PRESS RELEASE | 2019 SARAs National Design Awards Celebrated in Chicago, IL
Chicago, IL (Nov. 5, 2019)—The Society of American Registered Architects (SARA) presented 80 architectural design awards to professionals and students from across the US at the gala celebration, 2019 SARA National Design Awards, on November 1, 2019 held at Venue SIX10. A cocktail reception, held in the venue’s Landing, was followed by a ninety minute presentation in the Feinberg Theater during which awards were announced for 47 “Honor” and 22 “Merit” Awards as well as 11 Awards of “Excellence”- the society’s highest level of award conferred. The 2019 SARA winners included 10 students representing nine accredited architecture schools and 70 professionals.
The SARAs National Design Awards Program provides an annual opportunity for the Society to recognize members and non-members for design excellence in their work. The diverse honorees reflect practices of all sizes and projects of all scales/budgets throughout the U.S. and abroad. This year’s winning projects are situated in 15 states spanning all regions of the country, the District of Columbia and six international locations.
Present at the event were Jury Moderator David Stofcik, AIA, ARA, ULI, NCARB, Executive Architect, Master Planning & Urban Design Studio at Walt Disney Imagineering and this year’s distinguished Jurors Brian Lee, FAIA, ARA, LEED AP BD+C, Partner at SOM Chicago; Carol Ross Barney, FAIA, Hon. ASLA, ARA, Design Principal of Ross Barney Architects, Inc.; Juan Gabriel Moreno, AIA, ARA, President of Juan Gabriel Moreno Architects (JGMA); Suzanne Musho, AIA, ARA, NCARB, Vice President of Zubatkin Owner Representation LLC and Mark Nagis, AIA, ARA, LEED AP, Director at SOM Chicago.
SARA National President, Octavio Santurio, AIA, FARA, welcomed the attendees to the event while SARAs National Design Awards Committee Chair and President Elect, Dennis Dong, AIA, FARA, CSI, was the emcee for the evening. Mr. Santurio presented the 2019 “International Award” to Perkins & Will for its contributions to architecture in the US and abroad. Accepting the award were Gina Berndt, Managing Director, Ralph Johnson, Global Design Director, Bryan Schnabel, Design Principal, and Tom Mozina, Design Principal. Mr. Santurio also presented the “Synergy Award” to John Ronan Architects LLC, Chicago IL for the Independence Library and Apartments, a sophisticated integration of multiple building uses contributing to the community’s diversity. In addition, the 2019 “Arts in the Community Service Award”, an annual monetary award for community service through the arts, was presented by SARA member Meredyth Santurio-Sager, to Chicago Mobile Makers and accepted by Maya Bird-Murphy. Mr. Dong gave a tribute to those in the profession who have passed away this year.
SARA member and Executive Board Member Walt Geiger, AIA, FARA, PE, and architect Lily Meier, ARA, narrated detailed project descriptions during the dynamic slide presentation. Ms. Santurio-Sager, SARA National Vice President Abby Schwartz, FARA, Assistant Director and committee members Beverly Davidson and Erika Craparo, assisted with the program planning and show. Sponsors this year included the Woodwork Institute, J+J Flooring Group, Metal Sales Manufacturing Corporation and Jewers Doors (US). Catering was provided by Food For Thought Chicago, Photography by Michael Courier, Floral Arrangements by Ashland Addison and Music by Daniel Thatcher, Chris Graham and Oliver Hunt. The Committee has already begun planning for the SARAs to be held in Seattle next fall.
