The International Interior Design Association (IIDA) announced the winners of its 2025 Student Design Competition.
For the annual program, sponsored by Carolina, an OFS company, participants entered concepts for pediatric primary care clinics focused on behavioral health. The submissions were then judged on criteria such as creativity, functionality, and human impact.
Earning first place in the 2025 competition was Sunshine: Day 1 Behavioral Health Clinic, submitted by LeAnne Hlavka, Interior Designers Institute (Newport Beach, Calif.). The winning design, focused on a holistic patient experience and includes features such as access to sunlight, skylights, and LED lights that are tunable to circadian rhythms.
Additional winners in the 2025 competition include:
Second place: Path to Balance: A Healing Environment for Behavioral Health, submitted by Leah Ferry, Kent State University (Kent, Ohio)
Representing a holistic approach to behavioral healthcare, the concept integrates biophilic design principles, including the use of greenery and nature-inspired wallcoverings in therapeutic spaces. Architectural elements include curved, organic shapes used throughout the interior design.
Third place: Vantage Point Behavioral Clinic, submitted by Katie Becher and Samantha Crown, Florida State University (Tallahassee, Fla.)
This clinic concept encourages patients to visualize healing themselves in their own environment and having control over their perspective and healing. The design is inspired by Colorado’s natural beauty, including scenic mountain views and Denver’s urban skyline.
Honorable Mention: Healing Through Connection Center, submitted by Hailey Reicks, Kirkwood Community College (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
Influenced by Japanese minimalism and Scandinavian comfort, the concept for this clinic embodies the resilience and unity of an aspen grove, where individual trees thrive through a vast interconnected root system. The design balances clean lines, organic materials, and soft neutral tones.
To read more about the winning designs, go to IIDA.org.
