Chicago, Illinois, USA
The nation’s highest public award for new architecture and urban planning by the most prominent architecture firms in the United States are honored at a gala reception/dinner during Art Basel in Miami this December 2.
A new airport in México City by FGP Atelier, a vernacular girls school in Jaisalmer, India by Diana Kellogg, two soaring, abstract sky towers by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, a Ledoux-inspired park by John Marx and Form4 Architecture, an ephemeral dream-like urban open space by Trahan Architects, several houses by Stayner Architects and Woods + Dangaran restored back to their 1950’s magnificence, two evanescent cubed cultural centers by REX, a new McDonald’s flagship at Disneyland by Carol Ross Barney, a heroic restoration of a majestic 19th-Century cathedral by Elkus Manfredi Architects, a powerful poetically-charged tower in Morocco by Morphosis, a new convention center in Miami by Fentress Architects and Arquitectonica, an eye-catching warehouse rehab in New York by Morris Adjimi, a stunning new library in Olathe, Kansas by Gould Evans, a surreal new opera house in Shenzhen by DLR Group, a sleek two-tower scheme for México City by Pininfarina, bold new skyscrapers in New York by Kohn Pedersen Fox, and a stainless-steel castellated new art museum in Oklahoma City by Rand Elliott head an impressive list of awarded buildings and urban planning projects for 2021.
Over 130 buildings from a shortlist of over 400 have won the prestigious 2021American Architecture Awards® for the best new architecture designed and constructed by American architects and by international architects with offices in the United States.
Now in its 27th year, The American Architecture Awards are organized by The Chicago Athenaeum:
The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies—jointly presenting this annual, prestigious program for Design Excellence and for the best and next contributions to innovative contemporary American architecture.
The American Architecture Awards are the nation’s highest and oldest public awards given by a non-commercial, non-trade affiliated, public arts, culture, and educational institution.
“For 27 years, The American Architecture Awards have presented stunning and meticulously-designed projects that demonstrate responses to the wider issues of our time, such as urban integration, placemaking, sustainability, universal access, health and wellbeing, and new technologies,” states Christian Narkiewicz-Laine, architecture critic and Museum President, The Chicago Athenaeum.
“The Australian Jury held up these diverse projects as an optimistic vision of the future and a powerful reminder of ‘the fundamental role of architects in creating humanist structures that last for generations’.”
“As our cities become denser and the nature of work changes, projects in the commercial, institutional, and cultural categories were consistently optimistic and future focused, often with elements of fun, freshness, and flexibility.”
“Our Museum is delighted to take the opportunity during these difficult times to celebrate a rapidly evolving practice of architecture that seeks to better support the communities that they serve,” Narkiewicz-Laine continued.
“In a matter of 27 years, this program has become the single, most important recognition for Design Excellence in the United States, honoring known and celebrated firms, as well as young upstart offices for their smaller scaled, more challenging projects.”
“The 2021 edition of the United States’ most prestigious, peer-reviewed architecture awards highlighted the immense public value architects add to their communities through truly exceptional design.”
This year, entries were reviewed and winners were selected by a prestigious jury composed of the following Australian architects and educators:
Alexander Tzannes, Director of Tzannes in Sydney; Paul Jones, Director, Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) Australia in Sydney; Peter Dean, Principal, Hassell in Perth; Peter Dean, Principal, Hassell in Perth, Ray Brown, CEO, Architectus in Sydney; and Adrian McGregor, Principal, McGregor Coxall in Manly, New South Wales.
The Awarded American firm and projects for 2021 are:
Affordable Housing
Studio Twenty Seven Architecture and Leo A. Daly – The Aya Housing, Washington D.C.
