As one of the AIA's multiple annual award programs that celebrate top-notch architecture and design quality, the AIA Institute Honor Awards are considered to be the architectural profession's highest recognition for projects that exhibit excellence in Architecture, Interior Architecture, and Regional & Urban Design.

This year's winners are a striking collection that are surely of a high and very competitive caliber -- not to mention beautifully photographed. From a submission pool of 500, only 23 were awarded for 2015, with some firms winning in more than one category. This type of award could either be like a very flattering compliment at this point for some firms or as a hallmark of approval that they've made a name for themselves. Regardless, the Institute Honor Awards continue to highlight projects that set the bar.

Architecture: 28th Street Apartments; Los Angeles by Koning Eizenberg Architecture, Inc.

Interior Architecture: Louisiana State Museum; Natchitoches, Louisiana by Trahan Architects.

Regional & Urban Design: The BIG U; New York City by BIG | Bjarke Ingels Group.

Interior Architecture: The Barbarian Group; New York City by Clive Wilkinson Architects; Design Republic Partners Architects LLP.

Architecture: United States Courthouse, Salt Lake City, Utah by Thomas Phifer and Partners; Naylor Wentworth Lund Architects.

Interior Architecture: Beats By Dre; Culver City, California by Bestor Architecture.

Regional & Urban Design: Target Field Station; Minneapolis by Perkins Eastman.

Interior Architecture: Illinois State Capitol West Wing Restoration; Springfield, Illinois by Vinci Hamp Architects.

John Jay College of Criminal Justice; New York City by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP.

Check out more of the winning projects below.