D.C. school building wins AIA Institute Honor Award

Washington, D.C. may not be known for its beautiful architecture (if you don’t count the memorials and monuments), but every year, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) finds something in the District worth awarding.

Recently, the AIA announced the winners of the 2017 Institute Honor Awards, which are “the profession’s highest recognition of works that exemplify excellence in architecture, interior architecture and urban design,” according to the AIA website.

One of this year’s winners is an innovative, concrete building constructed for George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health.

Located on iconic Washington Circle Park, the 161,000-square-foot building offers an “unusual” skylit atrium as well as pod-like classroom spaces that allow students to overlook the nearby park.

In the AIA’s description of the project, it says, “The building itself is a rigorous but innovative response to its site. Faced with a geometrically challenging location, the team responded by organizing the building into two halves. The rectilinear research and administration half is coupled with its partner, a curving volume that fronts Washington Circle and contains a mix of learning environments.”

The firms behind the project were Payette and Ayers Saint Gross (Associate Firm).

To see the full list of winners, go to this Curbed article. For more information on George Washington University’s building, go to the AIA website here.

• AIA announces the winners of the 2017 Institute Honor Awards [Curbed]

• George Washington University, Milken Institute School of Public Health [AIA]