Winners of AIA Chicago's fifth annual Small Projects Awards were announced on May 1 at a gala held at Architectural Artifacts in the Lincoln Square neighborhood. The awards program, which strives to recognize exemplary work from smaller architectural firms, nominated eight winning entries split amongst seven firms. The jury included Frank Christopher Lee, FAIA, of Johnson & Lee; Jeffrey L. Day, AIA, of Min | Day; Elizabeth Fenner, editor in chief of Chicago Magazine; Paul Florian, FAIA, of Florian Architects; and Jennifer Park, AIA, an adjunct professor at Chicago's IIT.
To view details and images of each of the winning projects, visit ARCHITECT’s Project Gallery. The winning projects are listed below.
Honor Award:
Live/Work Gallery, designed by P. K. VanderBeke. From AIA Chicago: "The challenge: to create a functional and sustainable live/work gallery in a century old factory space while retaining the character of 'a romantic ruin' that had initially attracted the client."
Acanthus Awards Medal, designed by MGLM Architects. From AIA Chicago: "The origin of the design lies in the philosophical juxtaposition and harmonious interweaving of the geometric and the organic, embodying Chicago’s motto of Urbs in Horto – City in a Garden – as well as local design traditions."
Box Within A Box, designed by Froelich Kim Architecture. From AIA Chicago: "Selectively carved openings in the walls of the box create views in and out, and to allow the interior architecture to dramatically reveal itself as one follows the path of circulation."
Cast Aluminum Table, designed by Dirk Denison Architects. From AIA Chicago: "The tenuous aesthetic of the legs resonates with the adjacent cable structure supporting the cantilevered house, while the texture of the porous cast aluminum bring a new texture to the sleek interior."
Elemental Kitchen, designed by MAS Studio. From AIA Chicago: "While the palette of elements used in the kitchen is minimal, their textures, application, and relationship create a space that is complex and rich in qualities."
Ranquist Development Group Offices, designed by Vladimir Radutny Architects. From AIA Chicago: "To further separate the office from its adjacent zones, we introduced a continuous black 'binding wall' snaking through various programmatic needs."
Toledo Chabad Center, designed by Vladimir Radutny Architects. From AIA Chicago: "To further reinforce the inviting character of the facility, the façade treatment softens the building’s rigid form. It evokes a sense of change and gentleness via the interplay of light and shadow on its rippling wood-clad folds."
Urban 24, by Studio Dwell Architects. From AIA Chicago: "Exposed white masonry interiors further aid in bouncing light inside. The created effect is that of a folded open residence that provides privacy when desired."
