The 2022 AIA Small Project Awards recognizes modestly sized designs with a big impact
The jury has spoken and 13 projects have been bestowed with 2022 Small Project Awards, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) announced on June 2. The award program includes three categories, distinguished by construction cost and area: Small projects costing $250,000 and under in construction (Category 1), $2.5 million and under construction (Category 2), and small projects under 5,000 square feet (Category 3).
Established by the Small Project Design (SPD) Knowledge Community, the Small Project Awards is intended to “raise awareness about the value and design excellence that architects can bring to projects, no matter their size or scope,” according to an AIA press release. The 2022 awards marks the 19th year that the award has been given out, though slight changes have been made in the categories: In prior years, Category 1 entailed projects that cost $150,000 and less for construction (this year, the limit has increased by $100,000). A similar change has been made to Category 2; in prior years the cost limit for construction was $1.5 million (for the 2022 cycle, the limit has increased by $1 million).
While it is not required that eligible projects be physically located in the United States, 12 of this year’s winning designs are, spanning the Lower 48 from New York to California, Colorado to Illinois. The single non-stateside project, Enough House by MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects, is located in Nova Scotia, Canada. The firm is also primarily based in Halifax, but also maintains offices in Oregon and Massachusetts.
Other noteworthy recipients include Austin, Texas-based firm Murray Legge Architecture, which received the award for different projects in two categories. Skyscrapers often come to mind at the mention of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) but the international firm is indeed on the roster of winners for a project in its hometown of Chicago, the Spatial Laminated Timber (SPLAM) Pavilion.
The jury panel for the 2022 Small Projects Awards was comprised of: Chair Chyanne Husar (Husarchitecture), Brian Libby (Portland Architecture), Allison Bryan (Open Studio Collective), Roberto de Leon (de Leon Primmer), and Dominique Moore (Perkins Eastman).
Below is the full list of winners. More details about each can be found here.
Category 1: An architectural object, work of environmental art, or an architectural design element that costs up to $250,000 in construction
Enough House, Shobac, Canada | MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects
Jesse’s House, Austin, Texas | Jobe Corral Architects
Leimert Park Community Fridge, Los Angeles | Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects
Temporary Tiger, Austin, Texas | Murray Legge Architecture
The Seattle Street Sink, Seattle | Elizabeth Golden and Richard Mohler, University of Washington
Category 2: Small project construction that costs up to $2,500,000 in construction
Goatbarn Lane, Boulder, Colorado | Renée del Gaudio Architecture
Hill Country Wine Cave, Texas Hill Country | Clayton Korte
Little Tiger, Austin, Texas | Murray Legge Architecture
Palms House II, Venice, California | Kevin Daly Architects
SLC Fire Department Training Center, Salt Lake City | Blalock & Partners
Small project construction, an architectural object, work of environmental art or an architectural design that is under 5,000 square feet
A Wall Made of Bricks, Brooklyn, New York | Dameron Architecture
Marfa Suite, Marfa, Texas | DUST Architects
Spatial Laminated Timber (SPLAM) Pavilion, Chicago | Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
