2026 LOADING . . .
A preview of the projects to watch in the coming year.
As 2026 begins, a new group of projects moves toward completion, bringing a range of civic, academic, and institutional spaces into view. Developed across different contexts and scales, the work reflects years of collaboration and coordination.
University of Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia
The Karsh Institute of Democracy is a new academic and civic building located within the University of Virginia’s Emmet-Ivy Corridor. An educational ecosystem, it brings together research, teaching, convening, and public programming, establishing a dedicated setting to inspire scholarship, support dialogue, and advance the principles of democracy at the heart of the University.
Designed in collaboration with Höweler + Yoon, the building is organized around shared public spaces, including a centrally positioned auditorium supported by classrooms, research areas, and flexible event spaces. Its siting and form reinforce connections to the surrounding landscape and emerging district while maintaining continuity with the university’s broader spatial framework. Selected as a Design for Freedom Pilot Project, the Institute aligns material sourcing and construction practices with ethical labor standards.
Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, Michigan
Gold Oaks Residence Hall is a new residential community at Western Michigan University designed to accommodate more than 1,000 first-year students. Set within a wooded campus context, the building’s massing defines two courtyards that establish a clear spatial framework for daily student life.
The building’s expression is shaped by a hybrid mass timber structural system paired with prefabricated assemblies, with exposed timber elements defining interior common spaces and large openings framing views to the surrounding landscape. Delivered through a streamlined design-build process, the project establishes a durable and efficient residential environment that supports long-term use as part of the campus fabric.
University of Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia
Envisioned as a new gateway between UVA’s North and Central Grounds, the Virginia Guesthouse is a cornerstone of the broader Emmet-Ivy Corridor redevelopment. Replacing the longtime Cavalier Inn, this modern hospitality complex will offer 225 guestrooms, conference facilities, and a visitors’ center. Notably situated near UVA’s basketball arena, football stadium, the new Karsh Institute of Democracy, and a planned performing arts complex, it reinforces the “Open Grounds” initiative by welcoming students, locals, and international guests.
The Guesthouse includes a first-floor café, a full-service restaurant, and a rooftop bar offering sweeping views of the surrounding campus. Set within a high-performance landscape, it incorporates stormwater management and native plantings to integrate the site’s natural hydrology. By establishing a warm campus gateway and a flexible platform for learning, the project extends the university’s reach and upholds its tradition of hospitality for years to come.
Reservoir Square Baltimore, Maryland
The new headquarters for Baltimore City’s Mayor’s Office of Employment Development is located along North Avenue within Reservoir Square, an 8.1-acre mixed-use redevelopment on the city’s Westside. Building on the site’s initial townhome development, the four-story, build-to-suit facility establishes a prominent public presence on the west side of the district.
The building consolidates workforce development services previously distributed across the city, creating a single point of access for residents. Public-facing programs and training spaces occupy the lower two levels, while upper floors accommodate administrative offices and larger assembly spaces, reinforcing the project’s role as an anchor within the redevelopment.
