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Architecture

Born in the USA: The best new architecture by American firms

By Adam Williams
January 19, 2017
Born in the USA: The best new architecture by American firms
The Six is a 57-unit housing project for the Skid Row Housing Trust in Los Angeles, California
The Six is a 57-unit housing project for the Skid Row Housing Trust in Los Angeles, California
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The Yale Center for British Arts renovation was handled by Knight Architecture
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The Yale Center for British Arts renovation was handled by Knight Architecture
The Yale Center for British Arts holds the largest and most comprehensive collection of British art located outside of the United Kingdom
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The Yale Center for British Arts holds the largest and most comprehensive collection of British art located outside of the United Kingdom
After 40 years of operation, the Yale Center for British Arts was in need of renovation
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After 40 years of operation, the Yale Center for British Arts was in need of renovation
Part of a larger US$33 million conservation effort, the Yale Center for British Arts renovation was phased to ensure staff and artwork could remain in the building
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Part of a larger US$33 million conservation effort, the Yale Center for British Arts renovation was phased to ensure staff and artwork could remain in the building
The Yale Center for British Arts is located in New Haven, Connecticut
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The Yale Center for British Arts is located in New Haven, Connecticut
The Hutto Cotton and Grain Co-Op was renovated by Antenora Architects LLP
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The Hutto Cotton and Grain Co-Op was renovated by Antenora Architects LLP
The Hutto Cotton and Grain Co-Op is located in Hutto, Texas
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The Hutto Cotton and Grain Co-Op is located in Hutto, Texas
The Hutto Cotton and Grain Co-Op served the primarily agricultural community of Hutto, Texas, for nearly 70 years, before being purchased by the government
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The Hutto Cotton and Grain Co-Op served the primarily agricultural community of Hutto, Texas, for nearly 70 years, before being purchased by the government
The Cotton Gin is an energy efficient building and its electrical consumption is limited to industrial fans and high-efficiency lighting
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The Cotton Gin is an energy efficient building and its electrical consumption is limited to industrial fans and high-efficiency lighting
The Cotton Gin was completed for a budget of just $1 million
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The Cotton Gin was completed for a budget of just $1 million
The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Claire T. Carney Library, by designLAB architects, involved the renovation and modernization of a Brutalist university building
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The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Claire T. Carney Library, by designLAB architects, involved the renovation and modernization of a Brutalist university building
The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Claire T. Carney Library is located in North Dartmouth, MA
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The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Claire T. Carney Library is located in North Dartmouth, MA
The Claire T. Carney Library project was completed within its $200-per-square-foot budget
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The Claire T. Carney Library project was completed within its $200-per-square-foot budget
The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Claire T. Carney Library saw the building get a technological upgrade too
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The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Claire T. Carney Library saw the building get a technological upgrade too
The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Claire T. Carney Library, by designLAB architects, involved the renovation of a Brutalist university building
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The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Claire T. Carney Library, by designLAB architects, involved the renovation of a Brutalist university building
The Rainbow Room project involved the renovation of the preeminent event space in New York City’s iconic 30 Rockefeller Plaza
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The Rainbow Room project involved the renovation of the preeminent event space in New York City’s iconic 30 Rockefeller Plaza
The Rainbow Room renovation was handled by Gabellini Sheppard Associates
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The Rainbow Room renovation was handled by Gabellini Sheppard Associates
Originally conceived in the early 1930s by architect Wallace K. Harrison, the Rainbow Room was showing its age by 2009
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Originally conceived in the early 1930s by architect Wallace K. Harrison, the Rainbow Room was showing its age by 2009
