Architecture

From magnificent museums to compact starter homes: AIA honors the best new architecture

From magnificent museums to compact starter homes: AIA honors the best new architecture
The Tirpitz Museum, by Bjarke Ingels Group, is one of the nine recipients of the American Institute of Architects' 2019 Institute Honor Awards for Architecture
The Tirpitz Museum, by Bjarke Ingels Group, is one of the nine recipients of the American Institute of Architects' 2019 Institute Honor Awards for Architecture
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Arlington Elementary School was designed by Mahlum Architects
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Arlington Elementary School was designed by Mahlum Architects
Arlington Elementary School is located in Tacoma, Washington
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Arlington Elementary School is located in Tacoma, Washington
Arlington Elementary School promotes indoor and outdoor learning. A covered play area that doubles as an outdoor theater allows students to get fresh air in poor weather
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Arlington Elementary School promotes indoor and outdoor learning. A covered play area that doubles as an outdoor theater allows students to get fresh air in poor weather
At Arlington Elementary School, flexibility is the watchword. There are no classrooms, only shared spaces for learning activities
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At Arlington Elementary School, flexibility is the watchword. There are no classrooms, only shared spaces for learning activities
Arlington Elementary School was commissioned by Tacoma Public Schools
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Arlington Elementary School was commissioned by Tacoma Public Schools
Casey House was designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects
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Casey House was designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects
Casey House is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Casey House is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Casey House is a much-needed extension to a specialized healthcare facility serving those living with HIV/AIDS
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Casey House is a much-needed extension to a specialized healthcare facility serving those living with HIV/AIDS
Casey House extends an existing heritage-designated Victorian-era mansion
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Casey House extends an existing heritage-designated Victorian-era mansion
Casey House includes a garden that offers space for quiet contemplation
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Casey House includes a garden that offers space for quiet contemplation
Confluence Park was designed by Lake | Flato Architects + Matsys
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Confluence Park was designed by Lake | Flato Architects + Matsys
Confluence Park is located in San Antonio, Texas
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Confluence Park is located in San Antonio, Texas
Confluence Park is envisioned as a living laboratory designed to broaden its visitors’ understanding of south Texas ecotypes and the impact of urban development on local watersheds
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Confluence Park is envisioned as a living laboratory designed to broaden its visitors’ understanding of south Texas ecotypes and the impact of urban development on local watersheds
Confluence Park transforms a former construction storage yard into a unique outdoor education center
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Confluence Park transforms a former construction storage yard into a unique outdoor education center
Confluence Park's concrete petal structures draw inspiration from plants that funnel rainwater to their roots
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Confluence Park's concrete petal structures draw inspiration from plants that funnel rainwater to their roots
The Crosstown Concourse renovation was designed by Looney Ricks Kiss
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The Crosstown Concourse renovation was designed by Looney Ricks Kiss
Crosstown Concourse is located in Memphis, Tennessee
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Crosstown Concourse is located in Memphis, Tennessee
Crosstown Concourse repurposes an art deco high-rise building built in 1927. It originally served as a Sears mail-order processing warehouse and store
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Crosstown Concourse repurposes an art deco high-rise building built in 1927. It originally served as a Sears mail-order processing warehouse and store 
Crosstown Concourse has a considerable budget of US$200 million
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Crosstown Concourse has a considerable budget of US$200 million 
Crosstown Concourse includes retail space, a theater, dental clinic, art gallery, and more
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Crosstown Concourse includes retail space, a theater, dental clinic, art gallery, and more
The Restoration of the Rotunda at the University of Virginia was by John G. Waite Associates
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The Restoration of the Rotunda at the University of Virginia was by John G. Waite Associates
The Restoration of the Rotunda at the University of Virginia involved the restoration of what is widely considered Thomas Jefferson’s single most important architectural achievement
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The Restoration of the Rotunda at the University of Virginia involved the restoration of what is widely considered Thomas Jefferson’s single most important architectural achievement
The Restoration of the Rotunda at the University of Virginia was commissioned to celebrate the Rotunda’s 200th anniversary
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The Restoration of the Rotunda at the University of Virginia was commissioned to celebrate the Rotunda’s 200th anniversary
The Restoration of the Rotunda at the University of Virginia involved the replacement of a leaking roof with a copper unit
