The 2009 AIA Illinois Annual Conference began as it has for many years, with the Awards program. The members and guests who attended this year however, were treated to a night which not only honored and celebrated the work of Illinois architects, but also included some brief glimpses into the imagination, creativity, and witty side of our "right brain" profession.

The awards program while honoring celebrated projects, firms and individuals, also allowed us to have a little fun in the form of eight PechaKucha presentations. Twenty slides, twenty seconds each. Six minutes and forty seconds for an architect, artist or creative thinker to tell his or her story. As one of the PK presenters, this was a huge departure from our professions traditional 45 minute presentation + 15 minute Q&A interview gauntlet we normally run. When I normally do a presentation I work to reach an inner calm before a presentation, this time I reached ...for a triple espresso.

I am a traditional supporter of our awards program because it gives us an opportunity to not only honor what Illinois architects have accomplished, but also the best of what we all do as architects. Not just making a building, but making a difference in the communities we serve. It was an honor to shake the hands of those whose Architecture made the difference in their communities and our profession.

Timothy A. McMinn, AIA  2009 President

2009 AIA Illinois Annual Award Recipients - Design

Crombie Taylor Award SPECIAL RECOGNITION

WINNER: The Richardson Building

Gary Anderson & Associates  Project Location: Rockford, IL

Crombie Taylor SPECIAL RECOGNITION

WINNER: St. Francis of Assisi Church

Renaissance Architects, Inc.  Project location: Springfield, IL  

Crombie Taylor CITATION OF MERIT

WINNER: CTA Brown Line Francisco Station Restoration

Muller & Muller    Project location: Chicago, IL

Crombie Taylor Honor Award:

WINNER: Chicago Cultural Center Preston Bradley Hall Dome Restoration

Holabird & Root, LLC   Project location: Chicago, IL

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Mies van der Rohe Award SPECIAL RECOGNITION

WINNER:  St. Chrysostom's Day School Gothic Garden

architectureisfun, inc.  Project location: Chicago, IL

Mies van der Rohe Award CITATION OF MERIT

WINNER:  Chervon Headquarters                  

Perkins + Will    Project location: Nanjing, People's Republic of China

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The Mies van der Rohe Award Honor Award:

WINNER:  SOS Children’s Village Community Center

Studio Gang Architects   Project location:  Chicago, IL

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Frank Lloyd Wright Award SPECIAL RECOGNITION

WINNER:  Mumford Hall Conversion

Harding Partners, Inc.   Project location: Chicago, IL

Frank Lloyd Wright Award CITATION OF MERIT

WINNER:  Mitzi Freidheim Englewood Child + Family Center

Ross Barney Architects    Project location: Chicago, IL

The Frank Lloyd Wright Honor Award:

WINNER:  Champaign Public Library

Ross Barney Architects   Project location: Champaign, IL

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Daniel Burnham Award CITATION OF MERIT

WINNER:  William J. Donovan Bridge/Wilson Street Bridge over the Fox River

Johnson Lasky Architects   Project location:  Chicago, IL

The Daniel Burnham Honor Award:

WINNER:  Holy Family Ministries Center

FGM Architects Project location: Chicago, IL

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The Sullivan award is the top project honor and represents the “best in show” of all the nominations.

WINNER: Yannell Net Zero Energy Residence

Farr Associates   Project location: Private residence

2009 AIA Illinois Annual Award Recipients - Service

President’s Award: Environmental Law and Policy Center

John Wellborn Root Award : Julianne Scherer, AIA

Nathan Clifford Ricker Award: Michael Andrejasich, AIA

R. Buckminster Fuller Award: Kevin K. Pierce, AIA

Charles W. Nothnagel Award: Edward K. Uhlir, FAIA

Gold Medal Award: Highest honor given by AIA Illinois in recognition of outstanding service by an AIA member.

Walter J. Hainsfurther, III, FAIA