The Rainbow Room project involved the renovation of the preeminent event space atop New York City’s iconic 30 Rockefeller Plaza
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The Rainbow Room project involved the renovation of the preeminent event space atop New York City’s iconic 30 Rockefeller Plaza
The Rainbow Room renovation was handled by Gabellini Sheppard Associates
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The Rainbow Room renovation was handled by Gabellini Sheppard Associates
General Motors commissioned a large indoor viewing auditorium as part of a larger Technical Center back in 1956
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General Motors commissioned a large indoor viewing auditorium as part of a larger Technical Center back in 1956
The General Motors Design Auditorium was designed to allow its GM Styling team to check out the form and finish of its designs in an open space unimpeded by weather or shadow
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 The General Motors Design Auditorium was designed to allow its GM Styling team to check out the form and finish of its designs in an open space unimpeded by weather or shadow
The 180 ft (54 m) diameter dome was given a renovation by SmithGroupJJR
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The 180 ft (54 m) diameter dome was given a renovation by SmithGroupJJR
The The General Motors Design Auditorium was originally designed by Eero Saarine
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The The General Motors Design Auditorium was originally designed by Eero Saarine
The General Motors Design Auditorium is located in Warren, Michigan (in the Metro Detroit area),
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The General Motors Design Auditorium is located in Warren, Michigan (in the Metro Detroit area),
The Grace Farms project comprises a new multipurpose community center in New Canaan, Connecticut
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The Grace Farms project comprises a new multipurpose community center in New Canaan, Connecticut
Grace Farms includes an indoor amphitheater, library with conference room, community space featuring fresh food, a pavilion that offers tea service, and a sunken recreational space
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Grace Farms includes an indoor amphitheater, library with conference room, community space featuring fresh food, a pavilion that offers tea service, and a sunken recreational space
Most of Grace Farms’ land is earmarked to remain in perpetuity as open meadows, woods, wetlands, and ponds
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Most of Grace Farms’ land is earmarked to remain in perpetuity as open meadows, woods, wetlands, and ponds
During construction of Grace Farms, 55 geothermal wells were dug to facilitate heating and cooling
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During construction of Grace Farms, 55 geothermal wells were dug to facilitate heating and cooling
The George Washington University, Milken Institute School of Public Health, was designed by Payette
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The George Washington University, Milken Institute School of Public Health, was designed by Payette
The George Washington University, Milken Institute School of Public Health is situated on a triangular site a few blocks from the White House
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The George Washington University, Milken Institute School of Public Health is situated on a triangular site a few blocks from the White House
According to AIA, the George Washington University, Milken Institute School of Public Health is a sustainable school that embodies the core values of public health
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According to AIA, the George Washington University, Milken Institute School of Public Health is a sustainable school that embodies the core values of public health
The George Washington University, Milken Institute School of Public Health, was designed by Payette
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The George Washington University, Milken Institute School of Public Health, was designed by Payette
In Situ is a restaurant located in the recently reopened San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMoMA)
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In Situ is a restaurant located in the recently reopened San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMoMA)
According to AIA, the In Situ restaurant sees art, design, food and community intersect
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According to AIA, the In Situ restaurant sees art, design, food and community intersect 
In Situ was designed by Aidlin Darling Design
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In Situ was designed by Aidlin Darling Design
Focusing on the north and south towers, which were added to Carnegie Hall in 1894 and 1897, the project saw the creation of a music education wing, expanded backstage space, consolidated administrative offices, a new roof terrace, and façade lighting to better display the landmark
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Focusing on the north and south towers, which were added to Carnegie Hall in 1894 and 1897, the project saw the creation of a music education wing, expanded backstage space, consolidated administrative offices, a new roof terrace, and façade lighting to better display the landmark
