2026 Wood in Architecture Awards Jury Announced
Apr 16, 2026
WoodWorks
WoodWorks is thrilled to announce the 2026 Wood in Architecture Design Awards jury. The credibility of the WoodWorks’ awards program relies on having an independent jury of design and building professionals to review, collaboratively deliberate, and select the winning projects based on the following criteria: Design Excellence, Innovative Use of Wood, Sustainability and Resilience, and Market Impact. Thank you to this incredible team for their volunteerism and dedication to the built environment.
The 2026 Wood in Architecture award winners will be announced alongside this year’s AIA Conference on Architecture & Design on June 10, 2026 in San Diego, CA.
David J. Odeh, SE, PE, F. SEI, F, ASCE | WSP
David J. Odeh is a structural engineering leader with more than 30 years of experience shaping complex building projects. As Senior Vice President and National Director of Building Structures, he guides a nationwide team of over 250 engineers and advances innovative, resilient design. A licensed Structural Engineer and Fellow of both SEI and ASCE, David has influenced national codes, served as SEI President, and shared his expertise through teaching, research, and continued industry leadership.
Jessie Johnson, AIA, LEED AP | DLR Group
Jessie advances the integration of mass timber through built work, research, and education. From leading delivery of Hines’ T3 RiNo to presenting national research on timber optimization and code evolution at the 2026 AIAS Forum, her work bridges innovation and execution. A recipient of Tau Sigma Delta’s Silver Medal for Distinction in Architecture, Jessie brings deep technical insight and future-focused perspective to evaluating exemplary wood architecture.
JoAnn Hindmarsh Wilcox, AIA, LEED AP | Mithun
JoAnn Wilcox, AIA, LEED AP is a nationally recognized design leader and Partner at Mithun, shaping innovative and rigorous learning environments. With a practice focused on design for lifelong learning, JoAnn specializes in K-12 education and collaborates closely with students and educators to co-create spaces that amplify curriculum, foster belonging, and uplift learning outcomes. Her work has been honored with more than 60 awards for design excellence. JoAnn’s recent research and built work explore the synergies between mass timber construction, biophilic design, and student well-being — demonstrating how cost-competitive timber strategies can reduce embodied carbon while enhancing educational environments.
Michael LeBlanc, AIA | Utile Design
In his role at Utile, Michael has led numerous residential, civic, and institutional projects, including the Roxbury Branch of the Boston Public Library, which received both the 2025 Harleston Parker Medal and an AIA COTE Top 10 award. In addition to his professional practice, he has taught design studios as a Faculty Associate at Arizona State University and as an adjunct faculty member at Northeastern University’s Department of Architecture.
Will you be in San Diego for the AIA Conference? Learn more and register for the 2026 Wood in Architecture Design Awards reception.
WoodWorks’ Wood in Architecture awards recognize excellence in mass timber, light-frame wood, and hybrid building design. Awarded annually, these awards celebrate design teams that use wood in innovative ways to positively impact the environment, occupants, and their communities.
As a non-profit, WoodWorks assists project teams in designing and constructing successful wood buildings, and the Wood in Architecture Awards showcase the designers, developers, and other project stakeholders who are furthering excellence and innovation in wood design.
