Awards & Recognition

Rutherford + Chekene projects have been recognized for innovation, sustainability, seismic resilience, and design excellence across civic, higher education, healthcare, and community-focused work.

Cañada College Science and Technology Building

Award of Merit in the 14th Annual Design-Build Leadership Awards program, Design-Build Institute of America Western Pacific Region

AIA Central Valley Chapter, 2021 Award of Merit

College of San Mateo Science Building and Planetarium

Design-Build Institute of America, Western Pacific Regional Excellence Award, 2008

California Construction magazine, Best of 2007 Northern California, Higher Education, Award of Merit

Contra Costa College New Science Building

California Community Colleges Board of Governors Energy and Sustainability Award

CSU Chico Natural Sciences Building

Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA), Western Pacific Region, Regional Design-Build Award, 2022

AIA Central Valley, Design Award, 2021

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Sacramento Section, Outstanding Architectural Engineering Award, 2020

EmeryStation East Laboratory

AIA East Bay Design Awards 2009, Citation for Architecture

Ferry Building Renovation and Retrofit

Outstanding Civil Engineering Project Award, American Society of Civil Engineers, Golden Gate Branch, San Francisco Section
California Preservation Foundation Design Award
AIA SF Design Award, Honor Award

Fort Mason Pier 2 Rehabilitation

California Preservation Foundation Award

Judicial Council of California, Glenn County Courthouse Renovation/Expansion

California Preservation Design Award, Rehabilitation

Judicial Council of California Hollister (San Benito County) Courthouse

Citation from AIA Academy of Architecture for Justice;

SEAONC, Excellence in Structural Engineering, Award of Merit, New Construction

Judicial Council of California Old Solano Courthouse

SEAONC Excellence in Structural Engineering Award of Merit

Winner for California Preservation Foundation Award

Kaiser Permanente Medical Center San Leandro

ENR Best Projects of 2014, Award of Merit - Healthcare

Lawrence Berkeley National Lab Chu Hall

AIA SF Design Awards 2016, Honor Award

AIA East Bay Design Award 2015, Merit Award

ENR Northern California Award, Best Project 2015: Higher Education/Research

Lawrence Berkeley National Lab Integrative Genomics Building

2021 SEAONC Excellence in Structural Engineering Awards, Project of the Year

The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies and The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design, 2021 Green GOOD DESIGN® Award

McEnery Convention Center Expansion and Renovation

ENR Best Projects, Best Project - Sports/Entertainment

Mills College Music Building Renovation

2009 California Preservation Design Award winner

2009 Merit Award: Excellence in Architecture for Restoration and Preservation, SPUR/AIA

Mills-Peninsula Medical Center

SEAONC Excellence Structural Engineering, New Construction
SEAOC Award of Merit in Landmark Structures

Monterey Bay Aquarium Bechtel Family Center for Ocean Education and Leadership

ENR California's Best Projects 2019

New Exploratorium

SEAONC Excellence in Structural Engineering, Award of Excellence, Retrofit/Alteration, 2013
SEAOC Excellence in Structural Engineering, Award of Merit, Landmark, 2013
ENR California 2013 Top Green Project of Northern California
AIA SF Design Awards 2015, Special Commendation
2013 Sustainable Engineering Project of the Year – American Society of Civil Engineers, San Francisco Section
California Preservation Foundation Design Award, 2014

New Stanford Hospital

ENR California Regional Best Project, Health Care

Oakland International Airport Terminal 1 Renovation

2018 SEAONC Excellence in Structural Engineering Award of Merit

Pixar Animation Studios

SEAONC Excellence in Structural Engineering, Award

Pleasant Hill Library

  • IIDA Northern California Chapter Design Award “Serve”
  • AIA/ALA Library Building Award
  • AIA California Design Award
  • Library Design Showcase
  • AIA California Urban Design Award
  • Architect’s Newspaper Best of Design Silver Medal
  • AIA East Bay Design Award
  • IIDA Norcal Honor Award
  • IIDA/ALA Library Interior Design Award
  • ASLA-NCC - Merit Award - Community Impact Category

Pomona College Pomona-Pitzer Center for Athletics, Recreation and Wellness

Pacific Coast Builders Conference Gold Nugget Awards, Grand Award 2024

San Francisco International Airport Harvey Milk Terminal 1 Boarding Area B

Concrete Innovations: 2024 Award Winner;

World’s first certified LEED BD+C New Construction Platinum v4.0/4.1 Terminal in 2022;

2022 AIA Design Awards, Harvey Milk Terminal 1 received the Climate Action Award for leadership in the development of energy, carbon, water and resource-related practices and policies;

