FIRM
“BWS Architects provides intentional, thoughtful design services for organizations that want to ignite creativityand bring their vision to life in the places where people learn, lead and discover.”
Robin
Shambach
PRINCIPAL
Sue
Gray
PRINCIPAL
Frank
Slingerland
PRINCIPAL
Chris
Pinkerton
PRINCIPAL
BWS Architects provides professional design services that are timeless, responsive and beautiful to change what is possible for you and your community. Every space should emulate your ultimate vision and priorities in order to enhance the community in which it is designed to serve. At BWS, an inclusive and interactive design process is crucial to fully capture our client’s aspirations. By embracing the creative voice that everyone brings to each phase of the design process, together we can ignite creativity in the spaces where people learn, lead and discover.
BWS Architects Design Achievements
AIA DESIGN AWARDS
2021 AIA Presidential Citation - Robin Shambach (For her continued leadership and guidance of the AIA Arizona Executive Director Search Committee)
2019 AIA Southern Chapter Distinguished Design Award (Mountain View High School College, Career + Life Skills Center, Marana USD)
2019 AIA Los Angeles Design Awards (ASU Bio Design C)
2004 Western Mountain Region Merit Award (Pima County/ Pima Community College Performing Arts & Learning Center with Antoine Predock, Design Architect)
2004 Arizona Citation Award (Pima County/ Pima Community College Performing Arts & Learning Center with Antoine Predock, Design Architect)
2004 Southern Arizona Chapter Honor Award (Pima County/ Pima Community College Performing Arts & Learning Center with Antoine Predock Design Architect)
2004 New Mexico Chapter Merit Award (Pima County/ Pima Community College Performing Arts & Learning Center with Antoine Predock, Design Architect)
1995 Walter Taylor Award (Ventana Vista Elementary School with Antoine Predock Design Architect)
1995 Western Mountain Region Merit Award (Ventana Vista Elementary School with Antoine Predock Design Architect)
1995 New Mexico Chapter Honor Award (Ventana Vista Elementary School with Antoine Predock Design Architect)
1993 Southern Arizona Chapter Honor Award (Ventana Vista Elementary School with Antoine Predock Design Architect)
1993 Southern Arizona Chapter Honor Award (Project M.O.R.E. Alternative High School)
AIA HONOR AWARDS
2019 COTE Honor Award (ASU Bio Design C)
2014 AIA Arizona Firm of the Year Award
2014 AIA Arizona Presidential Commendation Honors (Robin Shambach, AIA LEED AP, BWS Principal)
GOVERNOR'S AWARDS
2023 Governor’s Heritage Preservation Honor Award (Manning House Rehabilitation Canoa Ranch, Tucson, Arizona)
2004 Governor’s Award for Energy Efficiency Award of Excellence (City of Tucson Adaptive Recreation/ Aquatic Center)
2003 Governor’s Pride in Arizona Award for Distinguished Community Achievement (Pima Community College Desert Vista Campus)
2004 Governor’s Award for Energy Efficiency Award of Excellence (Pima Community College Desert Vista Fitness Center)
2000 Governor’s Energy Award (Sierra Vista Public Library)
STATE HISTORICAL PRESERVATION AWARDS
2024 Pima County Historical Commission Historic Preservation Award ( Clements Fountain AKA El Presidio Park Fountain)
2013 Governor’s Heritage Preservation Honor Award (Ak-Chin Indian Community BIA Agent House Rehabilitation)
2012 Tucson Pima County Historical Commission Historic Preservation Award (UA Cannon-Douglass House Restoration)
2012 Governor’s Heritage Preservation Honor Award (UA Cannon Douglass House Restoration)
2004 Tucson-Pima County Historic Commission Letter of Recognition (Royal Johnson House 240 North Court Avenue)
2003 Arizona Heritage Preservation Honor Award (Casa Grande Woman’s Club Rehabilitation)
