Chicago's architectural community was in full swing on October 11, celebrating AIA Chicago’s 47th annual Design Excellence Awards. More than 20 local firms were presented with 32 awards for distinguished buildings and exceptional interior architecture.  

 

The program gives insight into the scope of work by Chicago-based architects, from local urban and suburban projects to international venues like Amsterdam, Berlin, London, and Munich. "Chicago has always been a magnet for great architectural talent," says AIA Chicago President Jonathan Fischel. "This year's winners demonstrate that our architectural community remains a leading influence throughout the world." Jury panels comprised of respected architects from firms in six U.S. cities selected the winners from among a field of 265 entries.

 

Projects in the Design Excellence Awards compete in two broad divisions: distinguished building and interior architecture. In addition to six Honor Awards within these divisions (pictured), AIA Chicago bestowed 17 Citations of Merit and five Special Recognition Awards. Also honored were four standout projects that were designed but never built (pictured).

 

The AIA Chicago Awards Web site includes images, project descriptions, and credits for all the winning designs as well as all the submissions via a very well organized virtual exhibit. Winning projects will also be on display at the Chicago Architecture Foundation through January 5.

 

DISTINGUISHED BUILDING AWARDS

 

Distinguished Building Awards Jury:

 

Suman Sorg, FAIA, Sorg & Associates, Washington, D.C.

Edward Weinstein, FAIA, Weinstein Copeland Architects, Seattle

Craig Hodgetts, AIA, Hodgetts + Fung Design Associates, Culver City, CA

 
HONOR AWARDS

 

Cary Grove High School Media Center Addition, Cary, IL
Architect: Perkins & Will

 

Philips Headquarters at Breitner Centre, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP

 

Rennebohm Hall, School of Pharmacy at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
Architect: Perkins & Will
Architect-of-Record: Potter Lawson Inc.
 

South Kenwood Residence, Chicago
Architect: Vinci-Hamp Architects Inc.

CITATIONS OF MERIT

 

29 North Wacker, Chicago
Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP

 

Archer Courts Renovation, Chicago
Architect: Landon Bone Architects

Beach House at Rainbow Park and Beach, Chicago
Architect: David Woodhouse Architects

Damore House, Fort Myers, FL
Architect: Annex/5 (an A. Epstein and Sons International Design Group)

Habitat Africa! The Forest; Brookfield, IL
Architect: EHDD Architecture

Kline Creek Farm Visitors Center, Winfield, IL
Architect: Teng & Associates Inc.

Michigan Place, Chicago
Architect: David C. Hovey, FAIA, of Optima Inc.

Munich Airport Center, Munich, Germany
Architect: Murphy/Jahn Inc.

Neues Kranzler Eck, Berlin, Germany
Architect: Murphy/Jahn Inc.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARDS

 

Cadillac Palace Theater Renovation, Chicago
Architect: Daniel P. Coffey & Associates Ltd.

Wabash YMCA Renovation, Chicago
Architect: Weese Langley Weese Architects Ltd.

INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE AWARDS

 

Interior Architecture Awards Jury:

 

Barbara Hillier, AIA, The Hillier Group, Princeton, NJ

Stephen Swicegood, AIA, Idea/Span, Atlanta

Richard Pollack, FAIA, FIIDA, Richard Pollack & Associates, San Francisco

 

HONOR AWARDS

 

Tribune Interactive, Chicago
Architect: Perkins & Will
Associate Architect: McClier

Weiss Residence, Chicago
Architect: Brininstool + Lynch Ltd.

CITATIONS OF MERIT

 

Allsteel Headquarters, Muscatine, IA
Architect: Gensler

A Consulting Firm on the 15th Floor, Chicago
Architect: VOA Associates Inc.

Jubilee Family Resource Center, Chicago
Architect: Ross Barney + Jankowski Inc.

Louise Wells Kasian Children's Activity Room at Lake Forest Library, Lake Forest, IL
Architect: David Woodhouse Architects

Shadow Caster 78, Scottsdale, AZ
Architect: David C. Hovey, FAIA

Spencer Stuart, Chicago
Architect: The Environments Group

Transora, Chicago
Architect: The Environments Group

Zenith Electronics Corp., Lincolnshire, IL
Architect: Valerio Dewalt Train Associates

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARDS

 

Booth Library Renovation and Addition at Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL
Architect: Holabird & Root LLP

Emanuel Congregation Sanctuary Renovation, Chicago
Architect: Ross Barney + Jankowski Inc.
Associate Architect: Les M. Jacobs

The Zipatoni Co., Chicago
Architect: Environ Inc.

UNBUILT DESIGN AWARDS

The Unbuilt Design Award was established in 1991 as the result of the 1990 exhibition, "Roads Not Taken." None of the projects will be built, yet the award is intended to recognize projects for the significance of their concept and the quality of design. A client must have commissioned submitted projects; however, they may include competition entries or urban design schemes.

 

Unbuilt Design Awards Jury:

 

Thomas Zurowski, AIA, Eastlake Studio, Chicago

Ronald Krueck, FAIA, Krueck & Sexton Architects, Chicago

David Woodhouse, FAIA, David Woodhouse Architects, Chicago

 

HONOR AWARD

 

Jubilee Park Pavilion, London, UK
Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP

CITATIONS OF MERIT

 

Bank of Jacomo, Blue Springs, MO
Architect: DeStefano + Partners

 

Qatar Broadcasting Services Complex, Doha, Qatar
Architect: Perkins & Will

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

 

An Entry to Chicago's Design Competition for Mixed-Income Housing
Architect: Garofalo Architects