LRS Architects and LEVER Architecture – The Louisa Flowers Affordable Housing, Portland, Oregon
Airports/Transportation Centers
FGP Atelier – Felipe Ángeles International Airport, Santa Lucía, Mexico
Bridges
Svigals + Partners – Beehive Bridge, New Britain, Connecticut
Payette – Northeastern University Pedestrian Crossing (PedX), Boston, Massachusetts
Commercial
Walker Warner Architects – House of Flowers, Healdsburg, California
Neumann Monson Architects – 111 East Grand, Des Moines, Iowa
SPF:a – Water’s Edge 3, Los Angeles, California
Elkus Manfredi Architects – 401 Park Repositioning, Boston, Massachusetts
Neumann Monson Architects – 111 East Grand, Des Moines, Iowa
Graham Baba Architects – Alaska Airlines Flagship Lounge, Seattle, Washington
Corporate
Pickard Chilton – 2+U, Seattle, Washington
HASTINGS Architecture, LLC. – 225 Polk Office Space, Nashville, Tennessee
Kevin Daly Architects and Productora – The Houston Endowment, Los Angeles, California
Morphosis Architects – Casablanca Finance City Tower | Casablanca, Morocco
Dub Architects – The Edge Office Building, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Elkus Manfredi Architects – Pier 4 Office Building, Boston, Massachusetts
HASTINGS Architecture, LLC. – 225 Polk Office Space, Nashville, Tennessee
Form4 Architecture – Verdant Sanctuary, Palo Alto, California
Culture And Museums
LMN Architects – Octave 9: Raisbeck Music Center, Seattle, Washington
Anderson Anderson Architecture – The Matchstick, San Francisco, California
Rand Elliott Architects – Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Mitchell Giurgola Architects LLP. – BAM Strong, Brooklyn, New York
DLR Group – Shenzhen Opera House Competition, Shenzhen, China
Architecture Research Office – A New Campus for the Rothko Chapel, Houston, Texas
REX – Brown University Performing Arts Center | Providence, Rhode Island
REX – The Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center at the World Trade Center, New York, New York
Government/Civic Buildings
Roth Sheppard Architects – Firestone Police Department and Municipal Court, Firestone, Colorado
HGA Architects and Engineers – Derby Line Land Port of Entry, Derby Line, Vermont
Health Care/Hospitals
Yazdani Studio of CannonDesign – Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine, Pasadena, California
BLUR Workshop – Veterinarian and Animal Care Campus, Atlanta, Georgia
HOK – BioMed Life Sciences Campus, Foster City, California
LS3P Associates – Uganda Women’s and Childrens Clinic, Mityana, Uganda
High Rises/Skyscrapers
Goettsch Partners and Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture – One Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Solomon Cordwell Buenz (SCB) – Telegraph Tower, Oakland, California
Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates PC. – Hudson Commons, New York, New York
Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates PC. – One Vanderbilt, New York, New York
Rhode Partners – The Independent, Austin, Texas
Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture and Adamson Associates Architects – Central Park Tower, New York, New York
Goettsch Partners – 110 North Wacker, Chicago, Illinois
Hotels/Hospitality
Siegel & Strain Architects – Redwood Visitor Center, Orick, California
Montalba Architects – Whitepod Suites-Chalets, Monthey, Switzerland
Infrastructure
de Leon & Primmer Architecture Workshop – Rowan Pump Station Building Façade, Louisville, Kentucky
Institutions
Sanders Pace Architecture – Loghaven Artist Residency, Knoxville, Tennessee
Aidlin Darling Design – Geneva Car Barn & Powerhouse, San Francisco, California
LEVER Architecture – Oregon Conservation Center, Portland, Oregon
Adjaye Associates – 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, New York, New York
Siegel & Strain Architects – Redwood Visitor Center, Orick, California
Libraries
Schwartz/Silver Architects and WHLC Architecture – River Center Branch Library, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
NADAAA – Adams Street Branch Library, Boston, Massachusetts
Gould Evans and Group 4 Architecture – Olathe Indian Creek Library, Olathe, Kansas
Mixed-Use
Trahan Architects – New England Mixed Use Development, New England
Monuments/Memorials
Chee Salette – January 8th Memorial, Tucson, Arizona
Paul Murdoch Architects – Flight 93 National Memorial, Shanksville, Pennsylvania
Multi-Family Housing
Dake Wells Architecture – Pendleton ArtsBlock, Kansas City, Missouri
David Hovey & Associates Architect – Optima Kierland Center, Phoenix, Arizona
David Hovey & Associates Architect – Optima Sonoran Village, Phoenix, Arizona
Solomon Cordwell Buenz (SCB) – The Bristol, West Palm Beach, Florida
Arquitectonica – Oasis Hallandale, Hallandale, Florida
Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture – Una Residences | Miami, Florida
Pininfarina of America Corp. – Torre Designo, México City, México
Kobi Karp Architecture and Interior Design – Wynwood 25, Miami, Florida
University of Arkansas Community Design – Markham Square Housing District, Conway, Arkansas
archimania – Frontline, Memphis, Tennesse
Tighe Architecture – 2300 Beverly, Los Angeles, California
Handel Architects LLP. – Sendero Verde 100% Affordable Passive House Residences | New York, New York
Private Houses
Salmela Architect – (Re)generation House, St. Paul, Minnesota
MUTUO – Wonderland, Los Angeles, California
Johnsen Schmaling Architects – Kettle Moraine House, Campbellsport, Wisconsin
Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, Architect – Franzen House, Washington D.C.
substance – MC38 Residence, San Francisco, California
Marc Thorpe Design – Edifice, New York, New York
Desai Chia Architecture – The Ledge House, Cornwall, Connecticut
William Kaven Architecture – Royal, Portland, Oregon
EYRC Works – Mighty House, California
Standard – Forest Knoll Residence, Los Angeles, California
David Jameson Architect Inc.- 3131 CBR, Washington, D.C.
David Jameson Architect Inc. – Liminal House, The Plains, Virginia
Montalba Architects – Vertical Courtyard House, Santa Monica, California
Minarc – Almar Residence, Los Angeles, California
Aidlin Darling Design – Art House, San Francisco, California
archimania – Civitas, Memphis, Tennessee
David Jameson Architect Inc. – Casa Madera Cristal, Washington, D.C.
