September 10, 2025—Tonight's AIA South Dakota Design Awards ceremony kicked off the 2025 Annual Convention with the focus squarely where it belongs: members’ achievements in creativity, problem-solving, and contributions to the field of architecture.
The quality across all 22 submittals offered a look at multiple styles and scopes of work. But the night also spotlighted the people behind the projects, honoring individuals at different points in their design careers. Read more here about Nominated Award winners and the AIA SD 2025 Champion of Architecture.
Design Awards jury co-chairs Joshua Hemberger, AIA, and Leah Rudolphi, AIA, shared insights on the entries before unveiling this year’s winning submittals. The two are Associate Principals and Owners at Substance Architecture in Des Moines, Iowa.
The AIA SD Design Awards are unique among honors for professional groups because AIA SD members’ work is on display in communities across South Dakota and beyond. Their efforts help plan and develop the state’s landscape, creating environments where neighbors come together to work, play, learn, heal, and worship.
Incoming 2026 AIA President Illya Azaroff, FAIA, joined members, industry partners, and guests for the event. “Tonight we are recognizing people who have created something unique—something that moves us to something better,” he said.
Jurors identified three projects as the state’s top design winners. They chose one Honor Award, which represent the highest level of distinction exhibits overall design excellence. They also selected two Merit Awards, which recognize distinguished achievement in design.
Congratulations to this year's Honor and Merit winners!
Honor Award
Cankdeska Cikana Community College Cultural Heritage Center
The Basics
- Firm: JLG Architects
- Client: Cankdeska Cikana Community College
- Category: Large Project
- Location: Fort Totten, N.D.
- Photo credit: Chad Ziemendorf
The Story
An epicenter of community gathering, cultural pride, and historic preservation near Fort Totten, N.D., on the Spirit Lake Dakota Reservation, the Cankdeska Cikana Cultural Heritage Center is an open and accessible asset to the community to continue the centuries-long Native American tradition of passing down cultural history and traditions to future generations of the tribe.
The College was named in honor of Paul Yankton Sr., whose Dakota name was Cankdeska Cikana. A proud warrior who believed in self-responsibility and the need for educational opportunities for Indian people. Altogether, the 9,000 SF addition unites its historic artifact collection for the first time in a permanent home while also providing a multipurpose space where campus and community can connect, learn, and celebrate tradition. Most important, this flexible space helps instill and strengthen the values of Spirit Lake Tribe’s culture for future generations–reinforcing educational opportunities desired by the College’s namesake.
The Native American value of resource stewardship was a prominent design guide through reduction of waste, minimizing resource use, and maximizing a $400 per square foot budget. The project design is reflective of important Native American symbolism, most notably taking cues from the Medicine Wheel, Drum Circle/Powwow and vernacular tipi design.
Merit Award
Lake Brophy Welcome Center
The Basics
- Firm: JLG Architects
- Client: Douglas County Public Works Department
- Category: Small Project
- Location: Alexandria, Minn.
- Photo credit: Adman Productions, LLC
The Story
Although a popular destination, Lake Brophy County Park lacked the necessary amenities to fully support the diverse activities of park visitors. This Center enriches the park experience by providing essential amenities that support a wide range of activities, from picnics and family outings to year-round recreation.
The design team collaborated with Douglas County to design and develop a multipurpose Welcome Center that is functional, beautiful, and fits within the natural landscape of Brophy Park. This Center features views to Brophy Lake and includes a gathering space capable of hosting large groups for various events, including picnics, outdoor education, family reunions, graduation parties, company picnics, and cross-country ski rentals.
The new pavilion shelters essential services while it screens parking and frames views to the lake. Simply detailed steel tube columns and wide flange beams support a generous, simply gabled roof. Cross-laminated timber decking, clad with standing-seam metal, extends from end to end, enclosing restrooms and a warming room while protecting the open-air picnic area. Low-maintenance, durable burnished block wraps service spaces. High-performance curtain-wall glazing keeps out the cold.
Merit Award
4th & Main Office
The Basics
- Firm: JLG Architects
- Client: JLG Architects
- Category: Small Project
- Location: Bismarck, N.D.
- Photo credit: Chad Ziemendorf
The Story
The client’s goal was to create a new workspace for up to 20 employees that would foster productivity and social interaction through a variety of working and collaboration options. The space needed to provide an inspiring and healthy work environment while strengthening their long-standing presence within the community. Economic performance was also important, necessitating efficient use of a small space, judicious application of simple materials, and ample daylight to reduce energy use.
In replacing the existing exterior façade, the client opted to utilize high performance storefront glazing with a minimal profile, providing optimal transparency and visibility from the street, mitigating solar heat gain, and honoring the existing building and contextual fabric.
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