AIA Chicago Lerch Bates People’s Choice Awards 2025 architects news, America buildings prize, USA design office

AIA Chicago Lerch Bates People’s Choice Awards 2025

September 20, 2025
AIA Chicago Design Excellence Awards 2025

September 7 + 6, 2025

AIA Chicago Announces Finalists for the 2025 Lerch Bates People’s Choice Awards as Public Voting Opens.

Winners selected by the public in open voting starting will be announced on September 18th at Designight 2025, AIA Chicago‘s signature award program, at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park

(September, 2025) CHICAGO – AIA Chicago, the second largest local chapter of The American Institute of Architects and the collective voice of over 4,000 licensed architects, emerging professionals, architecture students, and allied professionals, announced the finalists for the 2025 Lerch Bates People’s Choice Awards presented in partnership with the Chicago Architecture Center (CAC).

The winners, as selected by the public in open voting, will be announced at Designight 2025, honoring Chicago architects’ global design achievements, which will be held at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park on Thursday, September 18, 2025.

More building typology finalists photos online soon!

“Chicagoans are justifiably proud of their architecture, particularly the city’s instantly recognizable skyline and skyscrapers,” said AIA Chicago’s Executive Director Jen Masengarb. “But the finalists for this year’s Lerch Bates People’s Choice Awards, like the finalists for our annual juried awards, show that our city’s pride in the work of our architects extends to an impressive set of creative design solutions for a range of challenges from single family homes to mass transit stations to tall buildings.”

These finalists’ designs were chosen by Chicago Architecture Center’s Docents and Volunteers in a round one jury review from more than 200 projects submitted for AIA Chicago’s Design Excellence Awards. Starting today, the public can vote for their favorite architectural designs in ten categories online at AIAChicago.org/PeoplesChoice. Voting ends at 11:59 pm on Friday, September 12.

“Architecture is ultimately about people—how we live, connect, and grow together,” said Lerch Bates CEO,Eric Rupe. “This event is more than a celebration of design excellence—it’s a tribute to the voices of the people who are defining the city of Chicago with their incredible visionary talents, and we’re proud to help amplify that work as sponsor of the Lerch Bates People’s Choice Awards.”

AIA Chicago Lerch Bates People’s Choice Awards 2025 Finalists

The finalists for the 2025 Lerch Bates People’s Choice Awards in ten categories are:

COMMUNITY & CIVIC

City of Appleton Public Library, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM): Appleton, WI

photo : Dave Burk © SOM

Damen Green Line Station, Perkins&Will; Chicago, IL

photo : James Steinkamp Photography

Greater Chicago Food Depository, Partners by Design; Chicago, IL

photo : Tom Harris architectural photography

Homewood Illinois Intermodal Station, GFT; Homewood, IL

photo : Charles Aydlett

CULTURAL

Architectural Head Games, Architecture for Public Benefit; Chicago, IL

photo : Brian Griffin

Continuing a Radical Craft: Design Interventions at Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, Michal Koszycki, AIA, and Titus Wonsey; Chicago, IL

Lookingglass Theatre Lobby, Wheeler Kearns Architects + Working Group 1; Chicago, IL

photo : Tom Harris

Pritzker Military Archives Center, Jahn/; Somers, WI

photo : Tom Rossiter Photography

EDUCATION

Ironworkers Local 63 Training Facility, Gensler; Broadview, IL

photo © Tom Harris, Design by Gensler

McGrath Family Performing Arts Center, Krueck Sexton Partners;Wilmette, IL

photo : Steve Hall – Hall, Merrick + McCaugherty, Miller + Miller

Neal Math and Science Academy, JGMA; North Chicago, IL

photo : Angie McMonigal

Western Michigan University Student Center, CannonDesign; Kalamazoo, MI

photo : Christopher Barrett

HEALTHCARE & RESEARCH

Cardiovascular Institute Expansion at Glenbrook Hospital, Eckenhoff Saunders; Glenview, IL

Chief Andrew Isaac Health Center Expansion, HOK; Fairbanks, AK

photo : Angie McMonigal

Humboldt Park Wellness Center, JGMA;

photo : JGMA

Northwestern Medicine – Old Irving Park, CannonDesign; Chicago, IL

photo : Laura Peters – Photographer CannonDesign

HOSPITALITY & RETAIL

The Alston, Heidi Lightner Architects; Chicago, IL

photo : Anthony Tahlier

Jackson Lake Lodge Restoration, Nurture Architects; Moran, WY

photo : David Agnello

Journeyman Distillery at the American Factory, RATIO; Valparaiso, IN

photo : Brent Moss Photography

Virgin Hotels New York, Stantec Architecture Inc.; New York, NY

photo : Frank Oudeman

MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL

The Ash, Hanna Architects; Chicago, IL

photo : Hanna Architects, Inc.

