Asia Society Texas Center Wins Architecture Design Award
HOUSTON, July 23, 2014 — American Institute of Architect’s (AIA’s) Houston chapter has announced the latest winners of its annual Houston Design Awards, which recognize the Bayou City’s most innovative, thoughtful, and beautiful new and renovated buildings. Designed by renowned Japanese architect Yoshio Taniguchi and realized by Taniguchi & Associates, Geoffrey Brune, FAIA, and Kendall/Heaton Associates, Asia Society Texas Center took the 2014 award for the “50,000 square feet or less” category.
Criteria used by the jury—made up of Wendy Joseph, FAIA (Cooper Joseph Studio), Matt Kreilich (Snow Kreilich Architects), and Jing Liu (So-Il)—included quality of design, resolution of the program idea, sustainable responsibility, innovation, thoughtfulness, and technique.
“The architectural concept for Asia Society Texas Center creates a place that encourages each visitor to draw unique reference to Asian culture through the society’s program offerings,” writes CultureMap Houston’s Barbara Kuntz. “The building is carefully scaled to its two-story residential neighborhood and connected to the community by its public spaces and gardens.”
Twelve structures designed by architects practicing in the Houston metropolitan area received AIA awards this year—with most of the projects being located in Houston. Photographs of each will be featured in an exhibition opening July 31 in collaboration with the 2014 Student Biennial at Architecture Center Houston.
Other winners from this year’s competition include Lone Star College EMI-University Park by Morris Architects; Gewinner residence by Energy Architecture; Nested house by LOJO Architecture; Zaguan House by Murphy Mears Architects with William T. Cannaday, FAIA; Decatur Street renovation and addition by kinneymorrow architecture; Beth Yeshurun Day School renovation by Kirksey Architecture; Harris County Precinct Two Sylvan Beach Pavilion by Kirksey Architecture; C. Molby Dow residence by Stern and Bucek Architects; Tripartite House by Intexure Architects; Daryl Howard Art by kinneymorrow architects; and Seyfarth Shaw by Rottet Studio.
Based in Washington, D.C., the American Institute of Architects (AIA) has been the leading professional membership association for licensed architects, emerging professionals, and allied partners since 1857. AIA Houston, the local chapter of AIA, is a community of architects coming together to expand their outreach and create collaborative opportunities.
Related Links
Houston Chronicle: AIA Awards Honor Top Designs
Houston Chronicle: AIA Houston 2014 Design Award Winners
Houston Press: Best of Houston Heavyweights: Asia Society's New Digs
Video: Asia Society — A Texas Story