Winners were announced and Lifetime Achievement Award bestowed on September 28 at Designight 2023, AIA Chicago’s signature award program, at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Chicago’s Millennium Park
For Immediate Release
Media contact: Dan O’Connell, dan@danoconnellmedia.com, (617) 480-6585
AIA Chicago Digital Media Kit
(September 28, 2023) CHICAGO – AIA Chicago, the second largest local chapter of the American Institute of Architects and the collective voice of over 4,000 licensed architects, emerging professionals, architecture students, and allied professionals, today announced the winners for the 2023 Design Excellence Awards, Decarbonization Award, Roberta Feldman Architecture for Social Justice Award, the Lerch Bates People’s Choice Awards and bestowed the Lifetime Achievement Award. The winners were announced at Designight 2023, AIA Chicago’s signature award program, held at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Chicago’s Millennium Park on Thursday, September 28, 2023.
“Congratulations to all of the AIA members and project teams who contributed to these award winning projects.” said AIA Chicago’s Executive Director Jen Masengarb. “This year’s collection of incredibly thoughtful and well-designed buildings illustrates architects’ role as design champions for creating an equitable, sustainable, beautifully-designed world.”
Design Excellence Awards
AIA Chicago’s Design Excellence Awards honor the outstanding work of AIA Chicago members and their firms, reinforce the value of great architecture, and highlight members’ contributions in designing equitable and sustainable places and spaces. The 2023 Honors and Citations of Merit recipients for the Design Excellence Awards are:
Architecture Extra Large
HONOR AWARD WINNER:
LaGuardia Airport Terminal B, HOK; LaGuardia Gateway Partners (Client), Queens, NY
CITATION OF MERIT RECIPIENTS:
O’Hare International Airport, Multi Modal Terminal, Ross Barney Architects, Design Architect; TranSystems, Architect of Record, Transportation Engineer; City of Chicago, Department of Aviation (Client), Chicago, IL
One Chicago, Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture and Goettsch Partners; JDL Development (Client), Chicago, IL
The St. Regis Chicago, Studio Gang, Design Architect; bKL Architecture, Architect of Record; Gensler, Hotel Architect; HBA, Interior Architect; Magellan Development Group (Client), Chicago, IL
Architecture Large
HONOR AWARD WINNER:
Tribune Tower Conversion, Solomon Cordwell Buenz (SCB); Tribune Tower West, LLC (Client), Chicago, IL
CITATION OF MERIT RECIPIENTS:
800 Fulton Market, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill; Thor Equities (Client), Chicago, IL
Chicago O’Hare International Airport Terminal 5 Extension, Muller & Muller, Ltd (M2) and HOK; Chicago Department of Aviation, Commissioner Jamie Rhee (Client), Chicago, IL
Architecture Medium
HONOR AWARD WINNER:
Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, Studio Gang, Design Architect and Architect of Record; Polk Stanley Wilcox, Associate Architect; Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts (Client), Little Rock, AR
CITATION OF MERIT RECIPIENTS:
Chicago Joint Public Safety Training Center, AECOM; City of Chicago (Client), Chicago, IL
Joliet Inpatient Treatment Center, HOK and HDR; Illinois Capital Development Board (Client), Joliet, IL
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Campus Instructional Facility, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Client), Urbana, IL
The Commons at Helm Library, Gensler in collaboration with Luckett & Farley; Western Kentucky University (Client), Bowling Green, KY
Architecture Small
HONOR AWARD WINNER:
Ford Calumet Environmental Center, Valerio Dewalt Train; Chicago Park District (Client), Chicago, IL
CITATION OF MERIT RECIPIENTS:
Broadway Youth Center, Wheeler Kearns Architects; Howard Brown Health (Client), Chicago, IL
Meadow Lane Retreat, Wheeler Kearns Architects; Anonymous Client, Lakeside, MI
The Hub at Prairie Shores, Gensler; Farpoint Development and Golub & Company (Client), Chicago, IL
Architecture Extra Small
HONOR AWARD WINNER:
Susan’s House, Mary English and Xavier Vendrell Architects; Susan English (Client), San Antonio, TX
CITATION OF MERIT RECIPIENTS:
A Library Free to All, Architecture for Public Benefit; Boston Public Library and Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics (Client), Boston, MA
Medill House, UrbanLab; Kevin & Deree Kobets (Client), Chicago, IL
Tree House, dSPACE Studio; Anonymous Client, Beverly Shores, IN
Interior Architecture Large
HONOR AWARD WINNER:
SOM Chicago Studio Renovation, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill; Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (Client), Chicago, IL
CITATION OF MERIT RECIPIENTS:
345 North Morgan, Eckenhoff Saunders with Sterling Bay Design Studio; Sterling Bay (Client), Chicago, IL
Confidential Client, Perkins&Will; Confidential Client, Chicago, IL
University of Cincinnati College of Law, Perkins&Will, Design Architect; BHDP Architecture, Architect of Record; University of Cincinnati (Client), Cincinnati, OH
Interior Architecture Medium
HONOR AWARD WINNER:
Blue Bottle Coffee Wolf Point, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, Design Architect; DxU, Architect of Record; Blue Bottle Coffee (Client), Chicago, IL
CITATION OF MERIT RECIPIENT:
AIC Ryan Learning Center Renovation, Wheeler Kearns Architects; Art Institute of Chicago (Client), Chicago, IL
Interior Architecture Small
HONOR AWARD WINNER:
Wicker Park Courtyard House, 34-TEN; Anonymous Client, Chicago, IL
CITATION OF MERIT RECIPIENTS:
Lincoln Park Condo Remodel, New Office; Annabell Ren, Steven Karvelius (Clients), Chicago, IL
Soldier Field House, Collective Office; Anonymous Client, Chicago, IL
Decarbonization Award
AIA Chicago’s Decarbonization Award recognizes projects that have gone above and beyond base level energy reduction goals and showcases those project vanguards that exemplify the profession’s abilities to pursue the goals of the 2030 Commitment while also upholding the functional and aesthetic goals of the design.
