Best of ORL 2026: Professional Services Winner Spotlights
Take a closer look at this year's first place winners in the professional services category.
The new Visit Orlando offices, designed by Schenkel Shultz, photo Nathan Whitman Photography
Winner: Best Architectural Firm | Schenkel Shultz
For more than four decades in Central Florida, Schenkel Shultz has helped shape Orlando’s skyline, schools, transportation hubs and community spaces. That legacy of impactful design has now earned the firm first place in Orlando magazine’s 2026 Best of ORL awards for Best Architectural Firm.
Founded in 1958 and establishing its Orlando presence in 1983, Schenkel Shultz has grown into one of the area’s most respected architecture and design studios. The studio specializes in aviation, education, public safety, urban design and community-focused projects, with a philosophy centered on collaboration, research and creating spaces that strengthen the communities they serve.
The firm’s influence can be seen throughout Central Florida. Among its most notable projects is The Edyth, a workplace turned community performance venue in the heart of Winter Park.
The studio also expanded its portfolio with the recent completion of Visit Orlando’s new headquarters, an adaptive environment that is driven by its mission to welcome visitors from all over the world.
Education has also been a cornerstone of the studio’s success. Over the years, Schenkel Shultz has designed millions of square feet of educational facilities, from K-12 campuses to higher education buildings across Florida and beyond. Schenkel Shultz has earned recognition for incorporating modern learning concepts into school design and has worked on educational projects, including the award-winning Porter Family Center for Innovation and Academics at Lake Highland.
In recent years, the company has continued expanding its community impact. Projects such as the new Quest Therapy Center & Academy in downtown Orlando demonstrates a creative reuse of an existing space into a transformative academy and therapy school that allows students to experience a full life.
The studio’s guiding vision is to inspire communities through impactful design, blending creativity, sustainability and practical solutions. That approach has helped Schenkel Shultz remain relevant through decades of growth and change while maintaining strong relationships with clients and community partners.
“This recognition is especially meaningful as we advance a transformational pivot—one spanning creative collaboration, strategic teaming, and a cultural shift that elevates design, creativity, and art as a primary pillar of the studio,” noted Ekta Desai, AIA Partner and Design Lead at Schenkel Shultz.
Truist Plaza is a mixed use development located on the corner of W. South Street and S. Garland Avenue in downtown Orlando.
Winner: Best Bank | Truist
Truist has been named the winner of Orlando magazine’s 2026 Best of ORL award for Best Bank, earning recognition from readers for its extensive financial services, community involvement and longstanding presence across Central Florida. Since the merger of BB&T and SunTrust created Truist in 2019, the bank has continued to expand its footprint while emphasizing financial confidence, community development and personalized banking services.
Truist operates numerous branches and wealth management offices throughout Central Florida, offering a full range of services including personal and business banking, mortgages, lending, investments and wealth management. The company has also invested heavily in community initiatives aimed at improving economic opportunity and quality of life in Orlando.
One of the bank’s most significant commitments has been its community development efforts. Through its Community Benefits Plan, Truist pledged to lend or invest billions of dollars in low- and moderate-income communities, while also supporting affordable housing, small-business growth and nonprofit organizations. In Orlando, the bank has partnered with organizations including LIFT Orlando, the Orlando Economic Partnership and Destination Graduation to support housing, workforce development and educational opportunities.
The company’s leadership team has also remained active in local philanthropy and civic engagement. In recent months, Truist expanded its community affairs efforts in Florida through strategic leadership appointments focused on education, economic development and nonprofit partnerships.
The Orlando magazine Best of ORL awards are determined through reader voting and recognize businesses, organizations and professionals that have made a significant impact on the Central Florida community. Truist’s first-place finish in the Best Bank category underscores the institution’s strong reputation among local residents and businesses alike.
As Central Florida continues to grow, Truist’s blend of financial expertise, community investment and customer-focused service has helped position it as one of the area’s most trusted banking institutions, earning it the title of Orlando’s Best Bank for 2026.
