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For another Chicago interiors project, Harley Ellis Devereaux put a red, dome-shaped structure at center stage in the new headquarters for an ad agency. Located within an open, multistory space and visible from all three floors of offices in the AbelsonTaylor Corporate Headquarters, the Red Balloon cafe serves as a physical reminder of a landmark ad campaign. Other symbols of creativity include egg-shaped light fixtures, wavy walls, and bold colors. A "main street" provides ample space for the agency to display examples of its work.

Another honor award for interior architecture went to Torchia Associates, Inc. for the Burrell Communications Group interiors in Chicago.

International Unbuilt

Several unbuilt projects received AIA Chicago honor awards. Among them was Perkins + Will's design for King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The design features three terminals shaped in plan like paired crescents, with an undulating "veil" to connect the terminals and enclose their central spaces. This veil-like structure consists of a space frame between two glass skins: an exterior skin of coated glass with photovoltaics, and an absorptive interior skin to reduce glare.

The jury praised the architects for using "important Islamic geometry in ways that are not typical. They've stretched it and pulled it in new ways."

Studio Gang Architects was recognized for its design of Zhong Bang Village in Shanghai, China, a competition-winning design that was not built. In contrast to more typical new developments in China that array high-rise towers evenly across sites, creating car-dependent suburbs, Studio Gang's design applies the traditional Chinese courtyard-house typology to preserve open space in a high-density development.

The design called for a series of linked buildings that would start shorter near the river, and have smaller courtyards, then grow taller, with wider courtyards, at sites farther away from the river, culminating in a single high-rise tower.

The awards jury appreciated the variety of scales and the application of a traditional building style in an authentic, non-imitative way.

Three other unbuilt projects received honor awards: Holy Family Lutheran School in Chicago, by FGM Architects; Al Sharq Tower in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, by Perkins + Will; and a proposed corporate headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio, by RTKL Associates Inc.

Lifetime Achievement

AIA Chicago also honored Gertrude Lempp Kerbis, FAIA, with a lifetime achievement award, recognizing her as a pioneer who has worked for equal status for women in the profession for over 50 years.

This is the 53rd year that AIA Chicago has given its Design Excellence Awards. In addition to the 13 honor awards, the design awards included 21 citations of merit and eight special recognitions across the four categories of distinguished building, divine detail, interior architecture, and unbuilt designs.

The 2008 awards jury comprised four separate teams, one for each of the four categories.

Unbuilt: Ellen Bailey Dickson, AIA, Bailey Edward Design, Chicago; Howard Kagan, AIA, Nagle Hartray Danker Kagan, McKay Penney; Chicago; Thomas Shafer, AIA, Grunsfeld Shafer Architects, Evanston, Illinois.   >>>

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SUBSCRIPTION SAMPLE Claremont House is an infill project designed by Brininstool + Lynch for a narrow lot in Chicago. Photo: Christopher Barrett/ Hedrich Blessing Photographers Behind Claremont House is a small private patio enclosed by tall concrete walls. Photo: Christopher Barrett/ Hedrich Blessing Photographers SUBSCRIPTION SAMPLE Claremont House received an honor award for interior architecture. Photo: Christopher Barrett/ Hedrich Blessing Photographers Simple millwork detailing adorns the interior of Claremont House. Photo: Christopher Barrett/ Hedrich Blessing Photographers VOA Associates Inc. designed bluprint, a restaurant in Chicago's Merchandise Mart. Photo: Nick Merrick/ Hedrich Blessing Photographers Extra Large Image A domed red snack-bar space was part of the Harley Ellis Devereaux renovation for the AbelsonTaylor Corporate Headquarters. Photo: Christopher Barrett/ Hedrich Blessing Photographers Torchia Associates, Inc. received an honor award for the interiors of the Burrell Communications Group offices. Photo: Jamie Padgett/ Padgett and Company Curved-corner cubicles at the AbelsonTaylor Headquarters. Photo: Christopher Barrett/ Hedrich Blessing Photographers Perkins + Will's design for King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, received an honor award in the unbuilt category. Image: Perkins + Will The unbuilt design for Zhong Bang Village in Shanghai, China, by Studio Gang Architects. Image: Studio Gang Architects   Click on thumbnail images to view full-size pictures.