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The Restoration of the Rotunda at the University of Virginia involved the replacement of a leaking roof with a copper unit 
The Restoration of the Rotunda at the University of Virginia also involved the repair of the interior, restoring Jefferson’s volumes, finishes, and architectural details on all three floors
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The Restoration of the Rotunda at the University of Virginia also involved the repair of the interior, restoring Jefferson’s volumes, finishes, and architectural details on all three floors
Smart Factory was designed by Barkow Leibinger
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Smart Factory was designed by Barkow Leibinger
Smart Factory is located in Hoffman Estates, Illinois
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Smart Factory is located in Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Smart Factory houses a showroom of advanced machine tools used to fold and shape sheet metal
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Smart Factory houses a showroom of advanced machine tools used to fold and shape sheet metal
Smart Factory is offset in two volumes, the higher of which faces an expanse of the highway and contains the showroom for a German machine tool and laser manufacturer
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Smart Factory is offset in two volumes, the higher of which faces an expanse of the highway and contains the showroom for a German machine tool and laser manufacturer
Smart Factory is strategically located near Chicago O’Hare International Airport and occupies a parcel of land reclaimed from an abandoned corporate campus
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Smart Factory is strategically located near Chicago O’Hare International Airport and occupies a parcel of land reclaimed from an abandoned corporate campus
The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) was designed by Ghanian British architect Sir David Adjaye, along with Davis Brody Bond, and SmithGroup
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The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) was designed by Ghanian British architect Sir David Adjaye, along with Davis Brody Bond, and SmithGroup
NMAAHC is located on what was the last remaining plot in the National Mall in Washington, DC
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NMAAHC is located on what was the last remaining plot in the National Mall in Washington, DC
NMAAHC is finished in an ornamental bronze-colored metal lattice that pays homage to the ironwork once crafted by enslaved African Americans
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NMAAHC is finished in an ornamental bronze-colored metal lattice that pays homage to the ironwork once crafted by enslaved African Americans
NMAAHC's interior tells the story of America through an African-American lens
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NMAAHC's interior tells the story of America through an African-American lens
NMAAHC's interior tells the story of America through an African-American lens
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NMAAHC's interior tells the story of America through an African-American lens
Starter Home* No. 4-15 Saint Thomas/Ninth is designed by OJT
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Starter Home* No. 4-15 Saint Thomas/Ninth is designed by OJT 
Starter Home* No. 4-15 Saint Thomas/Ninth is a continuation of OJT's Starter Home* initiative, which provides entry-level homes to urban neighborhoods that are in the process of gentrifying
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Starter Home* No. 4-15 Saint Thomas/Ninth is a continuation of OJT's Starter Home* initiative, which provides entry-level homes to urban neighborhoods that are in the process of gentrifying
Starter Home* No. 4-15 Saint Thomas/Ninth overcame challenging zoning regulations
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Starter Home* No. 4-15 Saint Thomas/Ninth overcame challenging zoning regulations 
Starter Home* No. 4-15 Saint Thomas/Ninth includes 10 single-family homes and one two-family residence
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Starter Home* No. 4-15 Saint Thomas/Ninth includes 10 single-family homes and one two-family residence
Starter Home* No. 4-15 Saint Thomas/Ninth consists of tall skinny dwellings that make the most of the site
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Starter Home* No. 4-15 Saint Thomas/Ninth consists of tall skinny dwellings that make the most of the site
The Tirpitz Museum, by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), is a striking subterranean museum situated adjacent to a German World War II bunker on Denmark's west coast
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The Tirpitz Museum, by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), is a striking subterranean museum situated adjacent to a German World War II bunker on Denmark's west coast
The Tirpitz Museum, by Bjarke Ingels Group, is one of the nine recipients of the American Institute of Architects' 2019 Institute Honor Awards for Architecture
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The Tirpitz Museum, by Bjarke Ingels Group, is one of the nine recipients of the American Institute of Architects' 2019 Institute Honor Awards for Architecture
Bringing to mind BIG's other Danish museum, Tirpitz is arranged in a vaguely cross shape and made from concrete, weathered steel, glass and wood
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Bringing to mind BIG's other Danish museum, Tirpitz is arranged in a vaguely cross shape and made from concrete, weathered steel, glass and wood
Despite being underground, Tirpitz is light-filled thanks to all its glazing
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Despite being underground, Tirpitz is light-filled thanks to all its glazing
The Tirpitz Museum is situated adjacent to a German World War II bunker on Denmark's west coast
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The Tirpitz Museum is situated adjacent to a German World War II bunker on Denmark's west coast
View gallery - 45 images

