by ArchitectureWeek

The AIA announced 29 recipients of the organization's annual honor awards for architecture, interior, and urban design in January 2007. Richard A. Logan, AIA, chair of the jury for the architecture awards, cited "the exterior aspects, the quality of the interior spaces, site considerations, environmental issues, and social relevance" as factors in making the final selections.

In the past, environmental sensitivity might have been considered a special feature, but it has now almost become a given in high-profile American architecture. Energy conservation, quality of indoor air, and inspiring lighting design are integral in these projects.

What perhaps distinguishes these award winners is how their architects have gone beyond technical issues and extended their environmental awareness to incorporate connections to history, social context, and a symbolism of importance to the building occupants.

For instance, the University of Michigan, Biomedical Science Research Building, in Ann Arbor, by Polshek Partnership Architects, has a form that performs both functionally and environmentally while serving as the medical school's new front door. The curved, double-layered glass curtain wall achieves maximum daylighting and better thermal comfort and energy performance, while a central atrium provides interaction space for the building's users separated by the elongated form.   >>>

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University of Michigan Biomedical Science Research Building by Polshek Partnership Architects. Photo: © Jeff Goldberg/ Esto Meinel Optical Science Research Building by richärd + bauer architecture. Photo: © Bill Timmerman   Click on thumbnail images to view full-size pictures.