Winners of the 2015 AIA TAP Innovation Awards

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Technology in Architectural Practice (TAP) Knowledge Community teamed up to create the AIA TAP Innovation Awards, which recognizes top-notch design, delivery, and management of the built environment through new advanced processes and technologies.

Three winning projects and an Honorable Mention were selected for the 2015 program. Categories include Stellar Architecture, Delivery Process Excellence, Exemplary use in a Small Firm, and Academic Program/Curriculum Development (which had no recipient this year).

Check out the winning projects right below.

CATEGORY A - Stellar Architecture Award - Submissions in this category exhibit exemplary architectural design and display innovations in practices and technologies.

Emerson College Los Angeles
by Morphosis Architects

"The architect and consulting engineers developed thirteen design models using BIM software, which were combined to allow a full understanding of how each building system affected the other. These models were constantly available to the construction management team and fabricators via the project cloud. An open exchange of files between design and construction entities allowed the project to be completed 60 days ahead of schedule. Robotically-controlled bulldozers enabled a greater level of control for site grading and retention swales. A constantly evolving schedule was made possible by linking modeled elements to timelines, ensuring early or on-time completion of each phase of construction."

HONORABLE MENTION - Delivery Process Excellence:

OHSU/PSU/OSU Collaborative Life Sciences Building; Portland, OR
by SERA Architects and CO Architects

"With 28 design teams in ten states, the use of modeling software, file exchange software, cloud-based collaboration technology and document management tools was critical to the project's work flow. The entire construction team chose to collocate throughout the project, which allowed it to be conceived, constructed and delivered in only 38 months. During the latter stages of design, the architect, engineers, contractor, and subcontractors met frequently to hold clash-detection meetings, resolving system conflicts during design and easing the 3D model transition to the subcontractors. The design team calculated the total savings to the owner for their all-digital process was just under $10,000,000 when accounting for print costs and labor hours."

CATEGORY D - Exemplary use in a Small Firm - Submissions in this category exhibit exemplary improvements through application of progressive practices, innovative processes and advanced technologies in a firm of 10 or fewer members, at any stage(s) of the overall process of project feasibility assessment, programming, design, documentation, procurement, construction and operation.

D-Bridge
by Point B Design

"The D-Bridge is a yet-unbuilt architectural project and experimental structure that serves as an extension to a private gallery and residence. The core feature of the Bridge serves as both its form and structure with 1000 laser-cut, folded cells made from flat sheets of stainless steel (voxels). By developing a cultural change in practice, the team has been able to engage everyone involved in the project to create a greater level of collaboration and understanding."

The 2015 included: Steven Wolf, AIA (Chair), Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group; Dr. Carrie Sturts Dossick, P.E., University of Washington; Federico Negro, CASE; Shane Burger, Woods Bagot and Randall Deutsch, AIA, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign