Winners were announced and Lifetime Achievement Award bestowed on September 5th at Designight 2024, AIA Chicago‘s signature award program, at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park
AIA Chicago, the second largest local chapter of The American Institute of Architects and the collective voice of over 4,000 licensed architects, emerging professionals, architecture students, and allied professionals, today announced the winners of the 2024 Design Excellence Awards, Decarbonization Award, Divine Detail Award, Roberta Feldman Architect for Social Justice Award and the Lerch Bates People’s Choice Awards. The award recipients were announced at Designight 2024, honoring Chicago architects’ global design achievements, which was held at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park on Thursday, September 5, 2024.
“Chicago’s architects are leaving an indelible mark on the global landscape, crafting projects that foster equity and sustainability,” said AIA Chicago’s Executive Director Jen Masengarb. “We remain steadfast in supporting architects as they strive to create buildings that contribute to a better quality of life for all.”
DESIGN EXCELLENCE AWARDS HONORS AND CITATIONS OF MERIT BY CATEGORY
The Design Excellence Awards honor the outstanding work of AIA Chicago members and their firms, reinforce the value of great architecture, and highlight members’ contributions in designing equitable and sustainable places and spaces. The 2024 Honors and Citations of Merit recipients for the Design Excellence Awards are:
ARCHITECTURE FINALISTS
Arch XS
HONOR AWARD WINNER:
Wicker Park Cottage, Woodhouse Tinucci Architects; Confidential Client, Chicago, IL
CITATION OF MERIT RECIPIENTS:
Silver Lake Residence, dSPACE Studio; Confidential Client, Saugatuck, MI
The Picnic Glade at Chicago Botanic Garden, Wight & Company; The Chicago Horticultural Society (client), Glencoe, IL
Then A Memorial; Architecture for Public Benefit; Lawndale Christian Community Church and Mishkan Chicago (client), Chicago, IL
Arch S
HONOR AWARD WINNER:
15 Elizabeth, The Miller Hull Partnership and Osterhaus McCarthy; Ranquist Development Group, Jodi Development, Campbell Coyle (clients), Chicago, IL
CITATION OF MERIT RECIPIENTS:
530 W Dickens, Vladimir Radutny Architects; Ranquist Development Group and New Era Development Group (client), Chicago, IL
Arch M
HONOR AWARD WINNER:
Kresge College Expansion at the University of California, Santa Cruz, Studio Gang; University of California, Santa Cruz (client), Santa Cruz, CA
CITATION OF MERIT RECIPIENTS:
Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago Rusu-McCartin Club, Latent; Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago (client), Chicago, IL
Chicago Park District Headquarters, John Ronan Architects; Chicago Park District (client), Chicago, IL
Cordia Harrington Center for Excellence at the University of Arkansas, HBRA Architects; University of Arkansas, Fayetteville (client), Fayetteville, AR
Railyard Park, Ross Barney Architects; City of Rogers (client), Rogers, AR
Arch L
HONOR AWARD WINNER:
Westview High School and YMCA, Perkins&Will; Omaha Public Schools (client), Omaha, NE
HONOR AWARD WINNER FOR AMBITIOUS RENOVATION:
Lawson House Redevelopment, Farr Associates; Holsten Real Estate Development Corporation and Holsten Human Capital Development (client), Chicago, IL
CITATION OF MERIT RECIPIENTS:
One Freedom Plaza, Jahn/; Quadrangle Development Corp. (client), Washington, DC
Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation at the American Museum of Natural History, Studio Gang; American Museum of Natural History (client), New York, NY
Arch XL
HONOR AWARD WINNER:
Wayne County Justice Center, HOK; Wayne County + Bedrock (client), Detroit, MI
INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE
Interior Arch L
HONOR AWARD WINNER:
Confidential Project, Perkins&Will; Confidential Client, San Francisco, CA
Interior Arch M
HONOR AWARD WINNER:
School of the Art Institute of Chicago Flaxman Library Renovation, Kwong Von Glinow; School of the Art Institute of Chicago (client); Chicago, IL
Interior Arch S
HONOR AWARD WINNER:
Unit 8408, Vladimir Radutny Architects; Confidential Client, Chicago, IL
HONOR AWARD WINNER FOR MAXIMIZING RESOURCES FOR IMPACT:
Not All White Walls, PALMYRA PLLC; California College of the Arts (client), San Francisco, CA
CITATION OF MERIT RECIPIENT:
Deep Red Wine Merchant, 34-TEN; Deep Red Wine Merchant (client), Chicago, IL
DIVINE DETAIL
The Divine Detail Award recognizes instances where architectural theory is translated into artistic expression, emphasizing the interplay between design and craftsmanship. Finalists demonstrate how details enhance the project’s design concept through craftsmanship, technology, and/or material choices. Finalists highlight how these details contribute to the overall architectural vision and elevate the project’s aesthetic and/or functional qualities. The 2024 Honors and Citations of Merit recipients for the Divine Detail Award are:
HONOR AWARD WINNER:
Dunelands, dSPACE Studio; Confidential Client, Laketown, MI
CITATION OF MERIT RECIPIENTS:
Enlace, Canopy / architecture + design; Enlace Chicago (client), Chicago, IL
Pritzker Military Archives Center, Jahn/; Archives and Armory of PMML WI LLC (client), Somers, WI
DECARBONIZATION AWARD
AIA Chicago’s Decarbonization Award recognizes projects that have gone above and beyond base level energy reduction goals and showcases those project vanguards that exemplify the profession’s abilities to pursue the goals of the 2030 commitment while also upholding the functional and aesthetic goals of the design. The 2024 Honors and Citations of Merit recipients for the Decarbonization Award are:
HONOR AWARD WINNER:
Bungalow Decarbonization, TBDA; Confidential Client, Oak Park, IL
CITATION OF MERIT RECIPIENT:
Lake Bluff Passive House, TBDA; Confidential Client, Lake Bluff, IL
“Chicago’s architectural heritage is deeply ingrained in our city’s identity and the work of AIA Chicago members, so it is no coincidence that the smallest firms, with ten or fewer employees, are also producing work that rivals their larger counterparts.” said AIA Chicago President Lynda Dossey, AIA, Principal, Jahn. “At this year’s awards celebration, over half of our award winners hail from these smaller firms across many categories.”