The Carnegie Hall Studio Towers Renovation Project involved a $230 million renovation of the non-performance venues at the New York City national historic site
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The Carnegie Hall Studio Towers Renovation Project involved a  $230 million renovation of the non-performance venues at the New York City national historic site
The Carnegie Hall Studio Towers Renovation Project was designed by Iu + Bibliowicz Architects LLP
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The Carnegie Hall Studio Towers Renovation Project was designed by Iu + Bibliowicz Architects LLP
The Carnegie Hall Studio Towers Renovation Project involved a $230 million renovation of the non-performance venues at the New York City national historic site
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The Carnegie Hall Studio Towers Renovation Project involved a  $230 million renovation of the non-performance venues at the New York City national historic site
The Cleveland Civic Core project, by LMN Architects, involved a redesign of Cleveland Mall
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The Cleveland Civic Core project, by LMN Architects, involved a redesign of Cleveland Mall
According to AIA, the Cleveland Civic Core project's design helps re-establish the underused asset as a core organizing space for city life while further activating the space
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According to AIA, the Cleveland Civic Core project's design helps re-establish the underused asset as a core organizing space for city life while further activating the space
Cleveland's new Global Center for Health Innovation is a modern take on the prominent buildings that flank the central lawn
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Cleveland's new Global Center for Health Innovation is a modern take on the prominent buildings that flank the central lawn
The Reva and David Logan Center houses the University of Chicago’s visual arts, film, music, and theater programs under one roof
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The Reva and David Logan Center houses the University of Chicago’s visual arts, film, music, and theater programs under one roof
The Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts is a new Center for creating art and thinking critically about the artistic process
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The Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts is a new Center for creating art and thinking critically about the artistic process
The materials used in the Reva and David Logan Center echo the limestone found on the University’s neo-Gothic structures as well as Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie House, which is also located on campus
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The materials used in the Reva and David Logan Center echo the limestone found on the University’s neo-Gothic structures as well as Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie House, which is also located on campus
The Reva and David Logan Center connects the university with the cultural offerings of Chicago’s South Side
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The Reva and David Logan Center connects the university with the cultural offerings of Chicago’s South Side
St. Ann's Warehouse, by Marvel Architects, is located in Brooklyn, New York
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St. Ann's Warehouse, by Marvel Architects, is located in Brooklyn, New York
St. Ann's Warehouse is a 700-seat theater built from the remains of a late-1800s tobacco warehouse
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St. Ann's Warehouse is a 700-seat theater built from the remains of a late-1800s tobacco warehouse 
The site for St. Ann's Warehouse, Fulton Ferry Landing, is on the National Register of Historic Places and has been a New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation property for nearly 40 years
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The site for St. Ann's Warehouse, Fulton Ferry Landing, is on the National Register of Historic Places and has been a New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation property for nearly 40 years
To maintain the patina of the structure, the existing masonry of the St. Ann's Warehouse was selectively preserved
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To maintain the patina of the structure, the existing masonry of the St. Ann's Warehouse was selectively preserved
Outside St. Ann's Warehouse, a triangular garden designed by Michael Van Valkenburgh and enclosed by original masonry walls provides access to the lobby and gathering space before and after performances
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Outside St. Ann's Warehouse, a triangular garden designed by Michael Van Valkenburgh and enclosed by original masonry walls provides access to the lobby and gathering space before and after performances
The winning design for former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s 2013 adAPT NYC competition, Carmel Place opened last year and aims to set new standards as a prototype for micro living
