by ArchitectureWeek

In the latest of a series of award announcements, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) has recently named 30 recipients of the 2001 Honor Awards. These honors go to architectural, interior, and urban projects that display excellence in design.

These awards were established a half century ago "to elevate the general quality of architectural practice, establish a standard of excellence against which all architects can measure performance, and inform the public of the breadth and value of architecture."

This year's selection includes a good share of educational and community projects, along with those focused on corporate, high-tech, and upscale residential environments.

As examples, the winners include a "drop-in" center that offers a dignified respite for the homeless in downtown Los Angeles, an aquatics complex in suburban Detroit, and a successful, mixed-use neighborhood in Baltimore that was transformed from segregated public housing.

"One of the undeniable pleasures of a booming economy is the rich palette of architectural projects undertaken," said AIA President John D. Anderson, FAIA. And this year's Honor Award recipients offer some of the best."

The Conde Nast Building, in Times Square, New York City, by Fox & Fowle Architects, an environmental benchmark for future office buildings. Photo: Jeff Goldberg, Esto Photographics Inc. Benaroya Hall, in Seattle, by LMN Architects, is a performing arts center amid a bustling urban landscape. Photo: Jeff Goldberg, Esto Photographics Inc.   Click on thumbnail images to view full-size pictures.