PRESS RELEASE: F9 Productions’ Johnson’s Corner Wins Silver at the 2026 International Architecture & Design Awards
Longmont, Colorado — F9 Productions Inc. is proud to announce that Johnson’s Corner has been named a Silver Winner in Renovation, Restoration & Adaptive Reuse at the 2026 International Architecture & Design Awards (IADA).
The international recognition marks the second major design honor for Johnson’s Corner in two consecutive years. The project previously received an Honorable Mention in Architectural Design / Restoration & Renovation from the 2025 Architecture MasterPrize.
Originally a roadside gas station and gathering place along Colorado’s growing highway system, Johnson’s Corner was relocated and ultimately given new life in Prospect New Town in Longmont. F9 Productions approached the project as both an exercise in historic preservation and an opportunity to create a new community gathering place.
“Receiving international recognition for Johnson’s Corner a second time is incredibly meaningful,” said Alex Gore, Co-Founder and Principal Architect of F9 Productions. “This was never about simply preserving an old building. We wanted to preserve the memories and character that made it important while giving it an entirely new purpose for the next generation.”
The adaptive reuse carefully blends the building’s past with its new role in the community. The iconic neon sign was restored and rebuilt, while two vintage gas pumps were repurposed as electric vehicle charging stations. A former swimming pool site was transformed into a public plaza, incorporating the existing pool wall and shade canopy into an outdoor dining environment.
Inside, industrial steel detailing, warm wood ceilings, retro-inspired furnishings, custom lighting, and carefully selected artwork reference the building’s motorist-era history while creating a contemporary hospitality environment.
Today, Johnson’s Corner anchors a mixed-use destination featuring food and beverage uses, gathering spaces, and nearby residential lofts. Where motorists and travelers once stopped along the highway, families and neighbors now arrive on foot to eat, drink, gather, and connect.
The International Architecture & Design Awards recognized the project in its Completed / Built / Professional category. Alex Gore served as Architect and Designer, with F9 Productions Architect Alex Gresh and Designer Tyler McNutt contributing to the design team. Dam Good Interiors provided interior design, Nassar Development served as developer builder.
“This project is a great example of what adaptive reuse can accomplish,” Gore said. “The best outcome wasn’t creating something that felt brand new. It was creating something that felt like it had always belonged there.”
The Silver Award represents F9 Productions’ latest international design recognition and adds to a growing body of internationally honored work that began with the firm’s Atlas Tiny House, named a Popular Winner in the 2016 Architizer A+Awards.