Healthcare Design announces the winners of the 2026 Nightingale Awards, which are celebrated at the Healthcare Design Conference + Expo, Oct. 17-20 in New Orleans.
The annual awards are a partnership between the HCD Conference + Expo and Healthcare Design magazine and recognize contributions to the healthcare built environment through product design and innovation that promote healing and productivity.
During the conference in New Orleans, 21 jurors, including healthcare architects, interior designers, and facility executives, evaluated this year’s 70 product entries.
For the 2026 awards program, 26 products received awards in 17 categories. KI took home the Best of Competition Award for Kiaura Collection built with Cognetic Technology, a new conference seating, guest/lounge seating, and clinician support furniture line, which is designed to support movement, balance, restoration, and human performance within healthcare environments.
Additionally, KI received the Best of Innovation Award for Cognetic Technology and the Best of Sustainability Award went to Armstrong World Industries for Templok Energy Saving Ceilings.
2026 Nightingale Awards winners
The 2026 Nightingale Awards Gold, Silver, Innovation, and Sustainability winners, by category, are as follows:
Anti-Ligature & Reduced-Ligature Furnishings
- Gold Award and Innovation Award: Cortech for Sequoia Wardrobe
- Silver Award: ModuForm, Inc. for ModuMaxx 52 Series
Architectural Products: Non-Clinical
- Gold Award: Accurate Lock and Hardware for Ligature-Resistant Privacy Bathroom Swinging Door
- Silver Award: Pineapple Contracts for Ryno Adirondack
- Innovation Award: Kingsway Group for KLAM-SHELL split frame
Behavioral Health Bathroom Fittings & Furnishings
- Silver Award: Kingsway Group for KALM Co-Produced Washroom Range
Behavioral Health Furnishings
- Gold Award: Pineapple Contracts for Ryno Blossom Bench
- Silver Award: ModuForm, Inc. for M100 Observation Support Recliner
Fabrics & Textiles
- Gold Award, Innovation Award, and Sustainability Award: F. Stinson for Young at Heart by Stinson
- Silver Award and Sustainability Award: F. Stinson for Daydream by Arc-Com
Flooring: Carpet
- Silver Award: Patcraft for Within Walls
Flooring: Resilient/LVT/Tile
- Gold Award: Shaw Contract for Material Palette
- Silver Award: Patcraft for Feather Stitch
- Sustainability Award: Patcraft for Wood + Weald II
Flooring: Specialty
- Gold Award and Innovation Award: AHF Products/Armstrong Flooring/Crossville for Armstrong Flooring Kaleido Color Lab
- Silver Award: Interface for Noravant timber
Furniture: Clinician Support
- Gold Award, Innovation Award, and Best of Competition Award: KI for Kiaura Collection built with Cognetic Technology
- Silver Award: Peter Pepper Products for Navi Nursing Cart
Furniture Collections
- Gold Award: Pineapple Contracts for Ryno WoodTec
Lighting
- Silver Award: Axis Lighting for Sketch Overbed
Seating: Conference
- Gold Award, Innovation Award, and Best of Competition Award: KI for Kiaura Collection built with Cognetic Technology
Seating: Guest/Lounge
- Gold Award, Innovation Award, and Best of Competition Award: KI for Kiaura Collection built with Cognetic Technology
- Silver Award: MooreCo Inc. for Embrace – Coradle Pediatric
Seating: Patient Room
- Gold Award: IOA Healthcare Furniture for Sonno Sleeper
- Silver Award: Wieland Healthcare for Naomi Glider
Storage & Accessories
- Gold Award: Pineapple Contracts for Ryno SafewasteXL
Surfacing Materials & Finishes
- Gold Award: Pineapple Contracts for Ryno Wood-Tec
Technology-Integrated Solutions
- Gold Award, Innovation Award, and Best of Innovation Award: KI for Cognetic Technology
- Silver Award, Sustainability Award, and Best of Sustainability Award: Armstrong World Industries for Templok Energy Saving Ceilings
Nightingale Awards Competition Process
The annual awards are named for Florence Nightingale, a tireless advocate for the improvement of care and conditions in military and civilian hospitals in the 1800s.
Jurors visit exhibitors’ booths before the expo hall opens at the HCD Conference + Expo to examine the products, hear the story of their design and development, and ask questions.
Submissions are evaluated for their contribution or solution for clinical or operational outcomes; aesthetics and innovation; built environment solution, durability, functionality, and quality; industry certifications and standards; environmental sustainability; and list price.
More coverage of the 2026 Nightingale Awards will be featured in Healthcare Design magazine’s January/February 2027 issue.
For more conference news and updates, go here.