Scott | Edwards Architecture – Slabtown 4, Portland, Oregon
Montalba Architects – Vertical Courtyard House, Santa Monica, California
Alterstudio Architecture – Tarrytown Residence, Austin, Texas
Parks/Public Spaces
OLIN – Pier 26 at Hudson River Park, New York, New York
Trahan Architects – Luther George Park, Springdale, Arkansas
Form4 Architecture – Human Convergence, San Jose Light Tower Corporation Design Competition, San Jose, California
Religious Buildings
PBDW Architects – Moise Safra Center, New York, New York
Form4 Architecture – Intertwined Eternities, Apotos, California
Retail/Showrooms
Ross Barney Architects and CPH – McDonald’s Global Flagship at Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
FGP Atelier – Ted Gibson Salon, Chicago, Illinois
Restoration/Renovation
Voith & Mactavish Architects – Carey Law School Silverman Hall Classrooms, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pei Cobb Freed & Partners – 1271 Avenue of the Americas Recladding and Repositioning, New York, New York
designLAB architects – 485 Broadway Renovation, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Woods + Dangaran – Moore House Restoration, Los Feliz, California
MTFA Design + Preservation, PLLC. – Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington D.C.
Morris Adjmi Architects – 520 West 20th Street, New York, New York
Elkus Manfredi Architects – Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston, Massachusetts
DLR Group – Portland Building Renovation, Portland, Oregon
Woods + Dangaran – Moore House Restoration, Los Feliz, California
Stayner Architects – The Miles C. Bates House, Palm Desert, California
Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates PC. – The Stephen M. Rosenberg College of Law, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
Fentress Architects and Arquitectonica – Miami Beach Convention Center Expansion and Renovation, Miami Beach, Florida
Schools And Universities
Murray Legge Architecture – Little Tiger Chinese Immersion School, Austin, Texas
Arquitectonica – Lakeside Village Student Housing, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
CannonDesign – Second Student Centre, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
KieranTimberlake – Anabeth and John Weil Hall, Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri
HOK – BioMed Life Sciences Campus, Foster City, California
Ennead Architects – The Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon
ikon.5 architects – L. Gale Lemerand Student Center, Daytona State College, Daytona Beach, Florida
Payette – Lafayette College Rockwell Integrated Sciences Center, Easton, Pennsylvania
EskewDumezRipple – Home Building at Thaden School, Bentonville, Arkansas
Leers Weinzapfel Associates, Modus Studio and Mackey Mitchell Architects – Adohi Hall, Fayetteville, Arkansas
Henning Larsen Architects and KZF Design, Inc.– Carl H. Lindner College of Business, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
The Miller Hull Partnership, LLP. – The Hans Rosling Center for Population Health, Seattle, Washington Christoff:Finio Architecture – Bennington College Commons Renovation, Bennington, Vermont
JGMA and Cannon Design – Richard J. Daley College MTEC, Chicago, Illinois
KieranTimberlake – Henley Hall: Institute for Energy Efficiency, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California
William Rawn Associates, Architects, Inc. – Linde Center for Music and Learning, Lenox, Massachusetts
Mitchell Giurgola Architects LLP. – Higgins Engineering & Science Center, The Bronx, New York
NADAAA – RISD North Hall, Providence, Rhode Island
University of Arkansas Community Design – Markham Square Housing District, Conway, Arkansas
SHoP Architects – The National Veterans Resource Center at Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York
Smith-Miller + Hawkinson Architects and Moody Nolan – Energy Advancement and Innovation Center, Columbus, Ohio
Diana Kellogg Architects – The Rajkumari Ratnavati Girl’s School, Jaisalmer, India
ARC / Architectural Resources Cambridge – PJM STEM+ Center, Hardwick, Massachusetts
Solomon Cordwell Buenz (SCB) – The Academic and Residential Complex, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Leers Weinzapfel Associates – Center for Engineering, Innovation and Sciences, Boston, Massachusetts
BNIM – Ozark Education Center, Bull Shoals Field Station, Cedarcreek, Missouri
Urban Planning/Landscape Architecture
W Architecture and Landscape Architecture LLC. and Wannemacher Jensen Architects – The Pier Approach, St. Petersburg, Florida
The American Architecture Awards, founded 27 years ago, is a centerpiece of The Chicago Athenaeum and the European Centre’s efforts to identify and promote best practices in all types of architectural development and to bring a global focus to the light of the best new designs from the United States. It is the only national and global program of its kind.
On Friday, December 2, The Chicago Athenaeum will host an Awards Presentation/Gala Dinner at Arquitectonica’s new hotel, Mr. C Coconut Grove, 2988 Mcfarlane Road in Miami.
Ticket information is available by contacting The Chicago Athenaeum at +815/777-4444.
All awarded buildings and urban planning projects are presented in (Global Design + Urbanism XXI) New American Architecture published by Metropolitan Arts Press Ltd.
Books can be purchased by contacting The Chicago Athenaeum or online at metropolitanartspress.com.
The deadline for the 2022 American Architecture Awards is February 1, 2022.
Applications for 2022 are available online at www.chi-athenaeum.org or www.americanarchitectureawards.com.