ROBERTA FELDMAN ARCHITECTURE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AWARD FINALISTS
The Roberta Feldman Architecture for Social Justice Award, administered by the AIA Chicago Foundation, was established in 2020 to honor excellence in built projects and design programs guided by the conviction that access to high quality architecture is not a privilege, it is a human right. The 2024 Honors and Citations of Merit recipients for the Roberta Feldman Architecture for Social Justice Award are:
HONOR AWARD WINNER:
Chicago Sukkah Design Festival, Could Be Design LLC; Lawndale Pop-Up Spot and Stone Temple Baptist Church (clients), Chicago, IL
CITATION OF MERIT RECIPIENTS:
Mahalia Jackson Public Outdoor Plaza , Krueck Sexton Partners; Greater Chatham Initiative and the City of Chicago, Department of Planning and Development (client), Chicago, IL
“The winners of this year’s Roberta Feldman Architecture for Social Justice Award exemplify how architecture can be a powerful tool for social equity in Chicago.” said AIA Chicago Foundation President Christopher E. Chwedyk, AIA, Director, the Code Group. “These projects not only provide high-quality public spaces in underserved areas but also foster community engagement and cultural enrichment, contributing to a more equitable and vibrant city.”
AIA CHICAGO LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
The AIA Chicago 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award is nominated by the AIA Chicago general membership, reviewed by a Committee of Fellows and previous Lifetime Achievement Award winners, and selected by the AIA Chicago Board of Directors.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT RECIPIENT: Linda Searl, FAIA, Founding Principal of Searl Lamaster Howe
In awarding the Lifetime Achievement Award, the AIA Chicago Board of Directors noted that Searl’s “dedication to supporting the advancement of women in architecture is an example for how all architects should lift each other up.”
AIA CHICAGO LERCH BATES PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
The Lerch Bates People’s Choice Award finalists’ designs were chosen by the Chicago Architecture Center’s Docents in a round one jury review from more than 200 projects submitted for the AIA Chicago’s Design Excellence Awards. The winners were chosen by the public in open voting from August 15 through August 28.
COMMUNITY & CIVIC
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD WINNER:
BUILD Chicago, LBBA Architects; BUILD Chicago (client), Chicago, IL
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD FINALISTS:
Chicago Park District Headquarters, John Ronan Architects; Chicago Park District (client), Chicago, IL
North Austin Community Center, Present Future Architects; North Austin Community Center (client), Chicago, IL
Railyard Park, Ross Barney Architects; City of Rogers (client), Rogers, AR
CULTURAL
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD WINNER:
Mulva Cultural Center, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill; De Pere Cultural Foundation, Inc. (client), De Pere, WI
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD FINALISTS:
Pritzker Military Archives Center, Jahn/; Archives and Armory of PMML WI LLC (client), Somers, WI
Ramova Theatre, O’Riley Office; Our Revival Chicago (client), Chicago, IL
Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation at the American Museum of Natural History, Studio Gang; American Museum of Natural History (client), New York, NY
EDUCATION
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD WINNER:
The Academy for Global Citizenship at the Cultivate Collective Campus, SMNG A Ltd. and Farr Associates Architecture & Urban Design; The Academy of Global Citizenship at the Cultivate Collective Campus (client), Chicago, IL
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD FINALISTS:
Kresge College Expansion at the University of California, Santa Cruz, Studio Gang; University of California, Santa Cruz (client), Santa Cruz, CA
University of Michigan Ford Robotics Building, HED; University of Michigan (client); Ann Arbor, MI
Western Michigan University Student Center and Dining Facility, CannonDesign; Western Michigan University (client), Kalamazoo, MI
HEALTHCARE & RESEARCH
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD WINNER:
Esperanza Health Center, UrbanWorks, Ltd.; Esperanza Health Centers (client), Chicago, IL
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD FINALISTS:
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Building 201, CannonDesign; Johns Hopkins University (client), Laurel, MD
OhioHealth Neuro Wellness Center, Gensler; OhioHealth, Columbus, OH
The Joan and Paul Rubschlager Building, HDR Architecture, Inc.; Rush University Medical Center (client), Chicago, IL
HOSPITALITY & RETAIL
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD WINNER:
Hotel 1928, Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture; AJ Capital Partners and Magnolia (clients), Waco, TX
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD FINALISTS:
