Architecture

Gallery: Top marks for America's best new libraries and schools

Gallery: Top marks for America's best new libraries and schools
Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Laurel Branch Library in Maryland by Grimm + Parker Architects
Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Laurel Branch Library in Maryland by Grimm + Parker Architects
View 78 Images
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Chatham University Eden Hall Campus, by Mithun
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Chatham University Eden Hall Campus, by Mithun
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Chatham University Eden Hall Campus, by Mithun
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Chatham University Eden Hall Campus, by Mithun
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Chatham University Eden Hall Campus, by Mithun
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Chatham University Eden Hall Campus, by Mithun
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Chatham University Eden Hall Campus, by Mithun
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Chatham University Eden Hall Campus, by Mithun
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Haverford College Visual Culture, Arts, and Media Building, by MSR Design
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Haverford College Visual Culture, Arts, and Media Building, by MSR Design
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Haverford College Visual Culture, Arts, and Media Building, by MSR Design
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Haverford College Visual Culture, Arts, and Media Building, by MSR Design
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Haverford College Visual Culture, Arts, and Media Building, by MSR Design
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Haverford College Visual Culture, Arts, and Media Building, by MSR Design
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Haverford College Visual Culture, Arts, and Media Building, by MSR Design
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Haverford College Visual Culture, Arts, and Media Building, by MSR Design
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Kawartha Trades and Technology Centre, by Perkins+Will
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Kawartha Trades and Technology Centre, by Perkins+Will
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Kawartha Trades and Technology Centre, by Perkins+Will
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Kawartha Trades and Technology Centre, by Perkins+Will
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Kawartha Trades and Technology Centre, by Perkins+Will
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Kawartha Trades and Technology Centre, by Perkins+Will
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Kawartha Trades and Technology Centre, by Perkins+Will
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Kawartha Trades and Technology Centre, by Perkins+Will
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Kawartha Trades and Technology Centre, by Perkins+Will
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Kawartha Trades and Technology Centre, by Perkins+Will
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Memphis Teacher Residency, by archimania
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Memphis Teacher Residency, by archimania
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Memphis Teacher Residency, by archimania
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Memphis Teacher Residency, by archimania
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Memphis Teacher Residency, by archimania
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Memphis Teacher Residency, by archimania
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Memphis Teacher Residency, by archimania
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Memphis Teacher Residency, by archimania
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Memphis Teacher Residency, by archimania
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Memphis Teacher Residency, by archimania
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Memphis Teacher Residency, by archimania
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Memphis Teacher Residency, by archimania
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Pagliuca Harvard Life Lab at Harvard University, by Shepley Bulfinch
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Pagliuca Harvard Life Lab at Harvard University, by Shepley Bulfinch
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Pagliuca Harvard Life Lab at Harvard University, by Shepley Bulfinch
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Pagliuca Harvard Life Lab at Harvard University, by Shepley Bulfinch
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Pagliuca Harvard Life Lab at Harvard University, by Shepley Bulfinch
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Pagliuca Harvard Life Lab at Harvard University, by Shepley Bulfinch
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Pagliuca Harvard Life Lab at Harvard University, by Shepley Bulfinch
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Pagliuca Harvard Life Lab at Harvard University, by Shepley Bulfinch
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Pagliuca Harvard Life Lab at Harvard University, by Shepley Bulfinch
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Pagliuca Harvard Life Lab at Harvard University, by Shepley Bulfinch
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: The Frick Environmental Center at the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: The Frick Environmental Center at the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: The Frick Environmental Center at the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: The Frick Environmental Center at the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: The Frick Environmental Center at the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: The Frick Environmental Center at the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: The Frick Environmental Center at the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: The Frick Environmental Center at the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: The Frick Environmental Center at the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: The Frick Environmental Center at the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: The Tsinghua Ocean Center at Tsinghua University, China. By OPEN Architecture and Shenzhen Institute of Building Research Co., Ltd
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: The Tsinghua Ocean Center at Tsinghua University, China. By OPEN Architecture and Shenzhen Institute of Building Research Co., Ltd
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: The Tsinghua Ocean Center at Tsinghua University, China. By OPEN Architecture and Shenzhen Institute of Building Research Co., Ltd
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: The Tsinghua Ocean Center at Tsinghua University, China. By OPEN Architecture and Shenzhen Institute of Building Research Co., Ltd
