HDR Civic Design Director Kate Diamond wins the 2026 AIA Award for Excellence in Public Architecture

Kate Diamond, Civic Design Director at HDR, is this year's recipient of the AIA Award for Excellence in Public Architecture. Diamond’s work was praised for reframing public infrastructure as a catalyst for community identity and engagement.

Her portfolio spans courthouses, transit, and water infrastructure, consistently pairing high-performance design with social impact. Projects such as the Orange County Sanitation District Headquarters and the Puente Hills Environmental Justice Center demonstrate how net-zero strategies, regenerative landscapes, and public access can transform infrastructure into meaningful civic assets.

"Throughout her career, Diamond has demonstrated that public architecture can do more than serve functional needs; it can inspire, educate, and catalyze change," her AIA citation reads. "Her work continues to set new standards for how design can deliver environmental stewardship, social impact, and lasting civic value."

Diamond follows SUNY Buffalo planner Kelly Hayes-McAlonie, Air Force planner Paula Loomis, and HASTINGS principal David M. Powell as other recent recipients of the award.