college-bound high school students, grades 9 through 12, interested in art, architecture, or design in Champaign, Clark, Darke, Greene, Logan, Miami, Montgomery, Preble, and Shelby Counties. Fifty-four students from 6 area high schools participated in the program. Students were assisted with this project by their high school advisers as well as a team of architects and associate architects from AIA Dayton.

Andrick LaPerle, a senior at Oakwood High School, was awarded the Top Design Award and a $1,000 L2 Engineering college scholarship. Adeline Kolbe, a junior at Dayton Regional STEM School, won the Second Place Award and a Sinclair Community College Pathways scholarship, good for one semester of classes. Two Honorable Mention Book Awards of $200 each were earned by Samuel Keyes and Andreas Meira, both seniors at Oakwood High School.

An award for the Most Creative Use of Materials went to Dayton Regional STEM School junior, Lizzy Groscko, while Centerville High School junior Jenna Bell received the Future Architect Award. Rounding out the prizes and receiving the Master Craftsperson award for the best presentation was Anna Peters, a junior at Oakwood High School.

This competition was judged on creative design and artistic presentation. Judging of the student's projects occurred by a panel of jurors in the design field.

AIA Dayton was founded in 1899 and represents a nine-county membership of approximately 200 architects. AIA Dayton's mission is to facilitate unity and fellowship among the membership in their pursuit of professional excellence toward quality architecture, to influence the built environment, and to increase the public's awareness of the profession's benefits and commitment to the Greater Dayton community.

For additional information, contact: Lauren McCarroll, Associate AIA, Champlin Architecture, 937.607.4385.