Learning by Design Magazine Announces 2026 Design Awards
RDG has been recognized for demonstrating meaningful connections between architecture, interiors and educational purpose in the early learning space.
Learning by Design Magazine has awarded RDG with a 2026 Grand Prize Award for its design at the Mesa County Early Childhood Center at Clifton Campus. The magazine’s annual Architecture and Interior Design Awards of Excellence honor the year’s most inspiring educational facilities that not only shape the future of learning but also advance the field and positively influence the lives of those who experience learning environments every day.
Located in Clifton, Colorado, the Mesa County Early Childhood Education Center transforms a 13-acre site into a vibrant community hub where learning, connection and nature intertwine. Inspired by the region’s striking landscape, the architecture draws from the colors and striations of the surrounding book cliffs, expressed through bold metal panels in desert reds and dusk blues that act as intuitive wayfinding elements and reflect a strong sense of place.
At its heart, the center provides high-quality care and education for children ages six weeks to five years, with extended care for older children when school is out. Each of the twelve classrooms opens directly to secure, age-appropriate outdoor learning environments, encouraging exploration and play as essential parts of development. Flexible classrooms are designed to adapt to changing needs — easily reconfigurable for infants, toddlers or preschoolers — ensuring the facility can evolve with the community’s population over time.
The campus is part of a larger master-planned development that includes a public library and shared community amenities. Within the building, three distinct yet interconnected programs — the early childhood education center, a workforce training facility and a community center — operate independently while sharing space to foster collaboration and lifelong learning. The proximity of workforce training and early education classrooms provides unique opportunities for observation and learning for early childhood professionals, strengthening the local pipeline of educators.
Community is the driving force behind the design. A high school-sized gymnasium and meeting rooms provide spaces for recreation, cultural events and public gatherings that were previously unavailable in Clifton. Outdoor plazas framed by perforated metal panels blur the lines between indoors and outdoors, creating welcoming places for families, staff and neighbors to connect. Through thoughtful design, this project redefines what a community campus can be — an inclusive and enduring space that celebrates the power of shared growth.
The Fall 2026 Architectural and Interior Design Awards of Excellence entries are judged by a volunteer jury of industry professionals. This year’s jury noted that each project demonstrated meaningful connections between architecture, interiors and educational purpose while addressing flexibility, discovery, inclusion, well-being and community.