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As the 2026 AIA Conference on Architecture & Design commences in San Diego, the St. Louis chapter of the AIA has announced the winners of its annual National Photography Competition.

Now in its fourth decade, the contest is open to all registered architects in the United States, AIA associates, and students enrolled at accredited architecture schools. This year’s jury included Kimberly Dowdell, vice president at Amrize and 2024 AIA National President; Marcus Carter, partner at Object Territories; and architectural photographer Jason Keen. Cash prizes were awarded to the first, second, and third place winners as well as the recipient of the Al Fuller Prize, which recognizes photographic excellence in capturing a subject based in the U.S., and the Student Award. The top winners of the 2026 cycle depict the Jürgen Mayer–designed Metropol Parasol in Seville, Spain; Robertson Hall, by Minoru Yamasaki, at Princeton University; Manhattan’s Frank Lloyd Wright–designed Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and more.

See below for this year’s competition-winning photographs as well as the jury’s selection of 10 outstanding submissions honored with merit awards. The winning photos will also be on display at RECORD’s booth (2611) on the expo floor of AIA26. See you there!

First Place: High Noon Square by Charles Matta

Seville, Spain

High Noon Square by Charles Matta of Arlington, Virginia. Photo courtesy AIA St. Louis

Second Place: Walking In The Rhythm by Wentao Guo

Princeton, New Jersey

Walking In The Rhythm by Wentao Guo of Long Island City, New York. Photo courtesy AIA St. Louis

Third Place: Observer Observed by Arsh Khanna

New York City

Observer Observed by Arsh Khanna, Georgia Institute of Technology. Photo courtesy AIA St. Louis

Fuller Award: Layers by Colin Keiner

Seattle

Layers by Colin Keiner, University of Oregon Photo courtesy AIA St. Louis

Student Award: Magentahouse by Destiny Martinez, University of Oregon

Eugene, Oregon

Magentahouse by Destiny Martinez, University of Oregon. Photo courtesy AIA St. Louis

Merit Awards: 

Architecture within a Shrine taken in Kyoto, Japan, by Adriana Baker. Photo courtesy AIA St Louis

The Broad is Watching taken in Los Angeles, by Bonnie Blake-Drucker. Photo courtesy AIA St. Louis

Jupiter’s Jencks taken in Edinburgh, Scotland, by Colin Drumwright. Photo courtesy AIA St. Louis

Lost Reflection taken in Berlin, by Colin Drumwright. Photo courtesy AIA St. Louis

DC Reflections taken in Washington, D.C., by Lewis Goetz. Photo courtesy AIA St Louis

Sayamaike Museum Tableaux: Into the Light taken in Osaka, Japan, by Glenn Goldman. Photo courtesy AIA St. Louis

A Capsule in Time taken in London, by Yu-An Ma. Photo courtesy AIA St Louis

Sanctum taken in Copenhagen, Denmark, by Preston Kwok. Photo courtesy AIA St Louis

Work taken in Bologna, Italy, by Jonathan Myers. Photo courtesy AIA St Louis

Shadows tell the stories taken in Jaipur, India, by Sanjay Jani. Photo courtesy AIA St. Louis

See last year’s winners here and read more about this year’s awards and next year’s competition at the St. Louis AIA Chapter’s website.

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