The American Institute of Architects Inland California (AIAIC) presented HMC Architects with six 2026 AIAIC Design Awards. The winning projects include:
MiraCosta College Health & Wellness Hub
Honor Award (Architecture)
At MiraCosta College’s Oceanside campus, wellness is no longer just a program—it’s a place. The new health and wellness hub transforms the eastern edge of campus into a dynamic environment where students can learn, connect, and thrive. Designed in partnership with Balfour Beatty, this new development brings together Allied Health, Kinesiology, Health and Nutrition, and Athletics into a vibrant interdisciplinary complex. But this is more than a collection of buildings—it’s a wellness village. The 74,000 SF hub includes a modern gymnasium, advanced medical simulation labs, nutrition classrooms, student lounges, and flexible outdoor areas that double as instructional and social zones. Every element was shaped by the people it serves—designed to reflect MiraCosta’s inclusive mission and to remove barriers to student success.
San Benito High School District New High School #2
Outstanding Award and Members Choice (Unbuilt) Award
The design of San Benito High School District’s new high school aims to create a place that cherishes its deep-rooted culture and connection to the land while empowering future leaders to soar. This “Roots and Wings” concept influences the campus master plan and architecture, guiding our design to harmonize tradition with innovation in profound and meaningful ways. Phasing strategically positions the project for future expansion based on additional needs and the ability to secure additional funding. Phase one will accommodate 1200 students and 46 teaching stations. Ultimately, the campus will house up to 2400 students. Located in the agricultural region of Hollister, California, the project incorporates an agricultural farm as a hands-on learning component, seamlessly integrating educational opportunities with the natural context. Various gathering spaces will enable students to connect, learn, and grow together. These spaces will allow flexible teaching methodologies and various daily learning activities. Universal design principles, efficient circulation, and sustainable practices ensure the campus is accessible and easy for all visitors.
Irvine Unified School District, Greentree Elementary New Treehouse Multipurpose Building
Members Choice (Architecture)
More than a multipurpose space, this building is the new heart of Greentree Elementary, breathing life into a legacy campus—a musical celebration that fosters connections and becomes a beacon of performance, learning, and student engagement. The 44-year-old elementary school campus now enjoys a vibrant new campus center, a flexible multi-use space, informed by its environment and inspired by the music within it. Deeply connected to its context, the design respects the scale and materials of the original campus while establishing a fresh identity. The building is carefully sited to preserve as many mature trees, and the associated shade, as possible and to maximize opportunities for community comfort and engagement—turning the edge of campus into a new civic front porch. This new building accommodates a variety of school functions, including music instruction, performances, special events, and before- and after-school activities.
UC San Diego Ridge Walk North Living & Learning Neighborhood
Outstanding Award (Architecture) and Member’s Choice Best of Show
Design-Build Partners: Hensel Phelps + EYRC Architects + HMC Architects
The University of California San Diego’s Ridge Walk North Living and Learning Neighborhood goes beyond simply providing student beds but defines a place on campus purposefully designed for inclusion and provides endless opportunities to explore, discover, and connect. Three new residence halls will provide beds for over 2,400 Thurgood Marshall College students, amenities, and gathering spaces for students to build community. The halls have been planned to promote equity, with each featuring a front porch and scaled communal spaces threaded throughout to make every student feel like they belong. The mixed-use neighborhood also includes an economics building, administration, additional lecture halls, and community programs including a basic needs center, E-Sports Center, and Goody’s Cafe + Market. The project strengthens and connects the UC San Diego campus, with revitalized nodes and plazas along Ridge Walk and key thoroughfares to the Historic Grove, Geisel Library, and the heart of campus beyond.
The AIA is the most prominent membership organization for licensed architects, emerging professionals, and allied partners. The AIAIC serves the public, the profession, and its members in San Bernardino County and western Riverside County with programs and services to advance the art of architecture and enhance the quality of our environment. The annual design awards program celebrates the architectural design conducted in the region. To learn more about the AIAIC Design Awards, visit their website. Thank you AIAIC and congratulations to the project teams and visionary clients who make these projects possible!