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The winning design for former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s 2013 adAPT NYC competition, Carmel Place opened last year and aims to set new standards as a prototype for micro living
Carmel Place was designed by nARCHITECTS
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Carmel Place was designed by nARCHITECTS
Carmel Place is the tallest Manhattan building constructed modularly
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Carmel Place is the tallest Manhattan building constructed modularly
The Philadelphia 30th Street Station District Plan, by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), lays out a vision for the district’s next three decades
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The Philadelphia 30th Street Station District Plan, by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), lays out a vision for the district’s next three decades
The Philadelphia 30th Street Station District Plan includes 18 million square feet of new development built atop 88 acres of existing railyards as well as an additional 40 acres of new open space
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The Philadelphia 30th Street Station District Plan includes 18 million square feet of new development built atop 88 acres of existing railyards as well as an additional 40 acres of new open space
The Philadelphia 30th Street Station District Plan intends to improve transportation and connectivity throughout the city
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The Philadelphia 30th Street Station District Plan intends to improve transportation and connectivity throughout the city
The Philadelphia 30th Street Station District Plan, by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), lays out a vision for the district’s next three decades
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The Philadelphia 30th Street Station District Plan, by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), lays out a vision for the district’s next three decades
Pinterest's new headquarters is located in a four-story concrete former John Deere factory in San Francisco’s SOMA district
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Pinterest's new headquarters is located in a four-story concrete former John Deere factory in San Francisco’s SOMA district
The new Pinterest HQ is located in San Francisco, California
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The new Pinterest HQ is located in San Francisco, California
The new Pinterest HQ was designed by Iwamoto Scott Architecture, with Brereton Architects
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The new Pinterest HQ was designed by Iwamoto Scott Architecture, with Brereton Architects
Pinterest's new headquarters is located in a four-story concrete former John Deere factory in San Francisco’s SOMA district
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Pinterest's new headquarters is located in a four-story concrete former John Deere factory in San Francisco’s SOMA district
The new Pinterest HQ was designed by Iwamoto Scott Architecture, with Brereton Architects
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The new Pinterest HQ was designed by Iwamoto Scott Architecture, with Brereton Architects
Titled Regeneracion: A vision for the campus and district of the Tecnologico de Monterrey, Mexico, this masterplan was designed by Sasaki Associates
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Titled Regeneracion: A vision for the campus and district of the Tecnologico de Monterrey, Mexico, this masterplan was designed by Sasaki Associates
Sasaki Associates' masterplan aims to improve the campus' walkability and add green roofs, a series of flexible playing fields, and more
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Sasaki Associates' masterplan aims to improve the campus' walkability and add green roofs,  a series of flexible playing fields, and more
Rock Chapel Marine is located in Chelsea, Massachusetts
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Rock Chapel Marine is located in Chelsea, Massachusetts 
Owned by Eastern Salt Company and designed by Landing Studio, Rock Chapel Marine involved the redevelopment of a shuttered oil terminal into a road salt transshipment facility and waterfront park
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Owned by Eastern Salt Company and designed by Landing Studio, Rock Chapel Marine involved the redevelopment of a shuttered oil terminal into a road salt transshipment facility and waterfront park
Rock Chapel Marine creates much-needed green space for the area
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Rock Chapel Marine creates much-needed green space for the area 
Rock Chapel Marine is located in Chelsea, Massachusetts
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Rock Chapel Marine is located in Chelsea, Massachusetts
Rock Chapel Marine creates much-needed green space for the area
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Rock Chapel Marine creates much-needed green space for the area
The Aspen Art Museum is located in Aspen, Colorado
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The Aspen Art Museum is located in Aspen, Colorado
The Aspen Art Museum was designed by the always-compelling Shigeru Ban Architects
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The Aspen Art Museum was designed by the always-compelling Shigeru Ban Architects
