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

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

Design-Build Institute of America, Western Pacific Regional Excellence Award, 2008
California Construction magazine, Best of 2007 Northern California, Higher Education, Award of Merit

California Community Colleges Board of Governors Energy and Sustainability Award

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

AIA East Bay Design Awards 2009, Citation for Architecture

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

California Preservation Foundation Award

California Preservation Design Award, Rehabilitation

Citation from AIA Academy of Architecture for Justice;
SEAONC, Excellence in Structural Engineering, Award of Merit, New Construction

SEAONC Excellence in Structural Engineering Award of Merit
Winner for California Preservation Foundation Award

ENR Best Projects of 2014, Award of Merit - Healthcare

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

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

ENR Best Projects, Best Project - Sports/Entertainment

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

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

ENR California's Best Projects 2019

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

ENR California Regional Best Project, Health Care

2018 SEAONC Excellence in Structural Engineering Award of Merit

SEAONC Excellence in Structural Engineering, Award


Pacific Coast Builders Conference Gold Nugget Awards, Grand Award 2024
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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

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 Business Times Deal of the Year

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.

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

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

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

2026 SEAONC Award of Merit
2026 SEAONC People’s Choice Award

Northern California Chapter ASLA Award
San Francisco AIA Award

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

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

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

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

SEAONC Excellence in Structural Engineering Award
AISC, IDEAS2 Award, Merit Award
San Francisco AIA, Merit Award
Architecture Green GOOD DESIGN Award, Merit Award

ENR California Regional Best Project Health Care Award of Merit

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.

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

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