The Rainscreen Association in North America (RAiNA) announced the winners of the inaugural RAiNA Awards, recognizing outstanding achievements in rainscreen design and innovation. The award ceremony, held November 7 in Chicago, celebrated projects that exemplify creativity, technical excellence, and sustainability in building envelope performance.

With nine entries submitted from across North America, this first RAiNA Awards saw inspiring examples of the impact that rainscreen systems have in advancing sustainable architecture, safeguarding structures against harsh climates, and enhancing the aesthetic and functional potential of building exteriors.

New Construction Category Winner: NSCC Waterfront Campus

The New Construction category was awarded to the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) Waterfront Campus, located on Cape Breton Island. Designed by Moriyama & Teshima/Barrie Langille, the NSCC campus is a pioneering example of climate-resilient architecture.

Built with a high-performance, thermally broken rainscreen system, the campus façade withstood the impact of Hurricane Fiona mid-construction, demonstrating its resilience in one of North America’s most challenging coastal environments. In addition to durability, the campus integrates geothermal energy from Sydney Harbour, enabling a net-zero-ready status and providing an environmentally conscious facility for the community. The NSCC Waterfront Campus represents the strength and beauty of sustainable design, showing how rainscreen technology can meet rigorous environmental and accessibility standards.

Retrofit Category Winner: Lobo Welcome Theater, University of New Mexico

The Retrofit category winner, the University of New Mexico’s Lobo Welcome Theater, showcases bold and adaptable design. Led by ECO Cladding, the project features a dynamic façade with vertically oriented baguettes in seven vibrant colors, offering a visually striking entrance to the theater. These recycled materials reduce thermal bridging, supporting the building’s energy efficiency.

Engineered for flexibility, the cladding system allows individual components to be removed and replaced with ease, facilitating ongoing maintenance while preserving design integrity. This innovative approach reflects both the beauty and functionality of modern rainscreen technology and its ability to enhance energy efficiency and durability.

RAiNA’s Commitment to Rainscreen Innovation

The RAiNA Awards were established to celebrate the pinnacle of our industry, recognizing projects that showcase the advantages of rainscreen technology, and embody RAiNA’s values of integration of expertise, building science-based performance, sustainable, long-lasting building enclosures and design aesthetics.