2009 PATRON OF THE YEAR WINNERS ANNOUNCED

At a sold-out luncheon held at the University Club of Chicago on November 19, the Chicago Architecture Foundation recognized six outstanding patrons of Chicago architecture; four more patrons were recognized with honorable mentions. The 2009 Patron of the Year jury, led by Stanley Tigerman, FAIA, selected the winning patrons and projects from a pool of 31 nominations submitted into the competition. The Chicago Architecture Foundation congratulates the following winning patrons:

COMMERCIAL
Kirkland & Ellis LLP, for 300 North LaSalle
The Trump Organization, for the Trump International Hotel & Tower – Chicago

GOVERNMENTAL
City of Chicago, Department of General Services, for the Chicago Cultural Center:
Preston Bradley Hall Dome restoration
City of Chicago, Department of Transportation, for the Chicago Main Branch Riverwalk

INSTITUTIONAL
The Homan Arthington Foundation, for the Charles H. Shaw Technology and Learning Center
Loyola University, Chicago, for the Richard J. Klarchek Information Commons

In selecting honorable mention recipients, jury members agreed that the strength and duration of the relationship between the patron and the architect were deciding criteria. Congratulations to:

The John Buck Company and Goettsch Partners, for 155 North Wacker
Ranquist Development and the Miller | Hull Partnership, for 156 West Superior
CMK Companies and Perkins + Will, for 235 Van Buren
ECD Company and Koo Associates, for theWit

For complete project descriptions and images, please view a PDF file. For additional information, including jury remarks, contact patron(at)architecture.org.

PRESS HIGHLIGHTS

Patron of the Year award winners and nominees are featured in trade and mainstream media, and in various online venues. See the highlights of this year’s coverage, or read the full press release.

“MORE THAN A GOOD ARCHITECT”

The Chicago Architecture Foundation presents the prestigious Patron of the Year awards to outstanding clients of architecture in the Chicago area. Winning patrons are evaluated by a multidisciplinary jury, which considers the client’s contribution to a project alongside a project’s design merit.

The awards were initiated in 2004 when Steven G.M. Stein, partner at the law firm of Stein, Ray & Harris, LLP, suggested that, for all of the public attention lavished on outstanding architecture in Chicago, few recognize the leading role of clients of architecture. “Good architecture,” Stein said, “requires more than a good architect. It requires a great client—a risk-taker.”

Patron of the Year awards are now one of the most anticipated events for Chicago’s architecture and business community. The awards have continued to draw an impressive list of nominations—a testament to Chicago’s vitality and dynamic growth throughout the years

Past winners include Millennium Park, Inc., Hines Interests, the University of Chicago, Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies, and Serta International.

A COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT

Nearly 300 people attended the Patron of the Year awards luncheon—the highest number in the awards’ six-year history. The Chicago Architecture Foundation is grateful for the support of the business and civic community. The following companies contributed to the success of the luncheon by sponsoring a table

Innovator Table Sponsors
Hines Interests / Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Rausch Construction
The Rise Group
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP

Contributor Table Sponsors
Belgravia Group / Sandz Development
Bovis Lend Lease
CMK Companies
Executive Construction
Gilbane Building Company
Holabird & Root
Huen Electric, Inc.
The John Buck Company
Leopardo Companies
Mesirow Financial
Pepper Construction
Sheehan Partners
Solomon Cordwell Buenz
The Warranty Group

2009 Patron of the Year awards are generously sponsored by