Yesterday, twelve eminent architects, educators, critics and planners convened at the Center for Architecture to select the winners of the 2011 AIA New York Chapter's Design Awards. The announcement was followed by a discussion of winning projects by distinguished jury members, including architect Monica Ponce de Leon and planner Ray Gastil.
The 38 selected projects and the architecture firms behind them - many of whom were on hand for the symposium - represent exceptional work by AIA New York members and other architects practicing in New York in four categories: interiors, architecture, un-built work and urban design. Each winning project, granted either an "honor" or "merit" award, was chosen for its exemplary originality.
The criteria used by the juries included design quality, program resolution, innovation, thoughtfulness and technique. Projects had to be completed by architects/designers practicing in New York, or be New York City projects, designed by architects/designers based elsewhere.
There were 433 entries in four categories, including 184 submissions in the architecture category alone.
Best and Brightest
The juries gave 38 awards, including six Honors Awards in architecture, four in interiors, three in unbuilt work, and three in urban design. "What rose to the top of the urban design category" explained juror Marilyn Jordan Taylor, FAIA, were "three mid-size, high impact projects." Of Honor winner Lincoln Center by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, with associate architects FXFOWLE Architects, and Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners, she said, "These kinds of projects don't have one client, they really have 23 clients. But they expressed their ideas inventively, with a single hand. It is a deliberative, negotiated project looks like it has been there all along."
In the interiors category, juror Neil Frankel, FAIA, FIIDA, singled out the EDAW Inc. office by Michielli + Wyetzner Architects, an Honor winner. "It's a strong metaphor for the dynamics of today's workplace, with glass walls that move to change the space from an intimate gathering space to one that can accommodate a large group."
In Architecture, juror Minsuk Cho, AIA highlighted Honor winner LOT-EK's APAP Openschool. "The found industrial object is simple, but not simplistic," he said. "It touches down in interesting ways, and has a great moment when you hover above the forest."
Design Awards Exhibition and the "Project of the Year"
All winning work will be exhibited at the Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Place, beginning April 14, 2011 with an opening reception from 6-8pm. The Design Awards Exhibition will remain on view through June 25. New this year, the Design Awards Exhibition will feature a "Project of the Year." This project, selected from amongst the winners, will be displayed in the Center for Architecture's Helfand Spotlight gallery from April 14 through early May. The selection, which will remain secret until the opening on April 14, will be chosen by AIANY President Margaret Castillo, AIA, LEED AP, benefiting from advice from a team of distinguished experts.
"Competition was fierce, and we were thrilled by the results," said Castillo. "The breadth and depth of the winning projects proves just how resilient and creative the New York architecture community remains, despite the recession. Any number of submissions could be the 'project of the year,' but you'll have to wait until April 14 to see which I select."
Winners of the 2011 AIA New York Chapter Design Awards
ARCHITECTURE
Architecture Honor Award Winners
Architect: Diller Scofidio + Renfro, FXFOWLE Architects
Project: Hypar Pavilion Lawn and Restaurant
Location: New York, NY
Architect: Steven Holl Architects, CCDI - China Construction Design International
Project: Horizontal Skyscraper - Vanke Center
Location: Shenzhen, China
Architect: LOT-EK
Project: APAP OPENSCHOOL
Location: Anyang, Seoul, South Korea
Architect: Thomas Phifer and Partners, Pearce Brinkley Cease + Lee
Project: North Carolina Museum of Art
Location: Raleigh, NC
Architect: Thomas Phifer and Partners
Project: House in Midwest
Location: US
Architect: Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, Tom Eliot Fisch
Project: C.V. Starr East Asian Library
Location: Berkeley, California
Architecture Merit Award Winners
Architect: Diller Scofidio + Renfro
Project: Granoff Center for the Creative Arts at Brown University
Location: Providence, RI
Architect: Ennead Architects, Greeley and Hansen
Project: Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Architect: Ennead Architects
Project: Gateway Center, Westchester Community College
Location: Valhalla, NY
Architect: Ennead Architects
Project: The Standard, New York
Location: New York, NY
Architect: Roger Ferris + Partners
Project: Country Estate
Location: New Canaan, CT
Architect: Foster + Partners, AAI Architects (Adamson)
Project: Sperone Westwater
Location: New York, New York
Architect: SAA / Stan Allen Architect, W.B. Huang Architects & Planners
Project: Taichung InfoBox
Location: Taichung, Taiwan
Architect: Rafael Vinoly Architects, SmithGroup
Project: UCSF Dolby Regeneration Medicine Building
Location: San Francisco, CA
INTERIORS
Interiors Honor Award Winners
Architect: Dean/Wolf Architects
Project: Inverted Warehouse/Townhouse
Location: New York, NY
Architect: Michielli + Wyetzner Architects
Project: EDAW Inc.
Location: New York, NY
Architect: Thomas Phifer and Partners
Project: Fifth Avenue Apartment
Location: New York, NY
Architect: Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects
Project: David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center
Location: New York, NY
Interiors Merit Award Winners
Architect: Cook + Fox Architects
Project: 641 Avenue of the Americas
Location: New York, NY
Architect: Dean/Wolf Architects
Project: Implied Rotation Townhouse
Location: New York, NY
Architect: OBRA Architects, Site Assembly
Project: Urbia Furniture System for Small Apartments in Big Cities
Location: New York, NY
Architect: SYSTEMarchitects LLC
Project: aA SHELTER
Location: New York, NY
Architect: WXY Architecture + Urban Design, Local Projects
Project: NYC Information Center
Location: New York, NY
UNBUILT WORK
Unbuilt Work Honor Awards Winners
Architect: LEVENBETTS
Project: PhXcaseXcase: Cactus Flower Housing
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Architect: Morphosis Architects, SRA Architectes
Project: Phare Tower
Location: La Defense, France
Architect: SO-IL
Project: Kukje Art Center
Location: Seoul, Korea
Unbuilt Work Merit Award Winners
Architect: CR Studio Architects, PC
Project: MC1
Location: New York, NY
Architect: EASTON+COMBS
Project: Changing Room
Location: Chicago/ New York City
Architect: KNEstudio | University of Illinois
Project: urbanCLOUD
Location: New York, NY
Architect: Philip Lee Workshop
Project: Just Add Water: A Proposal for the NYC Shaft Sites
Location: New York, NY
Architect: NAMELESS
Project: Playcloud
Location: New York, NY
Architect: Sage and Coombe Architects, LLP
Project: Bronx River Art Center
Location: Bronx, NY
Architect: Joel Sanders Architect
Project: LGBT Retirement Community
Location: Palm Springs, CA
URBAN DESIGN
Urban Design Honor Award Winner
Architect: Diller Scofidio + Renfro, FXFOWLE Architects, and Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners
Project: Lincoln Center Public Spaces
Location: New York, NY
Architect: dlandstudio llc, Architecture Research Office
Project: Lower Manhattan: A New Urban Ground
Location: New York, NY
Architect: Michael Van Valkenburgh, Maryann Thompson Architects
Project: Brooklyn Bridge Park
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Urban Design Merit Award Winners
Architect: James Corner Field Operations
Project: QIANHAI WATER CITY
Location: Shenzhen, China
Architect: PPJ-Perkins Eastman, Posco E&C, JINA, Vietnam Institute of Architecture
Project: HANOI Master Plan to 2030 and Vision to 2050
Location: Hanoi, Vietnam