Shaw Contract Design Awards name top interiors of 2026

A Japanese office intended to evoke a tree canopy, and a revived US concert hall are among the interior design projects to win Best of Globe at this year’s Shaw Contract Design Awards. The upgrade of an athletics clubhouse in the US, a legal workplace in the UK and a large three-story office in India also took the top prize in the annual award programme, now in its 21st year. The St Louis Symphony Orchestra Powell Hall in St Louis, USA, is one of five Best of Globe winners. ‌‌‌Designed by CannonDesign and photo by Nic Lehoux‌ Held annually by flooring manufacturer Shaw Contract, the Shaw Contract Design Awards celebrate interior design projects that “spark creativity, connect communities and contribute to a better, more sustainable world”. This year’s winning projects were selected from nearly 550 global submissions by an international jury of architects and designers, with interior design students also joining as part of Shaw’s commitment to supporting the next generation of design talent. The We Labo 2F office, Okamura Corporation in Japan, which was designed by the company, is another winner. Photo by Takuya Yamauchi‌ According to the jury, the 2026 winners were unified by “a clear design narrative, an understanding of local context, varied and inclusive user experiences, responsible material strategies and a meaningful relationship between design intent and completed space” – despite their varying scales and styles. “Throughout the global judging session, the jury returned to a central question: whether each project’s stated intent was visible and understandable in the completed design,” explained Shaw Contract. “The panel distinguished between attractive spaces and projects that used planning, materials, detail and experience to communicate a clear and consequential idea.” The Diageo Gurugram Workplace office interior in India also won the prize. Design by M Moser Associates‌ and photo by ‌‌Shubham Sharma‌ The St Louis Symphony Orchestra Powell Hall in the US, overhauled by Christner Architects, was one of the winners. According to Shaw Contract, the jury selected it for its sensitive balance of old and new elements, as well as the important social role it plays in the city, thanks to improved accessibility and audience facilities. Also in the US is the winning Missouri Athletic Club project, completed by HOK. The scheme involved revamping an existing clubhouse to better suit the needs of its current members. HOK’s design was commended for adding “a new layer to the club’s heritage rather than treating the past as a fixed visual theme”, according to the brand, introducing a contemporary layout and aesthetic. The Diageo Gurugram Workplace was selected by the jury for its “richly layered and carefully crafted” design. Design by M Moser Associates‌ and photo by ‌‌Shubham Sharma‌ The third winner was We Labo 25F, a small workspace in Japan that embodies the principles of biophilic design – the use of natural features such as plants to improve the wellbeing of building occupants. Its architect, Okamura, was praised for incorporating greenery as more than just “a decorative layer” and creating an interior that mimics working beneath a tree canopy. Another US project to win was the Missouri Athletic Club based in Missouri, USA. Desi‌‌‌gned by HOK and photo by Alise O’Brien‌ The office was also selected in recognition of its adaptable interiors and circular design features, including furniture made from tsunami debris. We Labo 25F was one of three workplaces to win Best of Globe, alongside Diageo by M Moser Associates in India and DLA Piper by Sheppard Robson Architects in the UK. Diageo spans 7,700 square metres and accommodates 300 employees across each of its three floors, accommodating its owner’s expansion from Bengaluru to Gurugram. It was selected by the jury for its “richly layered and carefully crafted” interiors, which combine a wide range of workspaces with shared hospitality areas. M Moser Associates dedicated more than half of the building to community spaces. Finally, DLA Piper by Sheppard Robson Architects is a large workplace for a legal company. It was designed to cater to different work styles. The third office to win Best of Globe was DLA Piper in Leeds, UK. Design by |Sheppard Robson and photo by Adrian Lambert‌ According to Shaw Contract, it won the prize for providing a broad range of workspaces suited to different needs, as well as wellbeing, dining and meeting areas. The jury particularly enjoyed how materials had been applied in a way that adds “warmth and richness into areas that might traditionally be treated as purely corporate”. DLA Piper’s office materials have been applied in a way that adds “warmth and richness into areas that might traditionally be treated as purely corporate”. Design by |Sheppard Robson and photo by Adrian Lambert‌ The Best of Globe winners are selected from the programme’s Best of Region winners. Winners receive global media exposure and a donation to a charity of their choice. Shaw Contract’s ambition for the award programme is to encourage discourse within the international creative community. To learn more about Shaw Contract and the awards programme, visit its website here. Read more