DECARBONIZATION HONOR AWARD RECIPIENT:
Yannell PHIUS+ Residence, HPZS; Yannell Foundation for Sustainable Development (Client), Chicago, IL
DECARBONIZATION MERIT AWARD FINALIST:
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Campus Instructional Facility, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Client), Urbana, IL
Roberta Feldman Architecture for Social Justice Award
The Roberta Feldman Architecture for Social Justice Award, administered by the AIA Chicago Foundation, was established in 2020 to honor excellence in single built projects and single design programs guided by the conviction that access to high quality architecture is not a privilege, it is a human right.
ROBERTA FELDMAN AWARD WINNER: A Library Free to All, Architecture for Public Benefit; Boston Public Library and Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics (Client), Boston, MA
AIA Chicago Lifetime Achievement Award
The Lifetime Achievement Award is nominated by the AIA Chicago general membership, reviewed by a Committee of Fellows and previous Lifetime Achievement Award winners, and selected by the AIA Chicago Board of Directors.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT RECIPIENT: Cynthia Weese, FAIA, Principal of Weese Langley Weese Architects
In awarding the Lifetime Achievement Award, the AIA Chicago Board of Directors noted that Weese is “a true pioneer and vanguard for the profession, city and women architects. Her portfolio, experiences and dedication to the profession is a fantastic example of true leadership. Cynthia has been an unwavering advocate for women in the professions and continues to inspire younger generations.”
“These individuals and projects continue to showcase the power that design has to improve Chicago and cities across the world.” said AIA Chicago President Mindy Viamontes, AIA. “I am excited to see how we continue to build upon this momentum.”
AIA Chicago Lerch Bates People’s Choice Awards
The Lerch Bates People’s Choice Award finalists’ designs were chosen by Chicago Architecture Center’s Docents in a round one jury review from 127 projects submitted for the AIA Chicago’s Design Excellence Awards. The winners were chosen by the public in open voting from September 5 through September 18.
Civic
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD WINNER:
Navy Pier Flyover, Muller & Muller, Ltd (M2); Chicago Department of Transportation (Client), Chicago, IL
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD FINALISTS:
Chicago O’Hare International Airport Terminal 5 Extension, Muller & Muller, Ltd (M2) and HOK; Chicago Department of Aviation, Commissioner Jamie Rhee (Client), Chicago, IL
CTA Quincy Elevated Station Renovation / Restoration, EXP; Chicago Transit Authority (Client), Chicago Department of Transportation (Owner), Chicago, IL
LaGuardia Airport Terminal B, HOK; LaGuardia Gateway Partners (Client), Queens, NY
University of Illinois Health, Specialty Care Building, Shive Hattery, Inc; University of Illinois Health (Client), Chicago, IL
Community and Cultural
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD WINNER:
Steppenwolf Theatre Campus Expansion, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture; Steppenwolf Theatre Company (Client), Chicago, IL
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD FINALISTS:
Al Wasl Plaza, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture; Expo 2020 Dubai LLC (Client), Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, Studio Gang, Design Architect and Architect of Record; Polk Stanley Wilcox, Associate Architect; Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts (Client), Little Rock, AR
Ford Calumet Environmental Center, Valerio Dewalt Train; Chicago Park District (Client), Chicago, IL
Pepper Family Wildlife Center, Goettsch Partners; Lincoln Park Zoo (Client), Chicago, IL
Education
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD WINNER:
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Campus Instructional Facility, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Client), Urbana, IL
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD FINALISTS:
IIT Mies Towers Renovation, Dirk Denison Architects; Illinois Institute of Technology (Client), Chicago, IL
Johns Hopkins University, Applied Physics Laboratory Building 201, CannonDesign; Johns Hopkins University, Applied Physics Laboratory (Client), Laurel, MD
Northwestern University Ryan Fieldhouse and Walter Athletics Center, Perkins&Will; Northwestern University (Client), Evanston, IL
University of Chicago Student Wellness Center, Wight & Company; University of Chicago (Client), Chicago, IL
Hospitality and Retail
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD WINNER:
Rockwell on the River, Rosen Architecture; Prairie Management & Development (Client), Chicago, IL
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD FINALISTS:
125 High St. – Roof Terrace & Lounge, Krueck Sexton Partners; Tishman Speyer (Client), Boston, MA
345 North Morgan, Eckenhoff Saunders with Sterling Bay Design Studio; Sterling Bay (Client), Chicago, IL
Moxy Hotel Portland, DLR Group; Graves Hospitality (Client), Portland, OR
Viceroy Chicago, Goettsch Partners; Convexity Properties (Client), Chicago, IL
Multifamily Residential
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD WINNER:
