Here are AIA Chicago's 2020 Design Excellence winners

The Chicago chapter of the American Institute of Architects has announced the winners of its 2020 Design Excellence Awards. Organized in the three categories Distinguished Building, Divine Detail, and Interior Architecture, 39 awards were presented to Chicago-based practices overall during a virtual version of the annual Designight event.

"This year’s entries represented a return to community-first ideas, spurred by the lessons this tumultuous year has quite uncompromisingly taught," noted the award jury. "Environments across both the commercial and civic fields have committed to empathetic, human-centered spaces, with firms prioritizing enduring and intuitive projects that are not only beautiful but conscientious."

Recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award this year is Phillip Craig Johnson, FAIA of Johnson & Lee, Ltd.

Find the full list of recognized projects and images of this year's Honor Award winners below.

DISTINGUISHED BUILDING AWARDS

Honor Awards 

• Columbia College Student Center, Gensler Chicago 
• Independence Library and Apartments, John Ronan Architects (this project also recently won an AIA/ALA Library Building Award)
• University of Cincinnati Health Sciences Building, Perkins and Will 
• Wolcott School Arts and Athletics Center, Lothan Van Hook DeStefano Architecture

Citations of Merit

• Advocate Lakeview Outpatient Center, HDR, Inc.
• Arizona State University, Tooker House, SCB 
• Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School Expansion, Wheeler Kearns Architects
• Fort Worth Data Center - Administration Building, Sheehan Nagle Hartray Architects
• Gallery House, John Ronan Architects
• Hotel Julian, Hirsch MPG LLC 
• Lathrop 
• Lisle Elementary School, Perkins and Will 
• McDonald's Disney Flagship, Ross Barney Architects 
• Vue53, Valerio Dewalt Train 
• Whale Bay, Optima DCHGlobal, Inc. 
• Zinc House, dSPACE Studio

Special Recognition

• CTA Garfield Elevated Station Renovation, EXP
• OSO Apartments, Canopy Architecture + Design

INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE AWARDS

Honor Awards 

• CTA Garfield Elevated Station Renovation, EXP 
• Lakeview Penthouse, Wheeler Kearns Architects 
• Le Cube, Mana Inc. 
• Mansueto Office, Perkins and Will 
• Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Pediatric and DayRehab Clinic, HDR 
• Unit 2808, Vladimir Radutny Architects (this project is also a recent winner of a 2020 AIA Small Project Award)

Citations of Merit 

• Barrett Studio, Brininstool + Lynch 
• Chicago Architecture Center, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture 
• Columbia College Student Center, Gensler Chicago 
• ella elli, SPACE Architects + Planners 
• Northtown Affordable Apartments and Public Library, Perkins and Will 
• Showtime, West Coast Headquarters, CannonDesign

Special Recognition

• Chapel of St. Joseph, Wheeler Kearns Architects

DIVINE DETAIL AWARDS

Honor Awards 

• Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School: Makom Rina, Wheeler Kearns Architects 
• Independence Affordable Housing Balconies, John Ronan Architects 
• Michigan Plaza, Chandelier, CannonDesign

Citations of Merit 

• Roscoe Storefront, Neet Architecture LLC 
• Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School: Tallit, Wheeler Kearns Architects

Special Recognition 

• Eris - Reclaimed Radiator Railings, Wrap Architecture 
• Northwestern University Ryan/Walter Athletics Center Coastal Wall, Perkins and Will