Clark Nexsen Wins 2026 AIA North Carolina Design Award

Clark Nexsen was awarded a 2026 American Institute of Architects (AIA) North Carolina Design Award for Valle Crucis School. The award was presented on October 29, 2026, at the AIA Design and Chapter Awards Ceremony in Durham, North Carolina. Celebrated annually, the awards recognize design expertise and excellence of architects and design professionals in North Carolina.

Valle Crucis School – Honor Award

Supporting future-focused learning, the new Valle Crucis School provides students with an open, engaging environment that fosters curiosity and critical thinking. Accommodating instruction, play, and exploration, the two-story classroom wing inspires student connection to the outdoors through unique spaces such as the sunken courtyard and roof deck. Within the activity wing, the cafeteria’s soaring mountain views and the high-school-size gymnasium are designed to be enjoyed by both students and the community for events and recreation. The design leverages the topography of the site for flood resilience and civic presence, earning the approval of the Historic Commission and reflecting the area’s rural beauty and agrarian roots through form and materiality.

About AIA North Carolina

Located in Raleigh, NC, the mission of AIA North Carolina is to serve its members by enhancing and promoting the profession of architecture. The AIA North Carolina Chapter and Design Awards programs are designed to encourage and recognize distinguished architectural achievement; to honor the architectural team, their clients, and consultants who work together to improve the built environment; to demonstrate the breadth of services architects provide; and to raise public consciousness of the architect’s role in shaping the quality of life through design excellence.