Perkins+Will Wins Its First-Ever Austin Chapter of AIA Award of Excellence

The Austin community has recognized the lasting impact of TENTSION’s thoughtful design

Perkins+Will, an interdisciplinary, research-based architecture and design firm, has been honored with an Award of Excellence by the Austin Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Austin) for it’s light-based, site-specific art installation, TENTSION.

Selected from among 128 submissions in this year’s awards program, the project stood out for its holistic approach to design, considering key details such as location and audience experience. Perkins+Will’s Austin-based studio derived inspiration for TENTSION from its temporary spot on Waller Creek, a location known to be a place of refuge for many of the city’s homeless citizens. Originally created for Creek Show, presented annually by the Waller Creek Conservancy, the installation was showcased among six other art exhibits for a week this past November.

“It’s an honor to witness the TENTSION message garner such high recognition beyond its original installation—especially from such an esteemed awards program,” says Chet Morgan, the installation’s lead designer at Perkins+Will. “We were thrilled with how the Austin community responded to TENTSION first-hand back in November. It’s a memorable project for our team given its unique design and local impact.”

For TENTSION, the design team created a compelling piece of temporary art that would serve a useful purpose long after the exhibition had ended. Made up of over 100 camping tents bound together to create grouped forms, TENTSION was designed to ultimately be deconstructed and donated to local organizations that serve those in need, such as Integral Care, Trinity Center, and Path. TENTSION added a new dimension to the light show program through its profound statement about the plight of homelessness in the Austin community.

“We’re so proud to see the firm recognized by its peers for their recent AIA award win. The team’s vision, creativity, adaptability, leadership and just downright elbow grease and determination were inspiring to us, and the results speak for themselves,” says Michael Brack, President at Datum Engineers—a firm that supported the design and construction of the installation. Patriot Erectors also contributed to the project’s planning and development.

On May 9, 2019, AIA Austin gathered members, allied members, community leaders, and architecture enthusiasts at Fair Market to celebrate exceptional design and those leading the charge to improve Austin’s built environment. TENTSION was one of five projects that received an Award of Excellence.

About Perkins+Will

Perkins+Will is an interdisciplinary, research-based architecture and design firm established in 1935. Founded on the belief that design has the power to transform lives and enhance communities, we collaborate with clients all over the world to create healthy, sustainable places in which to live, learn, work, play, heal, move, and explore. More than 2,600 professionals across over 24 Perkins+Will design studios include some of the brightest minds in architecture, interior design, branded environments, urban design, and landscape architecture. Clients consistently turn to us for our leadership in areas like sustainability, resilience, health and wellness, and mobility. Additionally, our Research Labs innovate design technologies and solutions that result in better, smarter, more competitive built environments. In 2018, were named one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies in Architecture by Fast Company, and we are consistently ranked among the world’s top design firms. Our family of partner companies includes retail strategy and design consultancy Portland; sustainable transportation planning consultancy Nelson\Nygaard; healthcare technology planning firm Genesis; and luxury hospitality design firm Pierre-Yves Rochon (PYR).

For more information, visit www.perkinswill.com.