Guild Row, DAAM; Rockwell Fletcher LLC and Guild Row (clients), Chicago, IL
Jackson Lake Lodge Exterior Restoration, Nurture; Grand Teton Lodge Company (client), Grand Teton National Park, WY
MesseTurm Repositioning, Jahn/; OfficeFirst Immobilien (client), Frankfurt, GER
MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD WINNER:
Triangle Square Apartments, Lamar Johnson Collaborative; Quarterra (formerly LMC), a Lennar Company (client), Chicago, IL
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD FINALISTS:
Belden-Stratford, SCB; Mansueto Office (client), Chicago, IL
Lawson House Redevelopment, Farr Associates; Holsten Real Estate Development Corporation and Holsten Human Capital Development (client), Chicago, IL
Paseo Boricua Arts Building, UrbanWorks, Ltd.; Paseo Boricua Arts, LLC (client), Chicago, IL
OFFICE
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD WINNER:
4300 E. Camelback, Lamar Johnson Collaborative; Clayco Inc., Phoenix, AZ
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD FINALISTS:
HED Chicago Office Renovation, HED; Confidential Client, Chicago, IL
Northern Trust Corporate Institutional and Global Services Center, HED; Northern Trust Company, Chicago, IL
Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, LLP Chicago Office Renovation, HED; Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, LLP (client); Chicago, IL
SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL – NEW CONSTRUCTION
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD WINNER:
The Snug, Via Chicago; Beth Malloy (client), Chicago, IL
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD FINALISTS:
Not Your Granny’s Flat, Yu & Associates Collaborative; Confidential Client, Chicago, IL
St. Joseph Island Retreat, Booth Hansen; Confidential Client, Ontario, CAN
Two Gables, Wheeler Kearns Architects; Confidential Client, Glencoe, IL
SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL – RENOVATION/ADAPTIVE REUSE
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD WINNER:
Atrium House Renovation, Rosen Architecture; Anna Levin and Tal Rosen (clients), Chicago, IL
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD FINALISTS:
Barn Within A Barn, Shafer Crowe Kueck | Architecture + Design, LLC; Confidential Client, Chicagoland
Unit 8408, Vladimir Radutny Architects; Confidential Client, Chicago, IL
Wicker Park Cottage, Woodhouse Tinucci Architects; Confidential Client, Chicago, IL
TALL BUILDING
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD WINNER:
Fulton East, Lamar Johnson Collaborative; Parkside Realty, Chicago, IL
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD FINALISTS:
300 N. Michigan, bKL Architecture, LLC; Sterling Bay and Magellan Development Group (clients); Chicago, IL
320 South Canal, Goettsch Partners; Riverside Investment & Development and Convexity Properties (clients), Chicago, IL
EDEN, Jahn/; Immobel (client), Frankfurt, GER
“By living in one of the world’s most celebrated cities for architecture, Chicagoans have developed a keen eye for what defines exceptional design. They have once again chosen an outstanding set of winners for the Lerch Bates People’s Choice Awards,” said Eleanor Gorski, President and CEO of the Chicago Architecture Center. “Our Chicago Architecture Center docents were instrumental in this process, lending their expertise to curate the finalists from a strong crop of recent projects. The docents’ collaboration with AIA Chicago recognizes groundbreaking work that illustrates Chicago’s place as a global leader in architecture.”
About AIA Chicago
The American Institute of Architects Chicago (AIA Chicago) serves nearly 4,000 architect members in Chicago and is the second largest local AIA chapter in the country. AIA Chicago’s mission builds on the city’s architectural legacy by advocating for the profession, sharing knowledge among members, and partnering with communities. It fosters a culture of design excellence for equitable, sustainable places and spaces.
AIA Chicago offers lectures and continuing education courses; specialized, issue-specific Knowledge Communities; advocacy for architects; and help for consumers looking for an architect.
AIA Chicago is the local Chicago chapter of The American Institute of Architects. Based in Washington, D.C., The AIA has been the leading professional membership association for licensed architects, emerging professionals, and allied partners since 1869. Learn more by visiting www.aiachicago.org.
About Lerch Bates
Lerch Bates, headquartered in Denver, CO., is a global technical consulting services firm with locations around the globe. For 75 years Lerch Bates has advised architects, developers, building investors, owners and managers on the design, construction, management optimization, modernization and sustainability of a wide spectrum of building systems for any size or type of building. Their specialties include vertical transportation, enclosures & structures, building logistics, facade access, and forensics. For more information, visit www.lerchbates.com.
