No Surprises Here

As reported on this page eons ago, the Chicago Architecture Foundation recently created its very own architecture prize, Patron of the Year. Announced last night, the winners in the Commercial, Institutional and Governmental categories, respectively, are:

CMK Development Corp. for the Contemporaine by Perkins & Will,



Illinois Institute of Technology for the McCormick Tribune Campus Center and State Street Village,



and the City of Chicago for Millennium Park.

Since it's the first year for the awards, the appearance that they are rewarding buildings more than patrons is excusable. Basically the list contains the most notable designs in the last year (minus Soldier Field). But that is also excusable in Chicago's still rather conservative architectural climate.



I think eventually the award should recognize prolonged service by clients towards good design rather than singular buildings, much like RIBA's Client of the Year award, which it bestowed on Lord's Cricket in 1999 - not for one but a group of buildings over time. But all this begs the question, how could the City of Chicago ever not win the award in the Governmental category?



(via Chicagoist)