The humble brick takes the spotlight as winners of the 2017 Brick in Architecture Awards are announced

Brick is one of our oldest building materials, with some of the earliest dating back all the way to 7500 BC. Traditionally composed of clay, it is one of the longest-lasting and strongest building materials and indeed, some of the world's most famous architectural treasures—from the Taj Mahal to the Great Wall of China—are composed of the stuff. Every year, the Brick Industry Association comes together to celebrate the humble building material, recognizing design excellence, resilience and innovation in architecture featuring the fired-clay block. 

The award program is the largest of its kind in the country and this year saw over 90 entries that use new clay brick in at least 50 percent of the exterior or paving material. In all, 35 projects were selected by a jury comprised of national and international architecture, engineering and design professional.

Take a look at the "Best in Class" winners below and check out the Gold-level winners in the gallery.

↑ Best in Class—Category: Commercial; Apple Store in Williamsburg designed by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson

↑ Best in Class—Category: Educational (Higher Education); Kent State University of Architectural & Environmental Design in Kent, Ohio designed by Weiss/Manfredi

↑ Best in Class—Category: Education (K-12); Fruitvalle Elementary School Classroom Building Addition in Sarasota, Florida designed by Sweet Sparkman Architects

↑ Best in Class—Category: Renovations (Additions)/Restoration (Restoring); Dumbarton Oaks Fellowship House in Washington, D.C. by Cunningham | Quill Architects

↑ Best in Class—Category: Municipal/Government; John W. Olver Transit Center, Net-Zero Building in Greenfield, Massachusetts designs by Charles Rose Architects Inc.

↑ Best in Class—Category: Residential - Multi-Family; The Aston in Washington D.C. by Bonstra | Haresign ARCHITECTS

↑ Best in Class—Category: Residential - Single Family; Kinsley in Oxford, Maryland designed by John Milner Architects, Inc.

↑ Best in Class—Category: Paving & Landscape; VIA 57 West in New York design by Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects and Planners