by ArchitectureWeek

The 19-story Price Tower by Frank Lloyd Wright has recently been restored to productive use. A childbirth clinic in Japan is leading an effort to change public attitudes toward women's health. And a new building for the venerable Natural History Museum in London provides much needed climate-controlled labs for delicate specimens.

These three projects and seven others have just received awards from the annual Business Week/ Architectural Record awards program. The theme for this program is good design in support of successful business. But the jurors defined "business" broadly to also include respectful historic restoration, improved medical care, and protected scientific material.

The goals met by some of the award-winning projects are more clearly in the business camp: maintaining a happy workforce, improving customer comfort, and efficiently supporting communications within a corporate structure.

One example of the latter is Gannett/USA Today Corporate Headquarters, in McLean, Virginia, designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox. ArchitectureWeek has already reported on this building in detail.

Another example of architecture in service to business is the Apple SoHo store in New York City, designed by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson. Despite being housed in a 1920s neoclassical building, the computer store reflects the company's younger tradition of innovation and accessibility.   >>>

Discuss this article in the Architecture Forum...

The Apple SoHo store in New York City, designed by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, received a Business Week/ Architectural Record design award. Photo: Peter Aaron The Price Tower by Frank Lloyd Wright was renovated by Wendy Evans Joseph Architecture. Photo: Christian Korab   Click on thumbnail images to view full-size pictures.