Embry, Lamar Johnson Collaborative; Chicago, IL

photo : Antoine Tissier

Mass Timber Office + Residences, DLR Group; Austin, TX

photo : Conor Steinkamp

Solverre, Valerio Dewalt Train; Chicago, IL

photo : Steve Hall

OFFICE

Boston Consulting Group, Lamar Johnson Collaborative; Chicago, IL

photo : Steve Hall

First Bank Headquarters, Lamar Johnson Collaborative; Saint Louis, MO

photo : Eric Laignel

Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects, Fitzgerald Architecture Planning Design; Chicago, IL

photo : Scott Shigley Photography

Nothing Design Co. Headquarters, Range Design & Architecture; Chicago, IL

photo : James John Jetel

SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL

Chatham Residence, Heidi Lightner Architects; Chicago, IL

photo : Thomas Loof

Galien River Retreat, Wheeler Kearns Architects; New Buffalo, MI

photo : Steve Hall

Montgomery Ward Loft, ERA / Eric Rothfeder Architect; Chicago, IL

Sawyer Retreat, Wheeler Kearns Architects; Sawyer, MI

photo : Tom Harris

TALL BUILDING

160 Front, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture; Toronto, ON

photo : Dustin Fournier

320 South Canal, Goettsch Partners; Chicago, IL

photo : Nick Ulivieri Photography

360 North Green, Gensler and Sterling Bay Design Studio; Chicago, IL

photo : Kendall McCaugherty (at) Hall + Merrick + McCaugherty Photographers

1000M, Jahn/; Chicago, IL

photo : Tom Rossiter Photography

UNBUILT

Bainbridge Island Concert Hall, Epstein; Bainbridge Island, WA

Bronzeville Evolve, JGMA Chicago, IL

photo : JGMA

Silo Hotel, Epstein; Chicago, IL

photo : Epstein

Turku Museum of History and the Future, Stantec Architecture Inc.; Turku, Finland

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Other awards to be given at Designight 2025 on September 18 include the AIA Chicago 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award conferred upon Adrian Smith, FAIA, RIBA and the Design Excellence Awards, the Unbuilt Award, the Decarbonization Award and the Roberta Feldman Architect for Social Justice Award. Finalists for these awards are listed here.

Designight 2025

Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park

205 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601

Thursday, September 18, 2025

6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. with After Party to follow

To purchase Award Ceremony tickets call or visit:

Harris Theater Box Office: 312.334.7777

Harris Theater Website: https://www.harristheaterchicago.org/performance/designight-2025

Harris Theater Address: 205 East Randolph Drive

Theater rental and services have been underwritten through support of the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park.

To purchase combined Awards Ceremony and After Party tickets visit: AIAChicago.org/Designight2025

About AIA Chicago

The American Institute of Architects Chicago (AIA Chicago) serves nearly 4,000 architect members in Chicago and is the second largest local AIA chapter in the country. AIA Chicago’s mission builds on the city’s architectural legacy by advocating for the profession, sharing knowledge among members, and partnering with communities. It fosters a culture of design excellence for equitable, sustainable places and spaces.

AIA Chicago offers lectures and continuing education courses; specialized, issue-specific Knowledge Communities; advocacy for architects; and help for consumers looking for an architect.

AIA Chicago is the local Chicago chapter of The American Institute of Architects. Based in Washington, D.C., The AIA has been the leading professional membership association for licensed architects, emerging professionals, and allied partners since 1857. Learn more by visiting www.aiachicago.org.

About Lerch Bates

Lerch Bates, headquartered in Denver, CO., is a global technical consulting services firm with locations around the globe. For 75 years Lerch Bates has advised architects, developers, building investors, owners and managers on the design, construction, management optimization, modernization and sustainability of a wide spectrum of building systems for any size or type of building. Their specialties include vertical transportation, enclosures & structures, building logistics, facade access, and forensics. For more information, visitwww.lerchbates.com.

AIA Chicago Lerch Bates People’s Choice Awards 2025 winners USA images / information receved Sep 2025.

Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA.

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