KOOLHAAS HONORED WITH JAPANESE PRIZE

Winners of the prestigious 2003 Praemium Imperiale arts awards were announced recently by the Japan Art Association. These awards recognize lifetime achievement in the arts in categories not covered by Nobel Prizes. Among those honored is Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, who, according to the Japan Arts jury: "...breaks all the rules of function and structure, and virtually invents a new architecture." Next week we'll take a closer look at Koolhaas and his work.

RADIATION PROTECTION IN AN EARTHQUAKE ZONE

Construction of the Center for Cancer Treatment and Prevention at Stanford University is nearing completion. The building, located in the heart of an earthquake-prone region, will contain seven linear accelerators. This has increased the challenges for the builders, who had to institute strict safety measures for working with lead bricks and other lead-lined materials. Next week we'll see how they rose to these challenges.

HISTORY OF A FIRM

The Detroit-based SmithGroup turns 150 this year. It is the oldest architecture firm in the United States and the fifth largest. Previously featured in ArchitectureWeek are SmithGroup's distinctive MacNamara Airport and Chesapeake Bay Foundation headquarters. Architectural historian William Lebovich will take a look back at past successes and ahead to projects still on the boards to demonstrate that the firm culture of the venerable SmithGroup continues to re-invent itself.