Hariri Pontarini, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill among winners of 2017 AIA TAP Innovation Award

Co-created by the American Institute of Architects Technology in Architectural Practice (TAP) and the Construction Contract Administration (CCA) Knowledge Community, the yearly Innovation Awards celebrate projects that integrate new practices and technologies that will enhance data-centric methodologies and project delivery in long-term building management — from design to construction. Today, four projects were announced as the 2017 winners.

Entrants compete in the following categories: Stellar Design; Project Delivery & Construction Administration Excellence; Project Lifecycle Performance (no winner selected this year); Practice-based or Academic Research, Curriculum or Applied Technology Development; Exemplary use in a Small Firm (no winner selected this year).

Check out which projects won for 2017.

Stellar Design winner: Bahá’í Temple of South America; Santiago, Chile by Hariri Pontarini Architects

Project description: “Set within the Andean foothills, just beyond the metropolis of Santiago, Chile, the Bahá’í Temple of South America is a domed, luminous structure that echoes the rolling topography of the mountains. Its nine monumental glass veils frame an open and accessible worship space where up to 600 visitors can be accommodated. Looking up to the central oculus at the apex of the dome, visitors experience a mesmerizing transfer of light from the exterior of cast glass to an interior of translucent Portuguese marble. At sunset, the light captured within the dome shifts from white to silver to ochre and purple.”

Stellar Design winner: The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare Theater; Chicago by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture in collaboration with Theater Consultant CharcoalBlue, Construction completed by Bulley & Andrews

Project description: “Opened in September 2017, The Yard is a next-generation performance venue that reflects Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s multi-faceted artistic vision. Consisting of approximately 35,000 square feet, the project introduces a new flexible theater that can be configured into a variety of shapes and sizes with audience capacities ranging from 150 to 850. A new two-story entrance lobby connects to the existing theater and features a custom electrochromic façade that mitigates glare and heat gain by gradually tinting as sunlight passes across the southern face.”

Project Delivery & Construction Administration Excellence winner: Garden Village; Berkeley, California by Nautilus Group & Stanley Saitowitz | Natoma Architects

Project description: “Built entirely using modular building technology, Garden Village is an engineering and construction marvel. This cutting edge and intricate development was accomplished using only two module types: Type A, a living/dining/kitchen module, and Type B, two bedrooms/bathroom module. These are joined in two combinations to create an entire project of only two unit types, four bedroom units and two bedroom units. The two modules are developed and perfected like in the automobile industry, where every detail, drawer, handle and finish is refined in full size mockups - something seldom possible in architecture. The result: high quality and 20% cost savings.”

Practice-based or Academic Research, Curriculum or Applied Technology Development: Reality Capture Workshop; Detroit by the University of Detroit Mercy School of Architecture

Project description: “Reality Capture Workshop is a long-term project to produce a complete digital documentation of a historical city of Volterra in Italy and a methodology for the information dissemination. The project utilizes the 3D laser scanning and photogrammetry to record precise spatial data which will be used for research, presentation and preservation of the city history. Since its start in October 2016 the workshop already supplied data which became a foundation of a very significant research in the area of archeology and architectural history. It became an interdisciplinary research tool, connecting the academia, historical preservation administration, professionals and corporate partners.”