AIA Seattle Honor Awards: Olson Kundig, Signal, NBBJ buildings earning top spots

The winning projects of the 70th annual Honor Awards for Washington Architecture were just announced by AIA Seattle. Selected from 103 submittals this year, 20 award winners managed to shine in the categories Built, Conceptual, and Research & Innovation.

Awards of Honor went to the Seattle-based offices of Olson Kundig Architects (winning two top awards), Signal Architecture + Research, and NBBJ.

The 2020 jury was comprised of Marsha Maytum FAIA, LEED AP (San Francisco), Pascale Sablan AIA, NOMA, LEED AP (New York), and Tatiana Bilbao (Mexico City) with Kevin Snook AIA (ZGF Architects) and Ming-Lee Yuan (Olson Kundig) acting as Co-Chairs. The three panelists of the Young Voices Selection program were Molly Evans (Olson Kundig), Marquesa Figueroa (SRG Partnership), and Higinio Turrubiates (Integrus Architecture).

Read on for the full list of awarded projects and images of this year's Awards of Honor winners.

Award of Honor

• Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture in Seattle by Olson Kundig
• Cottonwood Canyon Experience Center in Wasco, OR by Signal Architecture + Research
• Hugo House in Seattle by NBBJ
• Wagner Education Center at the Center for Wooden Boats in Seattle by Olson Kundig

Energy in Design Award

• The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design in Atlanta, GA by The Miller Hull Partnership, LLP  

Award of Merit

• Blakely Elementary School in Bainbridge Island, WA by Mithun
• Byrd Barr Place in Seattle by SHKS Architects (Conceptual)
• Lincoln High School in Seattle by Bassetti Architects
• Louisiana Children's Museum in New Orleans, LA by Mithun
• Past Present Future: a tense balance in Seattle by Novaby (Research & Innovation)
• Staying Power in Seattle by Framework Cultural Placemaking and City of Seattle Office of Arts & Culture (Research & Innovation)
• The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design in Atlanta, GA by The Miller Hull Partnership, LLP

Honorable Mention

• Ainsworth & Dunn (A&D) / 10 Clay in Seattle by Weinstein A+U
• Goldendale State Park Observatory in Goldendale, WA by Patano Studio Architecture
• Little House/Big Shed in Whidbey Island by David M. Van Galen, AIA
• Olympic High School in Bremerton, WA by Sundberg Kennedy Ly Au Young Architects
• Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands Classroom Building in Seattle by Matt Hutchins, AIA
• Seattle Asian Art Museum in Seattle by LMN Architects
• Seattle City Light Denny Substation in Seattle by NBBJ
• The Kenmore Hangarin Kenmore, WA by Graham Baba Architects 

Young Voices Selection

• Seattle City Light Denny Substation in Seattle by NBBJ