American Academy of Arts and Letters Announces 2009 Architecture Award Winners

The American Academy of Arts and Letters announced the recipients of its 2009 architecture awards. The Academy’s annual architecture awards program began in 1955 with the inauguration of the Arnold W. Brunner Memorial Prize in Architecture, which, since its inception, has been awarded to preeminent architects from any country who have contributed to architecture as an art form. In 1991, the Academy began giving Academy Awards in Architecture to honor American architects whose work is characterized by a strong personal direction. An additional Academy Award was created in 2003 to recognize an American from any field who has contributed to ideas in architecture.

Arnold W. Brunner Memorial Prize in Architecture

$5000 given to an architect of any nationality who has made a significant contribution to architecture as an art. Juhani Pallasmaa

Academy Awards in Architecture

Two Academy Awards of $7500 each recognize American architects whose works are characterized by a strong personal direction. Stan Allen and Wendell Burnette

One Academy Award of $7500 acknowledges an American who explores ideas in architecture through any medium of expression. Jeffrey Kipnis

The awards will be presented in New York City in May at the Academy’s annual Ceremonial. The award winners were chosen from a group of 39 architects nominated by the members of the Academy. The members of this year’s selection committee were: Henry N. Cobb, Peter Eisenman, Michael Graves, Hugh Hardy, Steven Holl, Richard Meier, James Polshek, and Billie Tsien (chair).

Exhibition of Work by Newly Elected Members and Recipients of Honors and Awards

Works, including models and renderings, by the 2009 architecture award winners will be featured in the upcoming Exhibition of Work by Newly Elected Members and Recipients of Honors and Awards, which will be on view from May 21 through June 14, 2009, in the Academy’s galleries on Audubon Terrace in New York City. More details can be found on the Academy’s Current Exhibitions page.

American Academy of Arts and Letters

The American Academy of Arts and Letters was established in 1898 to “foster, assist, and sustain an interest in literature, music, and the fine arts.” Election to the Academy is considered the highest formal recognition of artistic merit in this country. The Academy is currently comprised of 250 of America’s leading voices in the fields of Art, Architecture, Literature, and Music. The Academy presents exhibitions of art, architecture, and manuscripts; and readings and performances of new musicals throughout the year, and is located in three landmark buildings designed by McKim, Mead & White, Cass Gilbert, and Charles Pratt Huntington, on Audubon Terrace at 155 Street and Broadway.