STUDENT AWARDS

The School of Architecture recognizes exceptional work by students in the design disciplines through semesterly and annual student awards processes.

DEAN'S DESIGN DISTINCTION

Dean’s Design Distinction recognizes cumulative excellence in design as an outcome from the Undergraduate Portfolio Review processes. With input from the semester’s Portfolio Review teams, each Portfolio Review studio instructor may nominate up to two students for Dean’s Design Distinction. The Program Directors for Architecture and Interior Design* then review and confirm Dean’s Design Distinction selections.
*Beginning in Spring 2021. 

DESIGN EXCELLENCE

Design Excellence is a collaborative process among the Program Directors for Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, and Student Affairs. Design Excellence winners are selected by a jury each academic year, and represent an exceptional level of accomplishment across our design disciplines and studio levels.

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  • Instagram Post
    Led by Senior Lecturer Robert Stepnoski (@robertstepnoski), the 2025 Summer course “Robots for Architecture” explored robotic automation in architectural design and fabrication using KUKA robots. <br>
    @utsoa

    Led by Senior Lecturer Robert Stepnoski (@robertstepnoski), the 2025 Summer course “Robots for Architecture” explored robotic automation in architectural design and fabrication using KUKA robots.

  • Instagram Post
    Our faculty are known for their expansive professional practices that extend beyond the university, so we’re kicking off a new series to feature the research and design work of our wonderful professors. <br>
    @utsoa

    Our faculty are known for their expansive professional practices that extend beyond the university, so we’re kicking off a new series to feature the research and design work of our wonderful professors.

  • Instagram Post
    A little quiet before the next creative storm. Two months down, two to go—see you in August. 🗓️
    @utsoa

    A little quiet before the next creative storm. Two months down, two to go—see you in August. 🗓️

  • Instagram Post
    Even in an increasingly digital profession, hands-on fabrication remains a cornerstone of design education.<br>
    @utsoa

    Even in an increasingly digital profession, hands-on fabrication remains a cornerstone of design education.

  • Instagram Post
    Summer stillness at UTSOA ☁️
    @utsoa

    Summer stillness at UTSOA ☁️

  • Instagram Post
    Have you seen Goldsmith Hall's Living Wall lately? It’s thriving. 🌿<br><br>Designed to attract native fauna and test the boundaries of green wall systems, the Living Wall is a research project years in the making—part art, part architecture, part ecology.<br>
    @utsoa

    Have you seen Goldsmith Hall's Living Wall lately? It’s thriving. 🌿

    Designed to attract native fauna and test the boundaries of green wall systems, the Living Wall is a research project years in the making—part art, part architecture, part ecology.

  • Instagram Post
    What happens when local decision-makers and academic subject-matter experts come together to tackle some of Texas’ most urgent planning and design challenges?<br>
    @utsoa

    What happens when local decision-makers and academic subject-matter experts come together to tackle some of Texas’ most urgent planning and design challenges?

  • Instagram Post
    Kicked off the first of three orientation sessions this summer with an incredible group of new students. Welcome to UTSOA!
    @utsoa

    Kicked off the first of three orientation sessions this summer with an incredible group of new students. Welcome to UTSOA!

  • Instagram Post
    An outstanding leader, architect, teacher, and a radiant positive force in our field, it’s no surprise that Professor Elizabeth Danze has been named one of the 2025 #Texas10 by @texasexes.<br>
    @utsoa

    An outstanding leader, architect, teacher, and a radiant positive force in our field, it’s no surprise that Professor Elizabeth Danze has been named one of the 2025 #Texas10 by @texasexes.