Tribune Tower Conversion, Solomon Cordwell Buenz (SCB); Tribune Tower West, LLC (Client), Chicago, IL
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD FINALISTS:
INTRO, Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture; Harbor Bay Ventures (Client), Cleveland, OH
Lucy Gonzalez Parsons Apartments, LBBA; Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation (Client), Chicago, IL
Peabody School Apartments, Pappageorge Haymes Partners; Svigos Asset Management (Client), Chicago, IL
Pullman Artspace Lofts, Stantec Architecture Inc.; Pullman Artspace LLC (Client), Chicago, IL
Office
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD WINNER:
Walgreens Old Post Office, Stantec Architecture Inc.; Walgreens Co. (Client), Chicago, IL
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD FINALISTS:
SOM Chicago Studio Renovation, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill; Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (Client), Chicago, IL
Kornberg Center, SmithGroup; Promega Corporation (Client), Fitchburg, WI
North Lawndale Employment Network, Wheeler Kearns Architects; North Lawndale Employment Network (Client), Chicago, IL
Uber – Chicago, Gensler; UberUber – Chicago (Client), Chicago, IL
Single Family Residential – New Construction
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD WINNER:
Solar House, Booth Hansen; Anonymous Client, Chicago, IL
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD FINALISTS:
Casa Rosita, Via Chicago; Anonymous Client, Las Catalinas, Costa Rica
Chicago Residence, Wheeler Kearns Architects; Anonymous Client, Chicago, IL
Susan’s House, Mary English and Xavier Vendrell Architects; Susan English (Client), San Antonio, TX
The Brickyard, dSPACE Studio Architects; Anonymous Client, Chicago, IL
Single Family Residential – Renovation/Adaptive Reuse
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD WINNER:
Lakeside Midcentury, Robbins Architecture; Celeste Robbins (Client), Southwest Michigan
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD FINALISTS:
Color Forward, DEW Design Company LLC; Anonymous Client, La Grange Park, IL
Unit 8408, Vladimir Radutny Architects; Anonymous Client, Chicago, IL
Wicker Park Courtyard House, 34-TEN; Anonymous Client, Chicago, IL
Yannell PHIUS+ Residence, HPZS; Yannell Foundation for Sustainable Development (Client), Chicago, IL
Tall Building
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD WINNER:
The St. Regis Chicago, Studio Gang, Design Architect; bKL Architecture, Architect of Record; Gensler, Hotel Architect; HBA, Interior Architect; Magellan Development Group (Client), Chicago, IL
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD FINALISTS:
320 South Canal – Union Station, Goettsch Partners; Riverside Investment & Development, Convexity Properties (Clients), Chicago, IL
465 N. Park, Pappageorge Haymes Partners; Jupiter Realty Company / MetLife Investment Management (Clients), Chicago, IL
Cirrus and Cascade Chicago, bKL Architecture; Lendlease Development (Client), Chicago, IL
One Chicago, Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture and Goettsch Partners; JDL Development (Client), Chicago, IL
“Living among so many architectural gems, residents of Chicago have developed an eye for design. This year, they’ve selected a superb group of winners for the Lerch Bates People’s Choice Awards,” said Eleanor Gorski, CEO, Chicago Architecture Center. “The CAC was honored to partner with AIA Chicago to narrow the options with the help of our docents, who have deep knowledge and passion for Chicago’s architecture.”
Designight 2023
Harris Theater for Music and Dance
Millennium Park
205 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601
Thursday, September 28, 2022
6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. with After Party to follow
About AIA Chicago
The American Institute of Architects Chicago (AIA Chicago) serves nearly 4,000 architect members in Chicago and is the second largest AIA local chapter in the country. AIA Chicago’s mission builds on the city’s architectural legacy by advocating for the profession, sharing knowledge among members, and partnering with communities. It fosters a culture of design excellence for equitable, sustainable places and spaces.
AIA Chicago offers lectures and continuing education courses; specialized, issue-specific Knowledge Communities; advocacy for architects; and help for consumers looking for an architect.
AIA Chicago is the local Chicago chapter of The American Institute of Architects. Based in Washington, D.C., the AIA has been the leading professional membership association for licensed architects, emerging professionals, and allied partners since 1857. Learn more by visiting www.aiachicago.org.
About Lerch Bates
Lerch Bates, headquartered in Denver, Colo., is a global technical consulting services firm with locations around the globe. For 75 years Lerch Bates has advised architects, developers, building investors, owners and managers on the design, construction, management optimization, modernization and sustainability of a wide spectrum of building systems for any size or type of building. Their specialties include vertical transportation, enclosures & structures, building logistics, facade access and forensics. For more information, visit www.lerchbates.com.