First Thursday on Main Street + 2026 Design Awards Exhibition + People’s Choice Awards

On Thursday, August 6, 2026, the American Institute of Architects South Carolina Chapter (AIA SC) and the South Carolina Architectural Foundation (SCAF) will co-host the 2026 Design Awards exhibition, People’s Choice Awards announcements, and public reception at the SC Center for Architecture.
In conjunction with First Thursday on Main Street, the SC Center for Architecture will be open to the public from 5:00 to 9:00 PM. Project boards featuring the 2026
AIA SC Design Award recipients will be on display, and at 7:30 PM, the 2nd Annual People’s Choice Awards will be announced. Light refreshments will be served.
The annual AIA SC Annual Design Awards program, with recipients selected through a professionally juried process, represent the pinnacle of design from South Carolina architects and architecture firms. 2026 Design Awards were announced on April 30 with a ceremony and celebration at Cannon Green in Charleston, SC.
The People’s Choice Awards were open to the public for online voting from April 13- May 3, 2026. All entries submitted to the 2026 AIA SC Design Awards were eligible.
The recently renovated SC Center for Architecture at 1530 Main Street, Columbia, SC serves as South Carolina’s premier location dedicated to advancing architectural excellence, design-focused programming, and community dialogues on the built environment.