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For the third time in four years, ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓƵ Fox University’s interior design program received national recognition, earning the International Interior Design Association’s (IIDA) 2026 Campus Center of the Year honor.

Selected among dozens of schools across the U.S. with an interior design program, ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓƵ Fox was recognized in June for its work with victims of the January 2025 Altadena, California, wildfires – a project that gave students the opportunity to assist families rebuilding from the tragedy, from helping them review floor plans and selecting finishes to choosing paint colors and cabinet hardware (pictured, below).

“Receiving this national award for the third time is incredibly special, and not just because of the win itself, but because it recognizes something much bigger than design,” says Casey Martin, an associate professor of interior design who led the project and oversees the interior design major. “After the Eaton Fire in Altadena, our students had the chance to give back by helping families begin the difficult process of rebuilding their homes. Seeing them use the skills they’ve developed to serve others with empathy and purpose is what this program is all about.

“Being awarded this third national award in recognition of that specific project makes it even more special. If there's one thing I hope this award represents, it’s that design has the power to make a real difference in people's lives when they need it most and can truly change our communities.”

Martin received a letter from the IIDA organization – an organization that supports design professionals, industry affiliates, educators, students, firms, and their clients through its network of members across 58 countries. It read, “The review committee evaluated your submission and was impressed with your campus center’s significant accomplishments and achievements, which have made a positive impact on the design community. Your campus center stood out among a pool of impressive applicants, and we are thrilled to recognize your success and contributions to the industry.”

Previously, ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓƵ Fox’s interior design program won IIDA “Changemaker Awards” in 2023 and 2024. The latter came after ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓƵ Fox students worked alongside architecture students from Portland State University and a nonprofit organization to develop and design interiors for sleeping pods for the houseless population in Forest Grove, Oregon. As part of the project, students focused on trauma-informed design, creating safe and secure spaces for those experiencing homelessness.

The university’s interior design major has more than tripled since 2020. It focuses on industry connection, allowing students to work with professionals in the field on a regular basis while they earn their degree. It also emphasizes designing empathy-driven projects in an effort to help surrounding communities find solutions to issues around housing. 

To this end, the major’s curriculum was massively overhauled in 2020 to make students’ skill-sets more applicable to current industry standards. Now, that new curriculum is paying dividends, as in 2026 each senior in the class was offered a job before graduation. 

Students in the program are also increasingly more successful in landing internships, as 100% of them participate in paid internships that provide them with valuable work experience and create long-lasting professional connections.