Eight new Emerging Voices announced for 2016

It's that time of year when The Architectural League of New York announces the Emerging Voices winners. Established in 1982, the Emerging Voices program helped propel the careers of over 250 architects — many whose names are well known today. The invite-only portfolio competition recognizes emerging and potentially influential firms and individuals in the fields of architecture, landscape architecture, and urbanism.

In selecting the year's Emerging Voices, the jury evaluates significant bodies of realized work and takes into account how the work addresses larger issues in the built environment and landscape. Jurors also consider each candidate's accomplishments within the design and academic communities. Awardees are based in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico.

The 2016 winners will present lectures this March and April at The Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Center for Thought and Culture in NYC. Not in the area? The League will live-stream the lecture series online. Also look out for the League's digital features on each firm, which will include interviews in exploring their "design voice" and work. Prominent architects and critics will also join in for recorded round-table discussions.

Have a look at the 2016 winners below.

Omar Gandhi, Principal, Omar Gandhi Architect, Halifax and Toronto

"Omar Gandhi Architect begins a project by choosing 'materials and forms that express and respond to the specific qualities of site.' Typological forms are then reconstituted to be 'receptive and responsive,' keeping to a 'modest, formal lineage that makes for architecture that is accessible to all types of people.' Recent projects include the Black Gables residence, the Float residence, and Rabbit Snare Gorge, all located in Nova Scotia."

Frank Jacobus and Marc Manack, SILO AR+D, Cleveland and Fayetteville, Arkansas

"SILO AR+D 'explores architectural presence through the effects of appearance, reappearance, and disappearance and views the architectural act of becoming visible as a form of theater, a performance born of energy harnessed from public environments.' Recent projects include Mood Ring House residence in Fayetteville, Arkansas; the Super Sukkah pavilion in St. Louis; and North Presbyterian Church in Cleveland."

Alex Anmahian and Nick Winton, Principals and Co-Founders, Anmahian Winton Architects, Cambridge, Massachusetts

"Anmahian Winton Architects views 'the synthesis of place, program, and community as an opportunity to enhance the rituals of everyday life, foster a sense of wellbeing, and to inspire the imagination.' Recent projects include the Ford Hill Observatory in New Hampshire, the Capital Vista Office building in Ankara, Turkey, and the Community Rowing boathouse in Boston."

Cesar Guerrero, Ana Cecilia Garza, Carlos Flores, and Maria Sevilla, Partners, S-AR, Monterrey, Mexico

"S-AR’s work focuses on 'the design and development of architectural projects of several scales and typologies from private, experimental, and social structures to architectural installations, educational buildings as well as furniture and book design.' Recent projects include the Concrete House residence, the Wood House residence, and the Desert Observatory, all located in Nuevo Leon, Mexico."

Rozana Montiel, Founder, Rozana Montiel | Estudio de Arquitectura, Mexico City

"Rozana Montiel specializes in 'architectural design, artistic re-conceptualizations of space, and design for the public domain.' The studio “researches public space issues, attempting to recover social construction in city making and collaborates with specialists in landscape architecture, permaculture, industrial design, social anthropology, photography, art, literature, and film-making depending on the nature of the project.' Recent projects include the City Out of Line park in Mexico City; Common-Unity, a public space rehabilitation project in Mexico City; and Court, a partially enclosed sports field in Veracruz, Mexico."

Jon Lott, Principal, PARA Project and Co-Founding Member, Collective-LOK, New York City

"Jon Lott sees each project as 'a collaborative effort between a wide range of constituents, guided by the specific needs and curiosities of a diverse clientele; raising disciplinary questions rather than merely providing service.' With PARA Project, recent projects include the Haffenden House residence, the Crawford Attic Writing Room, and La Casita, all located in Syracuse, New York."

Related: Collective-LOK’s “Heart of Hearts” chosen as winning 2016 Times Square Valentine Heart Design

Heather Roberge, Principal, Heather Roberge | Murmur, Los Angeles

"Heather Roberge’s work 'explores the intersection of computation and material production to transform architectural spaces, assemblies, and objects.' Recent projects include En Pointe, an installation at SCI-Arc Gallery, the Vortex House residence, and the Gatins Chan residence — all in Los Angeles."

E.B. Min and Jeffrey L. Day, Principals, Min | Day, San Francisco and Omaha

"Min | Day believes that 'architecture is a spatial and material practice in the service of human habitation.' And as such, the studio seeks to create 'infrastructure for social engagement, whether that be in the private world of the home, the collaborative landscape of the office or institution, or the collective realm of the city.' Recent projects include the Blue Barn Theatre & Boxcar 10 in Omaha and the House on Lake Okoboji residence in Iowa. A current project includes a series of Muni/BART station entrances in San Francisco."

Past Emerging Voices included Morphosis; Steven Holl; Tod Williams; Toshiko Mori; Enrique Norten; Deborah Berke; Brad Cloepfil of Allied Works; Michael Maltzan; Marion Weiss and Michael Manfredi; James Corner of Field Operations; Adam Yarinsky and Stephen Cassell of ARO; SHoP Architects; Lewis.Tsurumaki.Lewis Architects; Jeanne Gang; Amale Andraos and Dan Wood of WORKac; Teddy Cruz; David Benjamin of The Living; Betsy Williamson, Shane Williamson, and Donald Chong of Williamson Chong Architects; and Aranda\Lasch.