2026 Main Street Downtown Design Award Application

The Main Street Downtown Design Awards recognize 2026 projects that strengthen downtown through thoughtful design, preservation, adaptive reuse, new construction, or improvements to public and civic spaces. For studies/master plans only, completion must be in 2026, not adaptation. The Design Committee reviews eligible projects for design quality, fit with downtown’s character, community impact, and the improvements they bring. Select the award category that best fits your project and share a few details and photos to help the Design Committee volunteers understand your work and score your application. These awards are given through Main Street Murfreesboro at the annual celebration event in the first quarter of 2027.
Eligibility & Deadlines: Any business owner, property owner, or design professional within the designated Main Street Murfreesboro historic district boundary may apply. 
Submission Instructions: Submit via this form or email a completed Word document application with photo files to [email protected] (or deliver to Main Street Murfreesboro, 225 West College Street, Murfreesboro, TN 37130). • Submission Deadline: Friday, December 18, 2026, at 12:00 PM (Noon) • Committee Scoring & Site Visits:  January 2027 • Awards Presentation: Main Street Murfreesboro Annual Celebration in the first quarter of 2027 
Universal 25-Point Scoring Rubric: The committee evaluates all award categories using the same 25-point standard. Design criteria account for 23 points, with 2 bonus points verified by staff for current Main Street membership.
Winner Selection: The volunteer Design Committee scores each submission independently using this rubric. Top-ranking projects in each category receive on-site walkthroughs before the committee confirms final award selections. Winners will receive custom commemorative plaques and recognition across Main Street social channels, website, and local media releases. The committee will present awards at the Annual Celebration in the first quarter of 2027.

Main Street Murfreesboro created the "Downtown Design Award" in 2003, acknowledging facade rehabilitation on two downtown buildings: Rogers & Eischeid Attorneys at Law and Concert Production.  Also recognized that year was the "new construction" of the Rutherford County Government Health Department building at 100 West Burton Street and St. Paul's Episcopal Church's new worship space at 315 East Main Street.