Fort Worth architect Bart Shaw, FAIA, co-founder and principal of Ibañez Shaw Architecture, has been named the 2026 Distinguished Alumnus of the Texas Tech University Huckabee College of Architecture.
The Distinguished Alumnus Award is presented annually to a graduate whose career and professional life have brought distinction to the College and whose work is held in high esteem by peers and the public. Shaw will be recognized during the Huckabee College of Architecture Alumni Reception on October 15 in San Antonio, held in conjunction with the Texas Society of Architects Annual Conference.
Shaw has built his architectural practice in Fort Worth for more than 15 years. He founded Bart Shaw Architect in 2011, which merged with Ibañez Architecture in 2017 to form Ibañez Shaw Architecture, a Fort Worth-based practice whose work has become part of the city’s evolving architectural landscape. Locally, Shaw’s work includes Chroma Modern Eyecare + Eyewear, The Levitt Center, Fort Worth Camera, Hotel Revel, Forty Five Ten, and numerous residential, commercial, and cultural projects throughout the region.
His architecture is known for conceptual clarity, material expression, craft, and an economy of means, finding opportunities for meaningful design across projects of widely varying scales and budgets. His work has received more than 50 design honors, including two National AIA Small Project Awards, the American Architecture Award, recognition from the Texas Society of Architects, IIDA, Americans for the Arts, and numerous regional and local AIA design awards. Projects by Shaw and Ibañez Shaw Architecture have also been featured in national publications and television programs.
In 2019, Shaw was elevated to the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows for design, one of the profession’s highest honors. Less than three percent of AIA members hold the prestigious FAIA designation.
“This recognition means a great deal to me. Texas Tech awakened in me a belief in what architecture could mean. I still believe what I learned out there in West Texas, that ideas matter, making matters, and thoughtful design can elevate the lives of the people it serves,” Shaw said.
Beyond practice, Shaw has remained actively engaged in architectural education and the profession. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Texas at Arlington, a frequent lecturer and design juror, and previously served as a contributing editor for Texas Architect. In 2026, he chaired the jury for the AIA National Small Project Awards and currently serves on the Executive Board of the AIA Small Firm Exchange and the Texas Society of Architects O’Neil Ford Medal Committee.
Shaw earned both his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and Master of Architecture from Texas Tech University. He has maintained a close connection to the Huckabee College of Architecture, returning as a guest juror, participating in portfolio reviews and mock interviews, mentoring students, and contributing to the College’s Design Leadership Alliance.
The Huckabee College of Architecture cited Shaw’s award-winning body of work, contributions to architectural discourse, commitment to education and mentorship, and continued engagement with Texas Tech in naming him the 2026 Distinguished Alumnus.
About Ibañez Shaw Architecture
Ibañez Shaw Architecture is a Fort Worth-based architecture and design practice founded by Gregory Ibañez, FAIA, and Bart Shaw, FAIA. The studio works across architecture, interiors, public art, and design, pursuing work of conceptual clarity, craft, and cultural resonance. The firm’s projects have received recognition at the local, state, national, and international levels