Hot on the heels of its interior design awards and AIANY design awards, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) has revealed the recipients of the 2019 Institute Honor Awards for Architecture. Featuring buildings and spaces by US-licensed firms, this year's winners include museums, affordable housing, and the restoration of an American icon.

With the aim of celebrating the best contemporary architecture and highlighting the ways buildings can improve lives, AIA's five judges chose winners based on "significant design achievement, including a sense of place and purpose, ecology, environmental sustainability, and history."

There are a total of nine in all, seven of which are in the US, plus one in Canada and another in Denmark. Some familiar names feature, such as BIG, Adjaye Associates, and Lake | Flato Architects.

We've picked a few highlights below but head to the gallery to see each of the nine recipients of the 2019 Institute Honor Awards for Architecture.

NMAAHC - Adjaye Associates, etc.

The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) was designed by Ghanian British architect Sir David Adjaye, along with Davis Brody Bond, and SmithGroup
The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) was designed by Ghanian British architect Sir David Adjaye, along with Davis Brody Bond, and SmithGroup

The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) was designed by Ghanian British architect Sir David Adjaye, along with Davis Brody Bond and SmithGroup. The museum commemorates black history and culture, and is located on what was the last remaining plot in the National Mall in Washington, DC.

NMAAHC's overall form is inspired by a Yoruban Caryatid, which is a traditional West African wooden column, and its main entrance is conceived as a welcoming porch. It's finished in an ornamental bronze-colored metal lattice that pays homage to the ironwork once crafted by enslaved African Americans. The building boasts some sustainable design too, such as roof-based solar panels and rainwater collection.

Starter Home* No. 4-15 Saint Thomas/Ninth - Office of Jonathan Tate

Starter Home* No. 4-15 Saint Thomas/Ninth overcame challenging zoning regulations
Starter Home* No. 4-15 Saint Thomas/Ninth overcame challenging zoning regulations 

Located just a block away from the Mississippi River in St. Thomas, New Orleans, Starter Home* No. 4-15 is a continuation of OJT's Starter Home* project, which aims to provide relatively affordable homes to urban neighborhoods that are in the process of gentrifying.

It overcame significant zoning challenges which involved OJT reconfiguring the existing parcels of land to squeeze in a dozen attractive and light-filled modern homes: 10 single-family homes and one two-family residence. To achieve this, the firm maximized every bit of space available and built tall skinny houses, several of which are three stories-high.

Restoration of the Rotunda at the University of Virginia - John G. Waite Associates

The Restoration of the Rotunda at the University of Virginia involved the replacement of a leaking roof with a copper unit
The Restoration of the Rotunda at the University of Virginia involved the replacement of a leaking roof with a copper unit 

The Restoration of the Rotunda at the University of Virginia involved the repair of what is often considered Thomas Jefferson's most significant architectural achievement.

Despite the 200-year-old building's historical value, it was in dire need of restoration, with a leaky roof and poor quality previous work that needed undoing. John G. Waite Associates worked with multiple specialists to replace its roof with a new copper unit and restored the original exterior metal moldings dating back to the 1890s, among other improvements. The interior was overhauled too, with Jefferson's original finishes and architectural flourishes restored on all three floors.

Source: AIA

Hot on the heels of its interior design awards and AIANY design awards, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) has revealed the recipients of the 2019 Institute Honor Awards for Architecture. Featuring buildings and spaces by US-licensed firms, this year's winners include museums, affordable housing, and the restoration of an American icon.

With the aim of celebrating the best contemporary architecture and highlighting the ways buildings can improve lives, AIA's five judges chose winners based on "significant design achievement, including a sense of place and purpose, ecology, environmental sustainability, and history."

There are a total of nine in all, seven of which are in the US, plus one in Canada and another in Denmark. Some familiar names feature, such as BIG, Adjaye Associates, and Lake | Flato Architects.

We've picked a few highlights below but head to the gallery to see each of the nine recipients of the 2019 Institute Honor Awards for Architecture.

NMAAHC - Adjaye Associates, etc.

The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) was designed by Ghanian British architect Sir David Adjaye, along with Davis Brody Bond, and SmithGroup
The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) was designed by Ghanian British architect Sir David Adjaye, along with Davis Brody Bond, and SmithGroup

The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) was designed by Ghanian British architect Sir David Adjaye, along with Davis Brody Bond and SmithGroup. The museum commemorates black history and culture, and is located on what was the last remaining plot in the National Mall in Washington, DC.

NMAAHC's overall form is inspired by a Yoruban Caryatid, which is a traditional West African wooden column, and its main entrance is conceived as a welcoming porch. It's finished in an ornamental bronze-colored metal lattice that pays homage to the ironwork once crafted by enslaved African Americans. The building boasts some sustainable design too, such as roof-based solar panels and rainwater collection.

Starter Home* No. 4-15 Saint Thomas/Ninth - Office of Jonathan Tate

Starter Home* No. 4-15 Saint Thomas/Ninth overcame challenging zoning regulations
Starter Home* No. 4-15 Saint Thomas/Ninth overcame challenging zoning regulations 

Located just a block away from the Mississippi River in St. Thomas, New Orleans, Starter Home* No. 4-15 is a continuation of OJT's Starter Home* project, which aims to provide relatively affordable homes to urban neighborhoods that are in the process of gentrifying.

It overcame significant zoning challenges which involved OJT reconfiguring the existing parcels of land to squeeze in a dozen attractive and light-filled modern homes: 10 single-family homes and one two-family residence. To achieve this, the firm maximized every bit of space available and built tall skinny houses, several of which are three stories-high.

Restoration of the Rotunda at the University of Virginia - John G. Waite Associates

The Restoration of the Rotunda at the University of Virginia involved the replacement of a leaking roof with a copper unit
The Restoration of the Rotunda at the University of Virginia involved the replacement of a leaking roof with a copper unit 

The Restoration of the Rotunda at the University of Virginia involved the repair of what is often considered Thomas Jefferson's most significant architectural achievement.

Despite the 200-year-old building's historical value, it was in dire need of restoration, with a leaky roof and poor quality previous work that needed undoing. John G. Waite Associates worked with multiple specialists to replace its roof with a new copper unit and restored the original exterior metal moldings dating back to the 1890s, among other improvements. The interior was overhauled too, with Jefferson's original finishes and architectural flourishes restored on all three floors.

Source: AIA

View gallery - 45 images
1 comment
1 comment
Jerome Morley Larson Sr eAIA
Jefferson embarasses us all! — what a contrast between brilliance and baloney.