The Henrico County Center for Environmental Studies and Sustainability has received a 2026 AIA Triangle Honor Award for Unbuilt Work, recognizing its ambitious vision for the future of public education.
Set within the 1,184-acre Wilton Farm in Henrico County, Virginia, the 19,000-square-foot school is shaped by its landscape of forests, wetlands, prairie, and Whale Lake. Designed as a living classroom, the building makes its energy, water, and ecological systems visible so students can experience sustainability firsthand.
The architecture is intentionally simple and rooted in place. Drawing from the regional dogtrot, two wings are connected by an open breezeway, creating a clear, welcoming framework for learning while opening the school to the landscape. Elevated above the site and carefully positioned within the existing canopy, the building minimizes its impact on the land while creating new opportunities for exploration and discovery.
“This recognition means a great deal because Henrico represents what can happen when a client, community, and design team share a real ambition for what a school can be. The building is inseparable from its landscape, and the landscape becomes part of the learning. I’m especially proud of the collaboration behind it—a true cross-country effort between our Bainbridge Island team, Perkins&Will’s North Carolina studio, and our Atlanta landscape team. It’s a great example of what we can accomplish when we bring our collective experience and ideas together around a common purpose.”
Jason F. McLennan
Founder, McLennan Design | Chief Sustainability Officer, Perkins&Will
