Claremont McKenna College was recently honored by Claremont Heritage with the 2026 Cultural Heritage Award at the organization’s awards gala and 50th anniversary celebration. At the gala, themed “Claremont Gold: Our Legacy, Our Future,” CMC was recognized for “its longstanding commitment to architectural excellence, public art, and thoughtful campus design that enriches both the Claremont community and the cultural landscape of Southern California and beyond.”
Annually, the Cultural Heritage Award celebrates individuals and organizations whose work demonstrates outstanding contributions to the cultural heritage of the City of Claremont and beyond.
At the May 31 event, held in Claremont’s historic Padua Hills Theatre, a short video was shown to attendees, offering a sweeping overview of CMC’s history and stages of growth and development over the years. Special focus was placed on the College’s architecture—from its first building to the new Robert Day Sciences Center and the emerging Roberts Campus Sports Bowl—and the Walker Public Art Collection, a dynamic collection of contemporary artworks by distinguished artists.
“While architecture and design have played a defining role at CMC, the College’s cultural acumen extends far beyond its buildings, shaping a campus environment that values creativity, intellectual engagement, and the arts,” said the video narrator.
Watch Claremont Heritage’s video below.