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: The Tsinghua Ocean Center at Tsinghua University, China. By OPEN Architecture and Shenzhen Institute of Building Research Co., Ltd
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: The Tsinghua Ocean Center at Tsinghua University, China. By OPEN Architecture and Shenzhen Institute of Building Research Co., Ltd
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: The Tsinghua Ocean Center at Tsinghua University, China. By OPEN Architecture and Shenzhen Institute of Building Research Co., Ltd
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: The Tsinghua Ocean Center at Tsinghua University, China. By OPEN Architecture and Shenzhen Institute of Building Research Co., Ltd
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: The Tsinghua Ocean Center at Tsinghua University, China. By OPEN Architecture and Shenzhen Institute of Building Research Co., Ltd
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: The Tsinghua Ocean Center at Tsinghua University, China. By OPEN Architecture and Shenzhen Institute of Building Research Co., Ltd
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: University of Iowa Voxman Music Building, by LMN Architects and Neumann Monson Architects
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: University of Iowa Voxman Music Building, by LMN Architects and Neumann Monson Architects
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: University of Iowa Voxman Music Building, by LMN Architects and Neumann Monson Architects
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: University of Iowa Voxman Music Building, by LMN Architects and Neumann Monson Architects
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: University of Iowa Voxman Music Building, by LMN Architects and Neumann Monson Architects
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: University of Iowa Voxman Music Building, by LMN Architects and Neumann Monson Architects
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: University of Iowa Voxman Music Building, by LMN Architects and Neumann Monson Architects
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: University of Iowa Voxman Music Building, by LMN Architects and Neumann Monson Architects
Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: University of Iowa Voxman Music Building, by LMN Architects and Neumann Monson Architects
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Award of Excellence in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: University of Iowa Voxman Music Building, by LMN Architects and Neumann Monson Architects
Award of Merit in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Arlington Elementary School in Washington State. By Mahlum
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Award of Merit in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Arlington Elementary School in Washington State. By Mahlum
Award of Merit in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Arlington Elementary School in Washington State. By Mahlum
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Award of Merit in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Arlington Elementary School in Washington State. By Mahlum
Award of Merit in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Arlington Elementary School in Washington State. By Mahlum
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Award of Merit in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Arlington Elementary School in Washington State. By Mahlum
Award of Merit in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Arlington Elementary School in Washington State. By Mahlum
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Award of Merit in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Arlington Elementary School in Washington State. By Mahlum
Award of Merit in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Arlington Elementary School in Washington State. By Mahlum
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Award of Merit in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Arlington Elementary School in Washington State. By Mahlum
Award of Merit in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Ballet Memphis, in Memphis Tennessee, by archimania
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Award of Merit in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Ballet Memphis, in Memphis Tennessee, by archimania
Award of Merit in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Ballet Memphis, in Memphis Tennessee, by archimania
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Award of Merit in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Ballet Memphis, in Memphis Tennessee, by archimania
Award of Merit in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Ballet Memphis, in Memphis Tennessee, by archimania
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Award of Merit in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Ballet Memphis, in Memphis Tennessee, by archimania
Award of Merit in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Ballet Memphis, in Memphis Tennessee, by archimania
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Award of Merit in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Ballet Memphis, in Memphis Tennessee, by archimania
Award of Merit in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Ballet Memphis, in Memphis Tennessee, by archimania
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Award of Merit in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Ballet Memphis, in Memphis Tennessee, by archimania
Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Austin Central Library by Lake Flato + Shepley Bulfinch
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Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Austin Central Library by Lake Flato + Shepley Bulfinch
Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Austin Central Library by Lake Flato + Shepley Bulfinch
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Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Austin Central Library by Lake Flato + Shepley Bulfinch
Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Austin Central Library by Lake Flato + Shepley Bulfinch
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Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Austin Central Library by Lake Flato + Shepley Bulfinch
Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Austin Central Library by Lake Flato + Shepley Bulfinch
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Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Austin Central Library by Lake Flato + Shepley Bulfinch
Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Austin Central Library by Lake Flato + Shepley Bulfinch
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Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Austin Central Library by Lake Flato + Shepley Bulfinch
Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Eastham Public Library in Massachusetts by Oudens Ello Architecture