Harvey Milk Terminal 1 earns highest honor in UNESCO Prix Versailles Awards 2025

San Francisco International Airport New Air Traffic Control Tower

SEAONC Excellence in Structural Engineering, Award of Excellence, Landmark, 2016
SEAOC Excellence in Structural Engineering, Award of Excellence, Landmark, 2016
NCSEA Excellence in Structural Engineering, Outstanding Project (New Buildings Over $100 Million)
Grand Conceptor Award Winner, American Council of Engineering Companies, 2016

San Francisco State University Science and Engineering Innovation Center

San Francisco Business Times Deal of the Year

San Francisco State University West Grove Commons Affordable Housing and Student Health Center Project

The SFSU West Grove Commons project won an Award of Merit in Higher Education/Research at the ENR West 2025 Best Projects Awards, recognized for its record-setting speed (6 stories, 120,000 sf in 16 months) using progressive design-build, sustainability (LEED Gold target, all-electric), and delivering critical housing with reduced fees for students before the 2024 fall semester. The project, built by McCarthy Building Companies, was a major success in addressing SFSU's urgent housing needs efficiently.

Santa Rosa Junior College Lindley Center for STEM Education

SCUP/AIA-CAE 2026 Excellence in Architecture for a New Building (Honorable Mention) (SmithGroup)

Sonoma State University Stevenson Hall Renovation

SEAONC SEE Award of Merit - Retrofit, Alteration, and Historic Preservation

DBIA Western Pacific Region Innovation Award

2024 DBIA Western Pacific Region Design Excellence Award

2024 IIDA Northern California Serve Award Finalist

2024 IIDA Northern California Long View Award Finalist

Stanford Central Energy Facility

ENR Global Best Project: Best Green Project for Stanford Energy System Innovations

AIA San Francisco Design Award, Honor Award
SEAONC, Excellence in Structural Engineering, Award of Merit, Infrastructure
SEAOC, Excellence in Structural Engineering, Award of Merit, Infrastructure
ENR Northern California Award, Best Project: Energy/Industrial
AIA Portland Architecture Awards, Citation Award

Stanford University Graduate School of Education Renovation

2026 SEAONC Award of Merit

2026 SEAONC People’s Choice Award

Stanford University Windhover Contemplative Center

Northern California Chapter ASLA Award

San Francisco AIA Award

UC Berkeley CV Starr East Asian Library

Structural Engineers Association of Northern California, Excellence in Structural Engineering Award of Merit 2009
AIA California Council Design Award 2010, Honor Award

UC Berkeley Innovative Genomics Building

AIA East Bay Design Award 2015, Citation Award

Overall Best Sustainable Design, Energy Efficiency and Sustainability Best Practice Awards, 2012

IIDA Honor Award, 2013

Berkeley Design Advocates, 10th Biennial Design Awards, 2013

UC Berkeley Lower Sproul Redevelopment Project

SCUP, Jury's Choice Award for Outstanding Achievement in Integrated Planning and Design, 2017

AIA East Bay Berkeley Design Advocates, 2017

SEAONC, Excellence in Structural Engineering, Award of Merit, Retrofit/Alteration, 2016

SEAOC, Excellence in Structural Engineer, Award of Merit, Retrofit/Alteration, 2016

UC Davis Gallagher Hall and Conference Center

AIA San Francisco Energy + Sustainability, Merit Award
SEAONC Award of Merit in Sustainable Design, Excellence in Structural Engineering
Builder’s Choice Award, BUILDER Magazine
Exceptional Award for Building, Western Council of Construction Consumers
Award of Merit, Pacific Coast Builder Conference Gold Nugget Awards, Best Office/Professional Building
AIA Energy + Sustainability, Award of Merit
AIA Energy + Sustainability, San Francisco Design Award
Honorable Mention, AIA TAP Building Information Model Awards
SEAONC Award of Merit, Excellence in Structural Engineering Award, Sustainable Design Category
Finalist, Sacramento Business Journal Real Estate Projects of the Year

UC Davis Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art

SEAONC Excellence in Structural Engineering Award

AISC, IDEAS2 Award, Merit Award

San Francisco AIA, Merit Award

Architecture Green GOOD DESIGN Award, Merit Award

UC San Francisco Bakar Precision Cancer Medicine Building

ENR California Regional Best Project Health Care Award of Merit

UC San Francisco Bayfront Medical Building

The UCSF Bayfront Medical Building earned an Award of Merit in the Healthcare category at ENR's 2025 West Best Projects awards, recognized for its advanced urgent care, surgery center, multispecialty clinics, and innovative design.

UC San Francisco Cardiovascular Research Building

ENR Northern California Award, Best Project: Higher Education/Research

UC San Francisco Medical Center at Mission Bay

SEAOC Excellence in Structural Engineering, Award of Merit, Sustainable Design  
SEAONC Excellence in Structural Engineering, Award of Merit, Alternative Project Delivery
ENR Northern California Award, Best Project: Health Care
ENR National Award, Best Project: Health Care
Precast Concrete Institute, Healthcare/Medical Building Award
American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) Vista Award, New Construction