The IMPACT Center for Leadership and Innovation in Bowling Green, KY, designed by Sherman Carter Barnhart Architects, has been recognized as an award-winning example of innovative educational design. The project incorporates next-generation learning environments and planning strategies that demonstrate best practices worthy of consideration and replication by educators, architects, and other professionals responsible for the design and operation of learning spaces.
Entries in the Fall 2026 awards program were evaluated through a peer-review process conducted by a jury of experienced education design professionals. Projects, including the IMPACT Center for Leadership and Innovation, were assessed across six criteria: Design Challenges and Innovation; Sustainability and Social Impact; Interior Architecture/Design; Next Generation Learning; Functional Design/Effective Space Planning; and Community Needs.
The jury evaluated each submission based on its overall merit, distinctive qualities, and the successful implementation of architectural design and planning concepts.
The five-member jury of education, architecture, and facility design professionals recognized Sherman Carter Barnhart Architects for its achievement in creating the IM PACT Center for Leadership and Innovation. The jury offered the following comments about the project:
“This first-of-its-kind facility re imagines career and technical education through design thinking, leadership, innovation, and collaboration for students in grades 7-12. Flexible spaces support evolving partnerships with local industry and educational organizations, helping the facility adapt to future community and workforce needs. The project’s ambitious sustainability goals further strengthen its forward-thinking approach, creating a dynamic environment focused on student growth and real-world learning.”
The IMPACT Center for Leadership and Innovation will be featured in both the print and digital editions of the October 2026 issue of Learning By Design Magazine. Founded in 1991, Learning By Design is the official publication of the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) and reaches more than 44,000 professionals across the United States who are responsible for the built environment at the PK-12 and post-secondary education levels, as well as education and facility design.
