Pendulum is committed to strengthening the connection between architectural education and professional practice. As a firm, we benefit directly from the curiosity, rigor, and ambition that emerge from design studios and classrooms through the young professionals who join Pendulum and the collaborative relationships we maintain with universities. Like universities, Pendulum approaches architecture as a discipline that advances through innovation, experimentation, and the testing of new ideas. The Pendulum Prize was established as a way to give back to that ecosystem while supporting students as they transition from education into practice.
The Pendulum Prize is an annual student design award recognizing design excellence among students and recent graduates from partner institutions located near Pendulum’s three regional offices in Kansas City, Baltimore, and Charlotte. For the 2026 Pendulum Prize, participating universities are:
- North Carolina State University
- Morgan State University
- University of Missouri–Kansas City.
Each year, three prizes of $2,000 will be awarded, with one prize designated for each participating university and region. The Prize recognizes outstanding student work in three areas that reflect Pendulum’s areas of practice leadership: sports and recreation architecture, library and learning spaces, and public interest design. Rather than rewarding a particular style, the Pendulum Prize celebrates projects that demonstrate strong ideas, clear intention, and thoughtful engagement with important questions facing the built environment.
The Pendulum Prize is part of a broader commitment to engagement with universities. Pendulum is also increasing its support of academic programs through guest lectures, participation in design reviews, and collaborative research initiatives that connect students and faculty with the realities of professional practice. Through the Pendulum Prize and related initiatives, Pendulum invests in the next generation of designers while helping strengthen the ongoing exchange between education and practice that keeps the profession evolving.
For more information about the pendulum prize, please visit: www.pendulumkc.com/pendulum-prize
