Global Technology Leader Recognized for Transforming How the World Is Designed and Made to be Celebrated at May 27 Gala—

WASHINGTON, D.C.– April 14, 2026—The National Building Museum is proud to announce that Autodesk will receive the 2026 Honor Award, in recognition of the company's four decades of transforming how buildings, infrastructure, and the systems that support everyday life are designed and made. The award will be presented during the Museum’s annual Gala on Wednesday, May 27, a signature event that brings together national leaders from the architecture, design, real estate, and construction sectors.

Founded in San Francisco in 1982, Autodesk is a global leader in software and services for the architecture, engineering, construction, product design and manufacturing, and media and entertainment industries. Since pioneering computer-aided design (CAD) with the release of AutoCAD, the first widely adopted CAD software for personal computers, the company has empowered millions of professionals to bring visionary ideas to life, from the buildings we live and work in, to the cars we drive, and the movies and games that inspire us.

At the heart of Autodesk’s work is a clear mission: to design and make a better world. Its Design and Make Platform is cloud-connected software that unifies data and workflows, utilizing AI-powered insights and automations to deliver desired outcomes across the industries Autodesk serves.

Within the built environment, Autodesk is helping to connect traditionally fragmented workflows at a time of increasing complexity and global demand. Autodesk Forma, its industry cloud for architecture, engineering, construction and operations (AECO), provides a connected, AI-enabled environment where teams can work from shared data, explore ideas earlier, evaluate performance in context, and carry decisions throughout the project lifecycle to achieve more innovative, sustainable and resilient outcomes.

Autodesk’s work aligns closely with the Museum’s mission to advance understanding of how the built environment shapes our lives, communities, and future.

“For more than 40 years, Autodesk’s technology has helped turn ideas into reality,” said Aileen Fuchs, president and executive director of the National Building Museum. “We are honored to recognize a company whose work continues to move the industry forward – supporting more sustainable and resilient buildings and infrastructure for our communities.”

The Honor Award will be accepted by Amy Bunszel, executive vice president, architecture, engineering and construction solutions at Autodesk.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by the National Building Museum,” said Bunszel. “This moment reflects the incredible work of the architects, engineers, and contractors who are shaping our world every day. At Autodesk, our focus is on helping those teams stay connected – from early ideas through delivery – so they can move faster, make better decisions, and ultimately design and make a more resilient future. We’re grateful to celebrate this progress together and optimistic about what comes next.”

The National Building Museum Honor Award, established in 1986, recognizes exceptional leaders and organizations that have made significant contributions to our built heritage. Past recipients include individuals and companies whose work has advanced innovation, design excellence, and public understanding of the impact of architecture, engineering, and construction.

Now in its 39th year, the Museum’s annual Gala has become one of Washington’s most anticipated cultural events. Attended by hundreds of leaders from the building industry, philanthropy, public policy, and the arts, the event celebrates those who shape the world we design and build.

SPONSORS

The Gala is sponsored in part by:

HITT Contracting, Seneca Group, AARP, Amrize, Armstrong World Industries, Arup, Bonstra | Haresign ARCHITECTS, Clark Construction Group, LLC, DAVIS Construction, DLR Group, Dow Inc., DPR Construction Network, EYA, First Form, General Shale, Gensler, Grunley Construction Company, Inc., Harvey | Harvey – Cleary, Hoefer Welker, International Masonry Institute & International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers, JBG Smith, LSM, Lutron, Marvel Architects, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, MRP Realty, ODA, OLIN, Perkins+Will, Piper Sandler, RAMSA (Robert A.M. Stern Architects), rand* construction,  Rooted Communities, Russell Reynolds, SOM, STUDIOS Architecture, Thornton Tomasetti, Turner Construction Company, WSP, ZGF, The American Institute of Architects, District Wharf Properties, Greystar, Hensel Phelps, Kohler Co., KPF, Mortenson, The Poole and Kent Corporation, Power Design, Smoot Construction, SteelFab, Inc., TLC Engineering Solutions, USGBC, Brookfield Properties, J.E. Richards, Inc., Rosendin, Walter P Moore, Abbey Commercial Flooring, Bernstein Management Corporation, The Brick Industry Association, CBG Building Company, CBRE, ECS, Michael and Pamela Feigin, Helix Electric, National Glass Association, Trueblood.city, TYLin, and R&R Mechanical.

Architectural Record, and Engineering News Record are media sponsors.

4 Wall Entertainment, Design Foundry, EMT Productions, Perfekt Blend, and Well Dunn are event partners. 

IMAGES: Images for the Honor Award Gala are available HERE.

MEDIA CONTACT: Karen Baratz, [email protected], 240.497.1811

ABOUT THE NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM
The National Building Museum inspires curiosity about the world we design and build. We believe that understanding the impact of architecture, engineering, landscape architecture, construction, planning, and design is important for everyone. Through exhibitions, educational programs, and special events, we welcome visitors of all ages to experience stories about the built world and its power to shape our lives, our communities, and our futures. Public inquiries: 202.272.2448, [email protected], or visit www.nbm.org. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

AUTODESK

Autodesk, the Autodesk logo, Autodesk Forma and AutoCAD are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries.

ABOUT THE HONOR AWARD
Bestowed each year at the Museum’s Gala, the Honor Award recognizes individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to our built heritage. Recipients are leaders who have defined our culture, developed our communities, and crafted our built environment. Individually, they have advanced our building arts and sciences. Collectively their legacy is profound. Past recipients include:

• Gensler

• Marriott International

• Kohler Co.

• Arup

• Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

• JBG SMITH and Washington Housing Initiative

• Madison Marquette and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington

• Brookfield Properties and the National Endowment for the Arts

• CoStar Group, DAVIS Construction, and Casey Trees

• The Rockefeller Foundation, STUDIOS Architecture, and Capital Bikeshare

• Laura Bush and the National Trust for Historic Preservation

• Turner Construction Company

• Urban Land Institute

• Perkins + Will U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon New Orleans Habitat Musicians Village Majora Carter

• U.S. Green Building Council City of Chicago United Technologies Corporation

• The Associated General Contractors of America

• Related

• Clark Construction Group, LLC

• Forest City Enterprises

• General Services Administration

• Major League Baseball and The National Football League

• DuPont

• Michael D. Eisner and The Walt Disney Company

• Gerald D. Hines

• Harold W. McGraw, Jr., Harold McGraw III and The McGraw-Hill Companies

• Stephen and Riley Bechtel and The Bechtel Group

• Community Builders of Washington, D.C.: Morris Cafritz, Charles E. Smith, Charles A. Horsky, and Oliver T. Carr, Jr.

• Cindy and Jay Pritzker

• Lady Bird Johnson

• James A. Johnson and Fannie Mae

• Carter Brown

• The Civic Leadership of Greater Pittsburgh

• The Rockefeller Family

• IBM Corporation

• Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan

• James W. Rouse

• Irwin Miller