HGA is the recipient of two national awards by the American Institute of Architects for excellence in design and sustainable strategies. Marlboro Music Reich Hall has won a Committee on the Environment (COTE) Top Ten Award, and Jackson Hole History Museum has won an Interior Architecture Award.
This is a celebration of HGA’s national Arts + Culture practice, a creative and collaborative team who uses their expertise and passion for the arts to design beautiful, sustainable, and equitable environments.
Music in Harmony with Nature: Marlboro Music Reich Hall
The architecture industry’s highest honor for sustainable design, the COTE Top Ten Awards program honors projects for their significant achievements integrating design excellence with environmental performance.
Marlboro Music Reich Hall exemplifies sustainability, community, and artistry is an all-electric net-zero building that harmoniously blends music with nature. This eco-conscious cultural retreat fosters a unique connection between musicians and nature, preserving the tradition of chamber music while inspiring future generations.
Marlboro Music Reich Hall | Marlboro, VT
Featuring geothermal heating, passive and energy efficient design strategies, natural materials, and abundant daylight, it exceeds AIA 2030 standards while minimizing environmental impact. Tailored for musicians, its acoustically advanced rehearsal rooms support creativity, while a climate-controlled library preserves the world’s largest chamber music collection.
Marlboro Music Reich Hall was previously honored with an AIA Architecture Award (2023).
Creating a Sense of Time and Place: Jackson Hole History Museum
The Interior Architecture program celebrates the most innovative and spectacular interior spaces. Jackson Hole History Museum’s redesign is celebrated for establishing a lasting cultural landmark in the heart of downtown Jackson, Wyoming. The design creates an open, engaging space for visitors and broader community.
The quarter-acre site features a three-story museum, historic cabins, and integrated outdoor spaces. The state-of-the-art exhibition gallery, designed for flexibility and interaction features layered storytelling through dynamic exhibits, including the interactive “Windows on Jackson” photo wall, which offers visitors meaningful human connections to the region’s diverse history.
Jackson Hole History Museum | Jackson Hole, WY
The design is successful in balancing contextual and contemporary design, embracing both the Western character and regional history to create a modern museum that reflects Jackson Hole’s present and future.
Design Impact
The award-winning design teams are led by Joan M. Soranno, FAIA, and John Cook, FAIA who are marking their design legacy with six AIA national honors. They have previously been honored for Marlboro Music Reich Hall (2023), the Walker Art Center Expansion (2021), Lakewood Cemetery Garden Mausoleum (2014), and Bigelow Chapel at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities (2006).
About AIA
Founded in 1857, AIA consistently works to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings, neighborhoods, and communities. Through more than 200 international, state and local chapters, AIA advocates for public policies that promote economic vitality and public wellbeing.
About HGA
HGA is a national interdisciplinary design firm committed to making a positive, lasting impact for clients and communities through research-based, holistic solutions. HGA believes that great design requires a sense of curiosity—forming deep insight into clients, their contexts, and the human condition. The firm is a collective of over 1,000 architects, engineers, interior designers, planners, researchers, and strategists. The practice spans multiple markets, including Arts + Culture, Education, Community + Live, Science + Technology, Workplace, Government, Healthcare, and Energy + Infrastructure. Visit hga.com or follow on LinkedIn and Instagram.