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CDA Designates 8 Winning Projects in its 19th Annual North American Copper in Architecture Awards

The winning entries in the 19th edition of the annual competition include both newly constructed and restored buildings in the United States and Canada

Joe Brennan - Brennan Photo + Video

University of Minnesota Fraser Hall

The Copper Development Association has chosen eight recently completed projects as winners of its 2026 North American Copper in Architecture Awards (NACIA). Selected by an experienced panel of judges, the winning entries in the 19th edition of the annual competition include both newly constructed and restored buildings in the United States and Canada. All uphold the tradition of celebrating copper design and craftsmanship, featuring architectural copper and copper alloy material used in roof, façade, and wall systems, as well as in custom-fabricated elements.

This year’s winning cohort proved as varied as ever, encompassing both commercial and residential projects: a conservatory, a recreational facility, university and government buildings, and a pair of corporate headquarters, including the restored home of the oldest property insurance company in America. The common denominator is, unquestionably, the long-term value the owners of these buildings see in using copper, according to Larry Peters, CDA Project Manager, Building Construction, who oversees the competition.

“Overall, the historical restoration portion of the 2026 field was larger, thanks to submissions of many quality government and institutional buildings,” he explains. “The two corporate headquarters winners represent companies with long and distinguished histories. By featuring copper in their structures, these businesses and institutions demonstrate the value of copper, a high-performance, natural building material that bridges the past with the future; maintaining a lasting connection to their communities.”

The 2026 NACIA winners:

New Construction Category (3):

The Arlington Conservatory (Birmingham, MI)
Quincy Public Safety Headquarters (Quincy, MA)
University of Minnesota Fraser Hall Chemistry Undergraduate Teaching Lab (Minneapolis, MN).

Restoration Category (5):

Groupe Desgagnés Headquarters (Quebec City, QC)
Jacob Riis Park Fieldhouse (Chicago, IL)
The Philadelphia Contributionship (Philadelphia, PA)
Seelye Hall Cupola Restoration (Northampton, MA)
West Memorial Building Rehabilitation (Ottawa, ON).

Each winning project will be honored with a special commemorative award. Projects and their key partners also receive exposure in architectural and construction publications and their websites, plus recognition in CDA’s educational and industry outreach programs.