The following is a press release from the National Building Museum, in Washington, D.C., naming the global firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill as the recipient of its 2021 Honor Award.
The National Building Museum announced today that it will present its 2021 Honor Award to global design firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM). For the first time in 36 years, and inspired by this year’s honoree, the Museum will transform the annual Honor Award into a Climate Change Call to Action, including weeks of provocative, expert-led online programming open to the public. On June 17, the Museum will present the award to SOM at a dynamic virtual event, acknowledging the firm’s extraordinary contributions to the architectural canon and its historic leadership on the critical issues facing the building industry.
“Even as we celebrate the firm, SOM is challenging all of us by calling for immediate action that recognizes the urgency of climate change and advocates a transformational shift in how we design, build, and do business,” said Anthony Greenberg, Museum Board Chair and Executive Vice President, JBG SMITH. “We are proud to present our 2021 award as a platform for this vital effort. It is a strong reflection of NBM’s ongoing legacy of community and social impact.” The Museum Board also gratefully recognizes Amazon as the event’s Presenting+ sponsor.
“At the onset of a decade that may very well determine the future of our planet, SOM is dedicated to leading the building industry’s response to the climate crisis through action and advocacy,” said Chris Cooper, Design Partner at SOM. “Our programming, which brings together leaders from a variety of fields, will make the case for bold and immediate action to protect the Earth’s resources and to support the transition to a zero-carbon economy.”
Starting on May 19, the Museum and SOM will co-host NBM Climate Action online programming, a weekly series of expert panel discussions exploring the building industry’s role in addressing the climate crisis:
- May 19: Getting to Net Zero: Immediate Climate Action in Our Industry. The bold steps the industry needs to take, the potential for an all-electric future, and the opportunities that lie ahead on the path to net zero.
- May 27: Climate Justice and Social Equity. How climate change and economic and social inequity are intertwined, and what actions the industry should take to address this.
- June 3: “Green Innovation” as Savior? Rethinking Technology. The complex role of technology in achieving net zero and the importance of looking forward and backward for solutions to the climate crisis.
- June 10: Investing in Our Future. The opportunities and challenges of green investing and the necessity of government action to spur the creation of green infrastructure.
The June 17 Honor Award celebration will offer an evening of entertainment and inspiration. Hosted by Tony Kornheiser of ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption, the event will center around SOM’s Call to Climate Action and feature a roster of community and industry luminaries, including a live Q&A after-party. Corporate sponsorship opportunities are available that provide access to exclusive VIP experiences, including meeting new Museum Executive Director Aileen Fuchs, hearing SOM architects talk about their most innovative projects, and engaging with thought leaders from the pre-event programming.
To keep the challenge of climate action in sharp focus, the Museum and SOM will continue their joint Climate Action programs following the celebration. The Honor Award celebration and NBM Climate Action programming will be offered free of charge to students to foster engagement regarding the critical issue of climate change.
For the first time since the annual Honor Award was launched, tickets to the event, as well as this year’s associated programming, are available to the general public. Visit NBMVirtual.org for programming information and event tickets and to learn more about sponsorship opportunities. Attendance to the Honor Award event and the NBM Climate Action programs is free for individual Museum members and students.
