Environments for Aging magazine is proud to announce the winners of the 2026 Design Champions awards.
Now in its seventh year, the biennial awards program recognizes individuals who are advancing the design of senior living environments and advocating for solutions that make a meaningful difference in the lives of residents, staff, or the greater community.
Introducing the 2026 Design Champions
The 2026 Design Champions include:
- Dustin Julius, partner, RLPS Architects
- Valerie Mutterperl, principal, Perkins Eastman
- Michelle Sablack, partner, WJW Architects
Design Champions are selected by the editors of EFA based on their contributions to the senior living design sector within the last two years in settings such as skilled nursing, assisted living, memory care, short-term rehabilitation, hospice, independent living, and 55+ housing.
Recognizing the 2026 Design Champions
The honorees will be profiled in EFA’s fall 2026 issue and recognized during a Magazine Awards Luncheon at the 2027 Environments for Aging Conference + Expo, scheduled for April 12-14 in Charlotte, N.C. Sign up to receive event updates here.
The Design Champions program alternates yearly with EFA’s Next Wave Awards, which celebrate up-and-coming leaders in the senior living industry. Nominations for the Next Wave Awards will open in spring 2027.