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Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Eastham Public Library in Massachusetts by Oudens Ello Architecture
Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Eastham Public Library in Massachusetts by Oudens Ello Architecture
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Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Eastham Public Library in Massachusetts by Oudens Ello Architecture
Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Eastham Public Library in Massachusetts by Oudens Ello Architecture
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Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Eastham Public Library in Massachusetts by Oudens Ello Architecture
Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Eastham Public Library in Massachusetts by Oudens Ello Architecture
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Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Eastham Public Library in Massachusetts by Oudens Ello Architecture
Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Eastham Public Library in Massachusetts by Oudens Ello Architecture
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Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Eastham Public Library in Massachusetts by Oudens Ello Architecture
Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Hastings Public Library Renovation/Addition in Nebraska, by Clark Enersen Partners
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Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Hastings Public Library Renovation/Addition in Nebraska, by Clark Enersen Partners
Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Hastings Public Library Renovation/Addition in Nebraska, by Clark Enersen Partners
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Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Hastings Public Library Renovation/Addition in Nebraska, by Clark Enersen Partners
Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Hastings Public Library Renovation/Addition in Nebraska, by Clark Enersen Partners
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Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Hastings Public Library Renovation/Addition in Nebraska, by Clark Enersen Partners
Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Hastings Public Library Renovation/Addition in Nebraska, by Clark Enersen Partners
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Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Hastings Public Library Renovation/Addition in Nebraska, by Clark Enersen Partners
Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Laurel Branch Library in Maryland by Grimm + Parker Architects
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Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Laurel Branch Library in Maryland by Grimm + Parker Architects
Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Laurel Branch Library in Maryland by Grimm + Parker Architects
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Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Laurel Branch Library in Maryland by Grimm + Parker Architects
Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Laurel Branch Library in Maryland by Grimm + Parker Architects
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Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Laurel Branch Library in Maryland by Grimm + Parker Architects
Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Laurel Branch Library in Maryland by Grimm + Parker Architects
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Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Laurel Branch Library in Maryland by Grimm + Parker Architects
Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Laurel Branch Library in Maryland by Grimm + Parker Architects
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Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Laurel Branch Library in Maryland by Grimm + Parker Architects
Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Pico Branch Library in Santa Monica, California, by Koning Eizenberg Architecture, Inc.
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Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Pico Branch Library in Santa Monica, California, by Koning Eizenberg Architecture, Inc.
Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Pico Branch Library in Santa Monica, California, by Koning Eizenberg Architecture, Inc.
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Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Pico Branch Library in Santa Monica, California, by Koning Eizenberg Architecture, Inc.
Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Pico Branch Library in Santa Monica, California, by Koning Eizenberg Architecture, Inc.
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Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Pico Branch Library in Santa Monica, California, by Koning Eizenberg Architecture, Inc.
Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Pico Branch Library in Santa Monica, California, by Koning Eizenberg Architecture, Inc.
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Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Pico Branch Library in Santa Monica, California, by Koning Eizenberg Architecture, Inc.
Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Pico Branch Library in Santa Monica, California, by Koning Eizenberg Architecture, Inc.
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Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Pico Branch Library in Santa Monica, California, by Koning Eizenberg Architecture, Inc.
Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Tulsa City-County Central Library by MSR Design and Crafton Tull
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Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Tulsa City-County Central Library by MSR Design and Crafton Tull
Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Tulsa City-County Central Library by MSR Design and Crafton Tull
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Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Tulsa City-County Central Library by MSR Design and Crafton Tull
Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Tulsa City-County Central Library by MSR Design and Crafton Tull
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Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Tulsa City-County Central Library by MSR Design and Crafton Tull
Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Tulsa City-County Central Library by MSR Design and Crafton Tull
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Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Tulsa City-County Central Library by MSR Design and Crafton Tull
Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Tulsa City-County Central Library by MSR Design and Crafton Tull
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Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Tulsa City-County Central Library by MSR Design and Crafton Tull
View gallery - 78 images

