We love sharing good news, and this is the best kind.
This year, the CID Awards MENA 2026 shortlist includes two of our own. Steven Lessels made the shortlist for Project Manager of the Year. Adrian Menor earned a place in the Unsung Hero of the Year category. CID revealed the shortlist in August 2026, soon after nominations closed on 3 August.
Two nominations, two talented people, and one very proud team.
About the CID Awards MENA
Commercial Interior Design runs the CID Awards MENA, the leading awards programme celebrating the commercial interiors industry across the Middle East and North Africa.
Each year, the awards recognise the region’s most outstanding people, projects and firms, with more than 30 categories judged by a panel of respected industry experts.
This year is particularly special as the awards celebrate their 20th edition, marking two decades of recognising and setting the benchmark for excellence in commercial interiors across the region.
Later this year, CID will reveal the winners at its flagship awards ceremony. But being shortlisted is already a significant achievement and puts our colleagues among the very best in the region.
A category we know well
In fact, this is not the first time our people have stood out.
The CID Awards MENA 2025 took place on 25 September 2025 at Madinat Jumeirah. There, our Project Manager Krystal Fernandes earned a Highly Commended for Project Manager of the Year.
That same year, Summertown reached the shortlist for two honours, including Interior Fit-Out Firm of the Year.
So Steven’s nomination continues a pattern we are proud of.
Above all, it reflects the standard our project managers set for themselves. After all, great project management is where a sustainable fit-out succeeds or fails.
Steven Lessels, Project Manager of the Year
Great fit-out projects rest on great project management.
Behind every space, someone holds the plan, the programme and the moving parts together. Steven brings exactly that kind of steady, detail-focused leadership.
Of course, delivering certified interiors on time and on budget is never simple. It takes clear communication, calm problem-solving and real care for the details. So we feel proud to see Steven on this shortlist.
Adrian Menor, Unsung Hero of the Year
Some of the most important work happens quietly, away from the spotlight.
The Unsung Hero of the Year category celebrates exactly those people: The ones who hold everything together. Adrian is one of them. Indeed, his nomination shines a light on that behind-the-scenes impact.
It also reminds us that strong results always come from the team. Naturally, that recognition means a great deal to Adrian and to everyone around him.
What these nominations say about our team
Summertown Interiors has shaped interiors in the UAE since 1997. Throughout that time, our people have been the reason clients return. We work as a design and build contractor with in-house teams. As a result, the same group carries a project from concept to completion. Clients feel that continuity too, project after project.
That continuity depends on people like Steven and Adrian. So seeing two of them on one shortlist tells a wider story.
It speaks to a culture we protect carefully: One that values care, collaboration and pride in the work. Meanwhile, you can meet more of the team behind our projects and see their work across the UAE.
Steven and Adrian, congratulations, and thank you for everything you bring to Summertown. We could not feel prouder.
We also want to congratulate every design and fit-out firm on this year’s shortlist. Clearly, the strength of that list says a lot about where our industry is heading. So we look forward to the ceremony, and to celebrating the talent shaping our sector.
Finally, if you are planning a project and want a committed team, get in touch.
