AN consistently recognizes the premier work, firms and people across the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry. Their Best of Practice Awards specifically seeks to identify firms excelling and leading at every level.

While there are numerous drivers for our team’s selection this year, there’s no denying our ability to deliver cross-disciplinary work across every sector and geography we serve stood out to the jury. As AN jury member Trey Trahan put it, “Among the world’s global firms of impressive staffing size, CannonDesign stands out as a firm that is delivering thoughtful solutions across a wide range of typologies.”

Specific to the Midwest, we are proud to lead breakthrough, award-winning projects that bring our Living-Centered Design ethos to life. These projects shape positive outcomes for people, communities, business, the planet and society at large, including:

Advancing Discovery and Education

Our design work proudly empowers students and researchers to tackle critical challenges and accelerate their innovation. At Washington University School of Medicine we are helping them design a new neuroscience research facility that will house groundbreaking research to fight, curb and ultimately eradicate major neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease. At Purdue University Northwest, we led the design of their Nils K. Nelson Bioscience Innovation Building that unites its College of Nursing and Department of Biology.

Elsewhere, we worked with the University of Missouri to create state-of-the-art research greenhouses as part of a new East Campus Plant Growth Facility. Here, students and staff are working to catalyze solutions for hunger, drought and other related challenges. 

Elevating Human Health

When it comes to designing for healthier humans, we have numerous exciting projects in all different phases. Earlier this year we announced we’ll be teaming with the University of Chicago Medicine to design its new cancer center. We also helped the University of Illinois Chicago design its award-winning and dynamic Surgical Innovation Training Lab, a space where researchers will test and define the future of robotic surgery. We also have a long history of work with Froedtert and Medical College of Wisconsin on bold projects including their Center for Advanced Care.

Future of Work

As organizations and employees redefine work itself in the wake of the pandemic, we’re helping the leading businesses of our time create new spaces. We worked with Block to rejuvenate the former St. Louis Post-Dispatch Building into a new creative hub for its Square and Cash App teams. Elsewhere, we helped Cboe create a new headquarters in the historic Chicago Old Post Office building. Both of these w​​orkplaces are filled with an incredible diversity of spaces, amenities and artwork to create remarkable employee experiences.

Stronger Communities

We have overt work helping strengthen communities across the Midwest. One example is the Mobile Museum of Tolerance, a state-of-the-art bus traveling the state of Illinois fitted with interactive tech and theater seating to teach students and community members about the dangers of racism, hate and intolerance. Elsewhere, we’ve helped Jamaa Birth Village create a new clinic to provide accessible and affordable midwife and doula services to Black mothers. We’ve also designed community centers in places like Maryland Heights that bring incredible new resources to those they serve.

These examples show just slivers of the work we are proud of across the Midwest and country. These projects allow our teams across all our service lines to unleash our creativity and help organizations and our communities flourish.