HASTINGS Architecture — Architecture, Interior Design, Planning, and Sustainability

James Lawson High School Wins 2026 AIA Tennessee Merit Award

James Lawson High School has won a Merit Award at the 2026 AIA Tennessee Design Awards this Fall.

To salute excellence in architecture, AIA Tennessee conducts an annual Design Awards program. This program honors built works of distinction designed by AIA Tennessee members. The program also brings to public attention outstanding examples of architecture. The awards are announced annually at the Design & Honor Awards Celebration during the AIA TN Conference on Architecture.

The judges stated, "School buildings play an especially important role in shaping how young people understand the value of design. This project creates an environment that supports learning, collaboration, and community with a level of care not always seen in this building type. The jury admired its elegant use of materials, generous social spaces, stepped seating, double-height volumes, and flexible openings that transform educational space into an active and collaborative setting. It is a high-performing building that quietly integrates sustainability, site responsiveness, and student-centered design."

Architecture, Interior Design, Planning, and Sustainability