AIA's 2015 Firm Award goes to Ehrlich Architects, based in Culver City, California.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has announced Moshe Safdie and Ehrlich Architects as recipients, respectively, of its 2015 Gold Medal and Architecture Firm Award, the organizations highest honors. I dont want to call the award a culmination because I am pretty active and I want to keep going, jokes Safdie, who is celebrating his practices fiftieth anniversary.

Photo Stephen Kelly

Moshe Safdie, 2015 AIA Gold Medal recipient.

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Born in 1938 in Haifa, Israel, Safdie cites the young nations solidarity-infused atmosphere as a strong influence in his architectural approacha socially-focused architecture. After an apprenticeship under Louis Kahn (1971 Gold Medal recipient), Safdie designed Habitat 67 in Montreal, which, according to the architect, is still no doubt my most radical achievement. Other celebrated works include Yad Vashem Holocaust History Museum in Jerusalem, the Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort in Singapore, and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas.

For me this award is so moving because the Gold Medal is something you get from your peers, Safdie says. In his case, these peerswho wrote recommendation letters for Safdieinclude Mohsen Mostafavi, Richard Rogers, and Frank Gehry, who wrote in his recommendation letter: The world at large is a better place because of [Safdies] work.

Safdie won out over two other finalistsRobert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown and Eric Owen Moss. Venturi and Scott Brown were considered leading contenders after this years rule change allowing two collaborating architects to win the medal, and the controversy surrounding a bid for a retrospective Pritzker Architecture Prize for Scott Brown.

Los Angeles-based Ehrlich Architects, founded by Steven Ehrlich in 1979, took home the 2015 Architecture Firm Award, which recognizes practices that have produced notable work for at least a decade. Over the last 25 years, the firm has developed its own genre of architecture, what it calls multicultural modernism, which delves deep into the social norms and context surrounding a project. Notable works include the John Roll U.S. Courthouse in Arizona, which features a porch-like entrance canopy, the Ahmadu Bello University Theater in Nigeria, and the Helal New Moon Residence in Dubai. The firm, which designs residential, commercial, educational, and civic projects, is currently working on its first hotel. We are super humbled that our work, our collective passion, and our way of practicing has been honored in this way, says partner Takashi Yanai. Its kind of a party here at the office today.

The AIA also announced the recipients of its other top honors: Peter Eisenman was awarded the 2015 AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion; Rural Studio was honored with the 2015 Whitney M. Young Jr. Award; and Edward Mazria received the 2015 Kemper Award.

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Moshe Safdie Wins AIA 2015 Gold Medal, Ehrlich Architects Recieves Firm Award

Architects practising in the country need to be proactive as the profession has never been known to be retrogressive, the Principal Partner, ATO Architects, Mr. Ayoola Onajide, has said.

You have to design yourself out of where you are in order to collectively propel the architecture profession to a higher level, he said.

Onajide spoke at the second annual ATO lecture held in Lagos with the theme, Architecture: Substance and Shadows; random musings from over three decades of practice.

The keynote speaker, Mr. Olusegun Ladega, also spoke on commoditisation of architecture; the place of beauty in architecture; architecture and identity; and the Nigerian character.

According to him, architecture has never been known to be retrogressive and has remained an expression of life, times, aspirations and the society as a whole.

He said, Architecture of any age has always reflected the limits of engineering and scientific knowhow of the time. Architecture practice is gradually imbibing the asoebi syndrome, in which buildings are indistinguishable.

An architectural work becomes commoditised when one offering is nearly indistinguishable from another. As a result of technological innovation, broad-based education and frequent iteration, goods and services become commoditised and therefore widely accessible. Many architects describe themselves as building designers or administrators of the building construction contract. This inaccurate and deceptive definition of the profession has not only led to a belittling of the architect but has also grossly undermined the architects professional fees and remuneration.

Ladega said that the other challenge the practice was facing was the value that the country placed on intellectual property. There is a total disregard for intellectual property rights, he added.

The annual lecture, in its second edition, was aimed at raising the bar of practice in the country, the organisers noted.

According to Onajide, practitioners are caught up in a dilemma where they want to be artists, professionals and also want to be regarded as businessmen.

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Architects urged to be proactive

A PAIR of architects from Bolton are taking the building world by storm after completing a multi-million pound project to create a landmark library and concert hall inside the Arctic Circle.

Designer Daniel Rosbottom grew up in Westhoughton and Atherton, and now combines the position of Head of Architecture and Landscape at Kingston University with being co-director of London-based company DRDH Architects, which the 45-year-old founded in 2000 with his partner David Howarth.

The firm rapidly expanded and in 2005 they took on another Boltonian, Richard Marks as an associate.

Now the company is celebrating after completing its most ambitious project to date a 110 million library and concert hall for the Norwegian town of Bod, which will be a new home for the Arctic Philharmonic orchestra.

The company was initially chosen from 193 architects who entered a competition to produce a master plan for redevelopment of the towns cultural quarter, which had been badly damaged in the Second World War.

But their design for stark white concrete buildings overlooking the picturesque harbour did not initially find favour with all the residents with some comparing the design to a fish oil plant or margarine factory.

However, over the five years the buildings taken shape they have grown on the towns 50,000 inhabitants and an estimated 20 per cent of the population turned up for the librarys recent opening.

It is thought that 10 per cent of all Norwegians also tuned in their televisions to watch the halls inaugural concert, which was attended by Crown Prince Haakon.

Mr Marks, a 36-year-old former Canon Slade High School pupil, said: It is quite unusual for a small practice to be given a commission like this.

At some point pretty much the whole office was working on it.

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BOLTON architects' landmark design

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) December 15, 2014

CMD, one of the leading providers of construction information in North America, and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) announced an agreement to offer a jointly-developed market analytics tool: Insight for Architects. Strategic partners since 2008, the AIA and CMD continue to generate value for the more than 83,000 AIA members.

CMD is a highly-valued partner, and we are extremely pleased to collaborate with CMD for this new member benefit, said AIA Chief Executive Officer, Robert Ivy, FAIA. Insight for Architects offers our members important project-based intelligence that expands their network and business potential.

Insight for Architects gives AIA members instant access to hundreds of thousands of construction projects across the U.S., as well as market analytics. Architects can use Insight for Architects to view thousands of pre-bid projects, track desired projects, and stay alert to trends and forecasts. The new product is available exclusively to AIA members. The tool can be accessed at aia.org/cmd.

CMDs Chief Executive Officer, Graeme McCracken, added, Im excited to build upon our many years as the AIAs Strategic Partner by offering resources members can use to grow their business and understand market dynamics. CMDs technology and data, accessed through the Insight for Architects tool, will provide firms both large and small with a strategic view into new opportunities and the competitive landscape.

About CMD CMD, the Inaugural Strategic Partner of the AIA, is a leading North American provider of construction information. CMDs diverse portfolio of innovative products and services includes national, regional and local project leads, marketing solutions and market intelligence to provide insight to construction industry professionals throughout the U.S. and Canada. Visit the CMD website at cmdgroup.com.

About The American Institute of Architects For over 150 years, members of the American Institute of Architects have worked with each other and their communities to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings and cityscapes. Members adhere to a code of ethics and professional conduct to ensure the highest standards in professional practice. Embracing their responsibility to serve society, AIA members engage civic and government leaders and the public in helping find needed solutions to pressing issues facing our communities, institutions, nation and world. Visit aia.org.

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CMD and the American Institute of Architects Strengthen Alliance with a New Member Benefit

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