2001 Arizona Heritage Preservation Honor Award (261 North Court Avenue Offices)
2001 Tucson-Pima County Historic Commission Letter of Recognition (261 North Court Avenue Offices)
OTHER AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
2020 The Arizona Chapter ACI Top Overall Excellence Award (ASU Bio Design C)
2020 APWA Public Works Project of the Year
2019 Green Globes Project of the Year (The University of Arizona Biological Sciences Research Laboratories)
2019 Cornerstone Foundation Firm of the Year Award
2019 ENR Best of the Best – Best Higher Education/ Research Project (ASU Bio Design C)
2019 RED Awards Best Education Project (ASU Bio Design C)
2019 North American Copper in Architecture Award (ASU Bio Design C)
2019 Masonry Guild Design Excellence Award (U of A Bioscience Research Laboratory)
2018 ENR Southwest – Best Project/Higher Ed-Research
2018 ENR Southwest – Higher Education Project of the Year
2015 Cornerstone Building Foundation Architecture Firm of the Year
2014 USGBC Arizona Heavy Medals Recognition (San Xavier)
2014 SAAEMA Career Achievement Award (Robin Shambach, AIA LEED AP, BWS Principal)
2014 American School and University Architectural Portfolio Outstanding Design (Pima Community College Northwest Campus Science Building Expansion)
2014 Masonry Guild Award for Building Excellence (San Xavier District Offices)
2013 USGBC Arizona Heavy Medals Recognition (CCHCI)
2013 City of Tucson Office of Conservation and Sustainable Development Certified Green Business Award
2012 ASID Design Excellence Awards, Arizona South Chapter, 1st place - Commercial Interiors over 3500 SF (Pima Community College Downtown Campus CIL)
2012 ASID Design Excellence Awards, Arizona South Chapter, Best of Show, 2012 (Pima Community College Downtown Campus CIL)
2009 Ranked top 10 firms in ARCHITECT magazine’s ARCHITECT 50
2009 International Award from the Royal Institute of British Architects (Applied Research and Development Building)
2007 Cornerstone Building Foundation Architecture Firm of the Year
2006 Arizona State Excellence in Masonry Merit Award, Arizona Masonry Guild (Green Valley Adult Learning & Performing Arts Center with Antoine Predock Design Architect)
2006 National Concrete Masonry Association (Green Valley Adult Learning & Performing Arts Center with Antoine Predock Design Architect)
2006 Sonoran Institute Building from the Best - Tucson Green Building Award (Edith Ball Adaptive Recreation Center)
2006 Sonoran Institute Building from the Best - Tucson Adaptive Reuse and Rehabilitation Award (Edith Ball Adaptive Recreation Center)
2005 Best New Facility Award - Arizona Parks and Recreation Association (Edith Ball Adaptive Recreation Center)
2005 Holcim Award for Building Sustainability (Applied Research Development Building)
2005 Best New Facility - Arizona Parks & Recreation Association (Edith Ball Adaptive Recreation Center)
2004 International Dark-Sky Association Quality Lighting Award (Pima County/ Pima Community College Performing Arts & Learning Center with Antoine Predock, Design Architect)
2004 Sonoran Institute Building From the Best of Tucson Adaptive Reuse and Rehabilitation Award (261 North Court Avenue Offices)
2002 Arizona Chapter of the United States Green Building Council Recognition for the First L.E.E.D. Certified Project in Arizona (Pima Community College Desert Vista Campus: Plaza Building)
2001 Sonoran Institute Building From the Best of Tucson Appropriate Regional Architecture (Pima Community College Desert Vista Campus: Golf Links Municipal Center)
2001 University Of Arizona College of Architecture Roy Drachman Award for Excellence in Commercial Architecture (Pima Community College Desert Vista Campus)
2000 Southern Arizona Metropolitan Energy Commission Energy Award First Place Commercial Division (Sierra Vista Public Library)