The two-story (plus basement) Aspen Art Museum building measures a total floorspace of 33,000 sq ft (3,065 sq m) and includes gallery space, a multi-purpose space, cafe, and public terrace
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The two-story (plus basement) Aspen Art Museum building measures a total floorspace of 33,000 sq ft (3,065 sq m) and includes gallery space, a multi-purpose space, cafe, and public terrace
The Aspen Art Museum is wrapped in a woven composite wood screen with a long-span timber roof
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The Aspen Art Museum is wrapped in a woven composite wood screen with a long-span timber roof
The Aspen Art Museum was designed by the always-compelling Shigeru Ban Architects
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The Aspen Art Museum was designed by the always-compelling Shigeru Ban Architects
The Central Energy Facility is part of Stanford University's aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 68 percent
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The Central Energy Facility is part of Stanford University's aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 68 percent
Inside the Central Energy Facility
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Inside the Central Energy Facility
The Stanford University Central Energy Facility was designed by ZGF Architects
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The Stanford University Central Energy Facility was designed by ZGF Architects
The Stanford University Central Energy Facility draws inspiration from the physiology of the human cardiovascular system
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The Stanford University Central Energy Facility draws inspiration from the physiology of the human cardiovascular system
Studio Gang's Writers Theatre is designed to serve as a transparent cultural anchor that embraces its community
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Studio Gang's Writers Theatre is designed to serve as a transparent cultural anchor that embraces its community
Inside the Writer's Theatre
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Inside the Writer's Theatre
The Writer's Theatre is located in Glencoe, Illinois
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The Writer's Theatre is located in Glencoe, Illinois
The Writers Theatre's transparent exterior features sliding glass doors that can be opened for outdoor performances and festivals
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The Writers Theatre's transparent exterior features sliding glass doors that can be opened for outdoor performances and festivals
The Six is a 57-unit housing project for the Skid Row Housing Trust that houses disabled veterans and rejects the usual style of shelter by seeking to promote social interaction
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The Six is a 57-unit housing project for the Skid Row Housing Trust that houses disabled veterans and rejects the usual style of shelter by seeking to promote social interaction
Located in Los Angeles’ MacArthur Park, the 42,500-sq ft (3,948 sq m) building takes its name from the military term "I've got your six"
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Located in Los Angeles’ MacArthur Park, the 42,500-sq ft (3,948 sq m) building takes its name from the military term "I've got your six"
The Six was designed by Brooks + Scarpa and is certified LEED Platinum (a green building code)
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The Six was designed by Brooks + Scarpa and is certified LEED Platinum (a green building code)
The Six is a 57-unit housing project for the Skid Row Housing Trust in Los Angeles, California
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The Six is a 57-unit housing project for the Skid Row Housing Trust in Los Angeles, California
Located in the remote village of Sinthian, Senegal, Thread is a multi-use community center
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Located in the remote village of Sinthian, Senegal, Thread is a multi-use community center
Thread was designed by Toshiko Mori Architect
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Thread was designed by Toshiko Mori Architect
The construction of Thread relied on local materials and techniques
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The construction of Thread relied on local materials and techniques
Thread's traditional structure comprises bamboo and compressed earth blocks that were formed on site
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Thread's traditional structure comprises bamboo and compressed earth blocks that were formed on site
The town of Vilonia, Arkansas, was leveled by a tornado in 2014
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The town of Vilonia, Arkansas, was leveled by a tornado in 2014
The Reinventing Vilonia project was designed by the University of Arkansas Community Design Center
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The Reinventing Vilonia project was designed by the University of Arkansas Community Design Center
The Reinventing Vilonia project will include the construction of underground safe rooms for when another tornado strikes
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The Reinventing Vilonia project will include the construction of underground safe rooms for when another tornado strikes
View gallery - 95 images

