The National Building Museum announced that Autodesk will receive the 2026 Honor Award, in recognition of the company's four decades of transforming how buildings, infrastructure, and the systems that support everyday life are designed and made. The award will be presented during the Museum’s annual Gala on Wednesday, May 27, a signature event that brings together national leaders from the architecture, design, real estate, and construction sectors.

Founded in San Francisco in 1982, Autodesk is a global leader in software and services for the architecture, engineering, construction, product design and manufacturing, and media and entertainment industries. Since pioneering computer-aided design (CAD) with the release of AutoCAD, the first widely adopted CAD software for personal computers, the company has empowered millions of professionals to bring visionary ideas to life, from the buildings we live and work in, to the cars we drive, and the movies and games that inspire us. 

At the heart of Autodesk’s work is a clear mission: to design and make a better world. Its Design and Make Platform is cloud-connected software that unifies data and workflows, utilizing AI-powered insights and automations to deliver desired outcomes across the industries Autodesk serves. 

Within the built environment, Autodesk is helping to connect traditionally fragmented workflows at a time of increasing complexity and global demand. Autodesk Forma, its industry cloud for architecture, engineering, construction and operations (AECO), provides a connected, AI-enabled environment where teams can work from shared data, explore ideas earlier, evaluate performance in context, and carry decisions throughout the project lifecycle to achieve more innovative, sustainable and resilient outcomes.

Autodesk’s work aligns closely with the Museum’s mission to advance understanding of how the built environment shapes our lives, communities, and future. 

“For more than 40 years, Autodesk’s technology has helped turn ideas into reality,” said Aileen Fuchs, president and executive director of the National Building Museum. “We are honored to recognize a company whose work continues to move the industry forward – supporting more sustainable and resilient buildings and infrastructure for our communities.”

The Honor Award will be accepted by Amy Bunszel, executive vice president, architecture, engineering and construction solutions at Autodesk.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by the National Building Museum,” said Bunszel. “This moment reflects the incredible work of the architects, engineers, and contractors who are shaping our world every day. At Autodesk, our focus is on helping those teams stay connected – from early ideas through delivery – so they can move faster, make better decisions, and ultimately design and make a more resilient future. We’re grateful to celebrate this progress together and optimistic about what comes next.”

The National Building Museum Honor Award, established in 1986, recognizes exceptional leaders and organizations that have made significant contributions to our built heritage. Past recipients include individuals and companies whose work has advanced innovation, design excellence, and public understanding of the impact of architecture, engineering, and construction.

Now in its 39th year, the Museum’s annual Gala has become one of Washington’s most anticipated cultural events. Attended by hundreds of leaders from the building industry, philanthropy, public policy, and the arts, the event celebrates those who shape the world we design and build.