Excellence in Design Awards Gala 2018

The AIA UK Chapter hosted the 2018 Excellence in Design Awards Gala on April 18th at the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) in London. Over 100 architects, designers and guests filled the Grade-1 listed building and basked in its sun-dappled garden while celebrating exemplary projects in architecture and design.  In revisiting the Grade-I listed building, guests also had the opportunity to participate in a guided tour of the venue to earn continuing education credits.

Gala guests enjoy the setting summer sun in the RCP garden

The 2018 Awards were particularly significant in that they coincided with the 25th year anniversary of the chapter.  To recognize the importance that partnership plays in the success of the chapter, the chapter presented Herman Miller with a Certificate of Appreciation, to commemorate 25 years of sustained sponsorship.  Herman Miller has made possible the birth and growth of the chapter and we are truly grateful for their continued support.

Full house in the Seligman Room as the Awards get underway

This year, the chapter also introduced a new category in the awards; in addition to the Professional and Young Architect categories already in place, entries were invited to the ‘Unbuilt’ category, encompassing academic and professional work designed within the last five years that remains on paper.   As always, Professional projects must have been built in the last five years, and those entering the Young Architect category must be practices with design principals under the age of 40.

The AIA UK Chapter and this year’s jury are pleased to announce this year’s winners and commendations in each category:

• Naill McLaughlin Architects, West Court Phase 1, Jesus College / Professional Winner
• AHMM, Weston Street / Professional Commendation
• David Adjaye Architects, Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) / Professional Commendation
• Lynch Architects, Kings Gate London / Professional Commendation
• Brian Heron Architects, The Water Tank / Young Architect Joint Winner
• IF_DO, Dulwich Pavilion / Young Architect Joint Winner
• Ross Gribben, Hydra / Unbuilt Category Winner

Naill McLaughlin and team accept the Professional Award for West Court Phase 1, Jesus College, with juror Giancarlo Alhadeff, AIA UK President Alex Miller, and AIA UK Vice President Amrita Raja.

The annual Excellence in Design Awards purposefully sets an open platform to minimise restrictions and provide the broadest opportunity for architects and designers to submit their work.  The 2018 jury met on March 23rd for a day-long review and heated debate of the anonymous submissions and presented the results at the Gala in April; the jury was comprised of exceptional representatives from practice, academia and the press:

• Alex Miller, AIA, AIA UK Chapter 2018 President
• Giancarlo Alhadeff, FAIA, Founder, Alhadeff Architects
• Dr. Ingrid Schröder, Director of MPhil in Architecture and Urban Design, University of Cambridge Department of Architecture
• Ellie Stathaki, Architecture Editor, Wallpaper*

Details of the winning and commended submissions can be found HERE.  Additional photos from this year’s event can be seen HERE.

The AIA UK Chapter thanks the jury for their time, the entrants for their thoughtful submissions, and congratulates the winners on their success. We hope you will all join us again at next year’s Awards Gala.

Written by: Amrita Raja, AIA

Image Credits: Agnese Sanvito