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has declared the winners of its 2017 Institute Honor Awards, which recognize excellence in architecture, interior architecture and urban design projects from firms licensed in the United States. The awards are a great opportunity to check out some top-tier architecture.

A total of 23 winning projects have been selected from around 700 submissions. The winners are a varied bunch, including low-cost housing, museums, art galleries, and a new headquarters for Pinterest. All but one project is based in the USA (the exception is in Senegal, West Africa) and each will be honored in an awards ceremony in late April in Orlando, Florida.

We've highlighted a few of our favorites below, but head to the gallery to see each one, along with a brief description.

Aspen Art Museum

The two-story (plus basement) Aspen Art Museum building measures a total floorspace of 33,000 sq ft (3,065 sq m) and includes gallery space, a multi-purpose space, cafe, and public terrace
The two-story (plus basement) Aspen Art Museum building measures a total floorspace of 33,000 sq ft (3,065 sq m) and includes gallery space, a multi-purpose space, cafe, and public terrace

Designed by the always compelling Shigeru Ban Architects (working with CCY Architects), Colorado's Aspen Art Museum comprises a total floorspace of 33,000 sq ft (3,065 sq m), spread over two floors and a basement. The interior of the museum includes gallery space, a multi-purpose space, cafe, and public terrace.

The striking building is wrapped in a woven composite wood screen and topped by a timber roof. Generous glazing throughout, including glass floors, improves the amount of natural light inside, and the entire upper level can be opened to the outside thanks to a large operable wall system. It's also designed to be energy-efficient.

"The museum features an innovative climate design concept based on the functionality of a thermos, wherein spaces with a higher tolerance for climate variation are wrapped around the gallery spaces that cannot see any variation," says the AIA.

The Six Affordable Veteran Housing

The Six was designed by Brooks + Scarpa and is certified LEED Platinum (a green building code)
The Six was designed by Brooks + Scarpa and is certified LEED Platinum (a green building code)

This attractive and unusual 57-unit housing project for the Skid Row Housing Trust provides a safe roof over the heads of disabled veterans. Located in Los Angeles' MacArthur Park, the 42,500-sq ft (3,948 sq m) building takes its name from the military term "I've got your six."

Brooks + Scarpa rejected the usual focus on privacy in most shelters by instead creating multiple shared social spaces to promote interaction between residents. Certified LEED Platinum (a green building code) due to its energy-efficiency, the building features high ceilings, a focus on cross ventilation and natural light, and strategically-positioned concrete floors and walls to function as thermal heat sinks.

General Motors Design Auditorium

General Motors commissioned a large indoor viewing auditorium as part of a larger Technical Center back in 1956
General Motors commissioned a large indoor viewing auditorium as part of a larger Technical Center back in 1956

General Motors commissioned a large 180 ft (54 m) diameter viewing auditorium in 1956 to allow its GM Styling team to check out the form and finish of its designs in an open space unimpeded by weather or shadow.

Located in Warren, Michigan (in the Metro Detroit area) the project was originally designed by Eero Saarinen but the renovation by SmithGroupJJR is still fitting, as the firm served as architect of record back when the original was being built.

A recent renovation project sought to modernize the facility and an updated central lighting ring now enables vehicles to be spotlighted, while integrated multimedia capabilities were also added. A new control desk modeled after a 1940 Cadillac hood ornament has been installed, and an existing conference room adjacent to the auditorium has been transformed into a boardroom faced with ultra-clear glass.

Source: AIA

View gallery - 95 images

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2 comments
Adam Williams
Adam Williams
Adam scours the globe from his home in Spain in order to bring the best of innovative architecture and sustainable design to the pages of New Atlas. Most of his spare time is spent dabbling in music, tinkering with old Macintosh computers and trying to keep his even older VW bus on the road.

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2 comments
Island Architect
1. This is a marvelous collection... Modern of course, very creative in certain instances and virtually all of them beautiful and honest.
2. This does me proud of my Profession... Architecture. We always felt that we could and would make this a better world.
3. There is little nonsense going on here... clarity and honesty prevail, despite the fact that some think it better to use lots of little pieces vs big pieces.
Daishi
I actually kind of like The Six Affordable Veteran Housing. Looking at some other photos of the layout with the middle being an open social space kind of reminds me of a cruise ship. Here is a photo of Explorer of the Seas: http://i.imgur.com/2DpTWzW.jpg They don't have a lot of space on ships to work with so they have to use it effectively and the ground floor shops on the inside makes that space. The same could be done with the affordable housing with a cafeteria, general store, maybe a BBQ/picnic area. Put in some seating around a gas fireplace for people to hang out at night etc. The rooms on the ship are only 164 to 275 square feet but you don't need a kitchen because you just pick restaurants to eat at in the courtyard. You could design rooms that are even less square footage than that if you use Jack and Jill bathrooms between every 2 rooms. The cruise ship model with jack and jill bathrooms would all but mop the floor with every attempt at high density housing attempt I have ever seen.