2013 Architizer A+ Awards Honor The Best In Architecture Design

The best contemporary architects were honored at the inaugural 2013 Architizer A+ Awards in New York City in May. Architizer is an online network for architectural professionals and its outreach extends to the most prestigious firms that leave their blueprint on cities around the world. Joseph Altuzarra, Yves Béhar, Thom Browne, Tom Dixon, and Charles Renfro were among the guests that attended the Chelsea event. The awards covered 52 categories and 87 buildings. Six special categories were recognized at the gala. Richard Meier was honored for his long career with the lifetime achievement award. Meier’s long list of accolades include the Pritzker Prize, which he received in 1984, and the AIA Gold Medal, awarded in 1997. Friends of the High Line founders Robert Hammond and Joshua David were recognized with an award for advocacy. The President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili received honors for his support of the forward thinking public project, abstract rest stops created by J. Mayer H’s firm, in his country. The Barclays Center received the award for Best Building of the Year. Chris Sharples and Jonathan L. Mallie from SHoP Architects and Brooklyln Nets CEO Bret Yormark accepted the award. This was the first year that awards ceremony was held and at least one guest described the event as a standout from the standard gathering of architects, where champagne is not typically found on the menu.

Credits in order: (c) BFA; for the winner projects, as follows: Rest stops – Gori, Georgia, courtesy of Architizer and J. Mayer H. Barclays Center, (c) Bruce Damonte