Pickard Chilton Project, River Point in Chicago, Wins Prestigious American Architecture Award

CHICAGO — Pickard Chilton was honored with an American Architecture Award for its design of River Point, a 52-story office tower in Chicago. The winners were announced by the Chicago Athenaeum and the European Center for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies, and honored at a reception held in June at the Institute of International Education in New York.

Considered the nation's highest public award for new architecture, the 2018 American Architecture Awards are presented to over 100 exceptional buildings selected from a shortlist of more than 300 buildings and urban planning projects. The projects are honored based on their contribution to innovative contemporary American architecture by a jury comprised of a select team of architects and designers from some of the nation's top design firms.

Located in Chicago's bustling downtown and overlooking the confluence of the main, north and south branches of the Chicago River, River Point comprises a 52-story corporate tower and a 1.5-acre, terraced public park on Chicago's unique riverfront. The LEED-NC Gold certified project also includes sustainable design features such as low-flow water fixtures, a 50 percent green roof and native landscaping. In addition to this recognition, the project has also been recognized by the Structural Engineers Association of Illinois and the Chicago Building Congress. It was a finalist for the Urban Land Institute's 2017 Global Awards for Excellence.

"We are thrilled to have River Point recognized with an American Architecture Award, an honor which attests to the firm's continuous commitment to innovative and cutting-edge design," said Principal Anthony Markese FAIA, RIBA, LEED AP of Pickard Chilton. "River Point has been a tremendous addition to the already exciting Chicago skyline, and we are delighted to see how it has transformed an underutilized riverfront site into a dynamic, publicly-accessible green space." The American Architecture Awards Jury Included

Carlos Zapata, Principal, Carlos Zapata Studio

Claire Weisz, Principal, WXY

Soo K. Chan, Principal, SCDA Architects

Douglas Bothner, Principal, Ziger/SNEAD Architects

David Leeven, Principal, Levenbetts

Marc Gee, GLUCK+

Andrea Lamberti, Partner, Rafael Viñoly Architects

David Lewis, Principal, LTL Architects