December 21, 2008—The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has recognized Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects with the 2009 AIA Architecture Firm Award. AIA says the distinction is based on the firm’s 35 years of consistently excellent work, including its seamless blending of architecture, art, and craft; community involvement; attention to sustainable design; and nurturing of in-house talent.
AIA highlighted the firm’s hands-on project involvement; deliberate efforts to share their knowledge with firm members, students, interns, and clients; and intense collaboration with artists and crafters. Known primarily for their integration of Modern forms that blend artfully into remote, natural settings of the Pacific Northwest, the firm’s work is also adept at creating dynamic urban environments, notes AIA.
Among the firm’s more than 65 regional and national award-winning projects are:
- The Delta Shelter, Washington State, 2008 AIA National Honor Award
- The Brain, Seattle, 2004 AIA National Honor Award
- Chicken Point Cabin, Northern Idaho, 2003 AIA Northwest Region Honor Award
- Frye Art Museum, Seattle, 1997 AIA Seattle Honor Award
- Pike & Virginia Building, Seattle, 1979 AIA Seattle Honor Award
The AIA Architecture Firm Award, given annually, is the highest honor the AIA bestows on an architecture firm and recognizes a practice that consistently has produced distinguished architecture for at least 10 years. The firm’s name will be chiseled into the granite Wall of Honor in the lobby of the AIA headquarters in Washington, DC along with such previous recipients as Leers Weinzapfel, Moore Ruble Yudell, Muphy/Jahn, and KieranTimberlake.
