The best new learning centers are selected for AIA's 2017 Education Facility Design Awards

As kids across the country begin the start of a new school year,  the AIA Committee on Architecture for Education appropriately releases their selected projects for this year's Education Facility Design Awards. The program honors superb examples of educational facilities; from early childhood facilities to higher education, the projects selected demonstrate innovative and cutting-edge designs that enhance modern pedagogy. 

An environmental center in Connecticut incorporates a high-performance monitoring system that provides feedback to students and teaches them lessons about sustainability. An international school for grades pre-K through 12 draws upon traditional Chinese architecture and uses color and frames to enhance the Chinese teaching model. And a new home for one of the top five engineering programs in the country, at 230,000 square-feet, is the largest building to receive a Net Zero Energy rating.  

These are just a few vibrant examples of the contemporary educational architecture included in this years awards. You can check out the full list of winning projects below!

↑ Award of Excellence: Bridge for Laboratory Sciences, Vassar College, Integrated Science Commons located in Poughkeepsie, New York. Designed by Ennead Architects.

↑ Award of Excellence: Kohler Environmental Center, Choate Rosemary Hall located in Wallingford, Connecticut. Designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, LLP.

↑ Award of Excellence: Music and Arts Center located in Wenatchee, Washington. Designed by Integrus Architecture.

↑ Award of Excellence: Northwood Elementary School located in Mercer Island, Washington. Designed by Mahlum Architects

↑ Award of Excellence: University of Oregon Allan Price Commons Research Library Remodel-Expansion located in Eugene, Oregon. Designed by Opsis Architecture.

↑ Award of Merit: Bates Technical College - Advanced Technology Center located in Tacoma, Washington. Designed by McGranahan Architects.

↑ Award of Merit: Chengdu International School located in Chengdu, China. Designed by Perkins Eastman Architects.

↑ Award of Merit: Cherry Crest Elementary School located in Bellevue, Washington. Designed by NAC Architecture.

↑ Award of Merit: University of California, Berkeley - Jacobs Institute for Design Innovation located in Berkeley, California. Designed by Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects.

↑ Award of Merit: The Winsor School, Lubin O'Donnell Center for Performing Arts and Wellness located in Boston, Massachusetts. Designed by William Rawn Associates, Architects, Inc.

↑ Award of Merit: University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Electrical and Computer Engineering Building located in Urbana, Illinois. Designed by SmithGroupJJR.

↑ Award of Merit: University of Pennsylvania - Stephen A. Levin Building located in Philadelphia. Designed by SmithGroupJJR.