CHICAGO, Oct. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The Chicago chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Chicago) will host its 54th annual Designight this evening at Navy Pier, where 24 local architecture firms will be recognized with Design Excellence Awards. This year's winners are being honored for exceptional work in four separate categories: Distinguished Building, Interior Architecture, Regional & Urban Design, and Divine Detail. Juries of distinguished architects from around the country selected the winners from a field of 293 entries.
Tonight's ceremony is expected to draw more than 700 architects, contractors and clients. Thirty awards will be announced in total, 20 of which are for designs in Illinois. The remaining 10 are for projects in other states and countries.
"The 2009 Design Excellence Awards illustrate the incredible, diverse array of work being done by local architects," said AIA Chicago's president, Grant Uhlir, AIA. "Winning projects this year include everything from a large office tower in Germany and a university laboratory to a cupcake boutique and even a parking ramp."
Eleven Honor Awards, the program's highest distinction, will be presented. In addition, AIA Chicago will announce 15 Citation of Merit Awards and four Special Recognition Awards. Two Chicago firms - Goettsch Partners and *Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLC - will be honored with three awards each. Epstein | Metter Studio, Murphy/Jahn, Perkins+Will, Studio Gang Architects and UrbanLab will take home two awards apiece.
Of particular interest this year is the Regional & Urban Design category. Projects in this category netted seven awards, including a plan to rebuild the historic waterfront harbor in Alexandria, Egypt by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLC, a model created for recycling Chicago's water through a series of "Eco-Boulevards" by UrbanLab, and a master plan that accompanied Chicago's bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics. "The Regional & Urban Design category exemplifies some of the most creative, though-provoking and inspiring work," said Zurich Esposito, AIA Chicago's executive vice president. "The incredible effort and innovation displayed attests to the fact that Chicago's architects are some of the most sought-after architects in the world."
In addition to the Design Excellence Awards, AIA Chicago will honor the late Daniel Burnham and Edward Bennett, co-authors of the 1909 Plan of Chicago, with a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award. A short presentation will be made at the awards ceremony to honor the extraordinary impact Burnham and Bennett had on making Chicago the great city it is today.
Founded in 1869, AIA Chicago represents over 3,200 licensed architects, architectural interns and allied professionals in northeastern Illinois. AIA Chicago is the second largest AIA chapter in the nation.
AIA Chicago
