SANTA FE, NM.- SITE Santa Fe’s expanded and renovated building, designed by SHoP Architects, has won the prestigious 2018 American Architecture Awards® for the best new buildings designed and constructed by American architects in the U.S. and abroad, and by international architects for buildings designed and built in the United States. SITE Santa Fe’s award was in the category of Museums and Cultural Buildings.
Now in its 24th year, The American Architecture Awards were announced by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies—organizers of this annual prestigious program for Design Excellence and for the best contributions to innovative contemporary American architecture. The American Architecture Awards are the nation’s highest public awards given by a non-commercial, non-trade affiliated, public arts, culture and educational institution. Over 100 shortlisted buildings were awarded by an esteemed jury of selected architects and designers. Honorees were celebrated at a gala reception and dinner at the Alvar Aalto-designed Edgar Kaufmann Conference Room at the Institute of International Education in New York on June 20.
SHoP designed a comprehensive renovation and expansion of the exhibition and support spaces at SITE Santa Fe, enlivening the repurposed former beer warehouse with new galleries and gathering spaces inside and out. In addition, SHoP modernized environmental systems, provided staff with new facilities, and streamlined back-of-house art handling. Given SITE’s innovative approach to the arts, the character of the updated space was particularly important. The building’s new, exuberant façade now signals SITE’s iconic presence as it moves forward to the community and visitors.
“We were thrilled to collaborate with SITE Santa Fe on this transformative project, and we are honored that the Chicago Athenaeum has chosen to recognize our work with the prestigious American Architecture Award,” said SHoP principal Christopher Sharples. “SHoP’s design for the new SITE Santa Fe represents a rebirth – for the institution, but also for its neighborhood, translating a previously introverted and seemingly closed-off space into a vibrant new building that opens both literally and figuratively to the Railyard community.”
“The American Architecture Awards are the nation’s highest public awards dedicated to cutting edge design, sustainability, functionality, and aesthetics that reflect the character of contemporary architecture of our times. Our Museum’s public awards are regarded internationally as a mark of excellence, recognizing the best architecture, architects, landscape architects, and urban planners in the United States,” states Christian Narkiewicz-Laine, Museum President, The Chicago Athenaeum.
The American Architecture Awards is a centerpiece of The Chicago Athenaeum and the European Centre’s efforts to identify and promote best practices in all types of architectural development. It is the only national and global program of its kind. All awarded buildings and urban planning projects are published in (Global Design + Urbanism XVIII) New American Architecture published by Metropolitan Arts Press Ltd. In fall 2018, The Chicago Athenaeum, together with The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies, will present an exhibition of all awarded buildings for 2018 at the Istanbul Biennale in Istanbul, Turkey.
