The American Institute of Architects and the Union des Architectes Internationale Announce the Winners in the 1st Architecture and Children Golden Cubes Competition
Washington, D.C. – June 3, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is pleased to announce that the Union des Architectes Internationale (UIA) has selected the winners of the 1st UIA Architecture & Children Golden Cubes Awards, an international competition to honor people and organizations that help children and young people understand architecture. A total of 42 organizations and institutions from the United States submitted applications to the competition, out of 300 entries representing 19 countries.
Four projects from the U.S. ended up as finalists for consideration in the international contest for the top awards in four categories. One of the four finalists was selected for a “special mention” in the Audio-Visual Media category. The awards will be formally presented in September at the Official UIA Award Ceremony in Tokyo during the 24th UIA Congress of Architecture. Louise Cox, President of the UIA, in making the announcement said, “The creation of a humane and sustainable environment is a challenge that involves us all – architects, planners, politicians and communities. I am convinced that if everybody had more understanding of the processes by which our environment is shaped, our towns and our countryside would be better and happier places to live.”
Upon receiving the news about the finalists, AIA President Clark Manus, FAIA, offered congratulations to the winners from Germany, Switzerland and France. “It has been exciting to learn that architects around the globe are making exceptional efforts to educate future generations about design and the built environment and how they contribute to the health and welfare of our planet and our people. The AIA is very proud that the U.S. had 42 entries, from which four were considered for the top honors. The Special Mention for Next .cc is a wonderful achievement. ”
The finalist from the U.S. that received a “special mention” from the international jury is Next.cc in the Audio-Visual Media Award category. Located in Milwaukee, WI, Next.cc is a 21st century learning environment that offers a collection of tools, languages, discovery and design opportunities aimed at increasing children’s awareness, understanding and engagement of the importance of the built and natural environments.
The other finalists from the US included in the international pool were:The Vitruvius Program at the Summit School of Ahwatukee, Phoenix AZ, offering studio education in architecture, art and design to children from pre-school age through 8th grade, in the School Award category.
Learning by Design: New York, New York, NY, in the Institute Award category, conducts residencies that enhance hands-on arts and core curriculum learning for New York City-area K-12 school children through interdisciplinary architecture and design lessons that cultivate students’ observation skills, critical thinking, problem solving and creativity.
The Architecture Handbook: A Student Guide to Understanding Building, Chicago, IL, in the Written Media Award category. The Handbook is an architecture textbook geared toward high school students, originally prepared by the Chicago Architecture Foundation for use by Chicago Public School and now in use at schools in 41 U.S. states and 14 countries.
Member countries of the UIA were encouraged to participate in the Golden Cubes competition. The AIA is a member of the UIA and partnered with the Association of Architecture Organizations, which handled the collection of applications and the juried portion of the process on behalf of the AIA. Please visit
https://www.wizehive.com/voting/goldencubes/395 to read about the U.S. finalists and the jury panel.
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 www.aia.org.
Contact:
Cynthia Sanford
202-626-7404
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