Recent Awards & Recognition

2026 Awards

Amy Gutmann Hall Honored with Two Awards

The Woodworks Innovation Network (WIN) recently awarded Amy Gutmann Hall a Wood in Architecture award for 2026. Completed in late 2024, the building features active learning classrooms, collaborative project spaces, and a data science hub that serves the entire Penn community. Of the design behind the space, WIN said: “Using the warmth of wood to promote human connection, the designers of Amy Gutmann Hall redefined how data scientists learn and connect, surrounding them with bright, open spaces and natural materials.”

Additionally, the ACE Mentor Program of Philadelphia honored Amy Gutmann Hall with their 2026 New Build Project of the Year at their 25th Annual Scholarship Breakfast, naming it a project that “exemplifies innovation, community impact, and design excellence within Philadelphia’s built environment.” (June 2026)

Preservation Alliance Grand Jury Award for Accolade on Chestnut

The Preservation Alliance of Philadelphia recently awarded Accolade on Chestnut a Grand Jury Award for 2026. The redevelopment of Sansom Place East, originally constructed in 1970, into Accolade on Chestnut was completed in summer 2023. The building's exterior facade was maintained, while its windows were replaced and the interior underwent a full renovation. The Preservation Alliance praised the project, noting that the “full height openings and historically compatible windows and upgraded building systems complete(d) the modernization of this mid-century landmark.” Read more about the prestigious awards on their website. (June 2026)

Seventeenth year in a Row for Tree Campus Higher Education Honor

For the seventeenth year in a row, Penn has earned Tree Campus Higher Education recognition from the Arbor Day Foundation. The program honors colleges and universities for promoting healthy trees and engaging students and staff in conservation. Penn achieved this distinction by meeting five core standards, including maintaining an advisory committee, implementing a campus tree care plan, investing annually in tree care, celebrating Arbor Day, and developing a student-focused service-learning project. Learn more on the Arbor Day Foundation website. (March 2026)

College Hall Renovation Receives LEED Gold Designation

College Hall’s recent renovation project has been awarded a LEED Gold designation by the U.S. Green Building Council. Completed in 2025, the project included the installation of new, historically appropriate, energy‑efficient systems and infrastructure; repairs to the roof and windows; and renovations and upgrades to interior suites, offices, and classrooms. In February, the U.S. Green Building Council awarded College Hall LEED Gold certification, recognizing the project’s commitment to reducing energy consumption and diverting 80 percent of construction waste from landfills. Learn more about this project on the FRES website. (February 2026)

Amy Gutmann Hall Wins AIA New York Honor Award

In February, winners were unveiled for the 2026 AIA New York Design Awards, with projects honored in categories of Architecture, Interiors, Projects, and Urban Design, all intended to “celebrate the wonder of architecture, its role in building community, and its capacity as a vehicle for optimism.” The University of Pennsylvania’s Amy Gutmann Hall was granted an Honor award in the Architecture category for its design quality, response to its context and community, program resolution, innovation, thoughtfulness, and technique. Learn more about the 2026 AIA New York Design Awards. (February 2026)

Pennsylvania Champion Trees on Penn Campus

Penn is now the proud steward of two statewide champion trees. Two of the live oaks on Penn’s campus were recently deemed the largest in our county as well as the entire state. The PA Champion Tree Program is a part of the Pennsylvania Forestry Association (PFA), the nation’s oldest grass roots state organization devoted to forest conservation. (January 2026)