Like the places we live and work, the spaces where we learn are evolving with a growing emphasis on connectivity, collaboration and sustainable design. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has celebrated these principles by announcing the winners of its annual Library Building Awards and Education Facility Design Awards. Of course, it doesn't hurt that they're easy on the eye either.

According to the AIA, its Library Building Award is the only award that recognizes library structures as a whole and considers all aspects of their design. Decided by a jury of six, the 2018 instalment has recognized six new structures for excellence in architectural design, making use of large gathering spaces, and sustainable features.

The AIA describes recipient Austin Central Library as arguably the most daylit library in the US. Set for LEED Platinum certification, the building was designed by firms Lake Flato and Shepley Bulfinch and carefully considers the drought and water restrictions regularly imposed on the region. It uses a 373,000-gallon (1.5 million L) cistern to capture rainwater and feed it into the restrooms, surrounding landscape and vegetation on the roof.

Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Austin Central Library by Lake Flato + Shepley Bulfinch
Recipient of a 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards for excellence in architectural design: Austin Central Library by Lake Flato + Shepley Bulfinch

The new Pico Branch Library in Santa Monica, California also harvests rainwater from the roof and feeds it into toilets below. Already LEED Platinum certified, the building features skylights to maximize light and deep overhangs and canopies to protect the windows from direct sun, negating the need for interior shading.

A lot of these themes carry over to the AIA's Education Facility Design Awards, which celebrates state-of-the-art education centers that enhance learning, establish a connection with the environment, balance function with aesthetics, and incorporate sustainability in a holistic way. Eight buildings received Awards of Excellence, while two received Awards of Merit.

Award of Merit in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Ballet Memphis, in Memphis Tennessee, by archimania
Award of Merit in the AIA's 2018 Education Facility Design Awards: Ballet Memphis, in Memphis Tennessee, by archimania

While most of the winners can be found in the US, there are a couple of exceptions, with the Tsinghua Ocean Center in Shenzhen, China making the list, along with the Kawartha Trades and Technology Centre in Ontario, Canada. The latter incorporates a 27,000-sq ft (2,500-sq m) "learning factory," which serves as a versatile, multi-disciplinary project space surrounded by lounges, chalkboard walls and presentation areas.

The Chatham University Eden Hall Campus in Pennsylvania, meanwhile, includes enough classroom space for 250 students, a 350-seat amphitheater, and dining areas, all while featuring full-cycle water recycling, solar-powered net positive energy production and zero waste operations. The surrounding rain gardens, natural treatment wetlands and orchards winding through forests and meadows are a nice touch, too.

Have look through through our gallery to see the winning buildings in all their glory.

Source: American Institute of Architects 1, 2

View gallery - 78 images
1 comment
1 comment
ljaques
I can't help but see millions of square feet of wasted space in over-large, overly-decorated, expensive buildings. That means millions of wasted dollars per building, rather than on learning or teaching. Also, with millions of titles going to e-book format, the =need= for tens of thousands of square feet for each library is severely diminished. The sheer amount of wasted taxpayer dollars just galls me every time. Maybe it's time that government got out of the education business and let the market handle it. God knows they couldn't do a worse job that what's happening right now.