Press Release 11.18.04

The Chicago Architecture Foundation (CAF) held its first annual Patron of the Year awards on November 18, 2004 during a luncheon program in the Empire Room at The Palmer House Hotel in Chicago. The Patron of the Year award was created to honor and promote innovation among developers and other architectural clients.

Chicago is the birthplace of modern architecture in America. From the organic approach of Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright to the technological expression of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, architectural innovation has been central to the city’s identity and to its economic and social well-being. The Chicago Architecture Foundation’s Patron of the Year award, sponsored by Stein, Ray & Harris LLP, recognizes the entrepreneurial spirit of individuals, government bodies, businesses, and institutions that champion innovative architecture in Chicago.

“Clearly, architectural innovation continues to be central to Chicago’s identity— and to its economic and social well-being,” stated Lynn Osmond, CAF’s president and CEO, during the awards ceremony. “The ultimate mission of the Patron of the Year awards program is to not only reward but to encourage innovative architectural design in the city of Chicago.”

The Patron of the Year award is sponsored by Stein, Ray & Harris LLP (SRH), a leading Chicago-based law firm that represents many of the nation’s largest construction firms, engineering companies, design firms, building owners and developers in construction industry-related matters. “Good architecture requires more than a good architect,” said SRH partner Steve Stein. “It requires a great client, a risk-taker.”

“This year, we have several Patrons to award for a unique collaboration, “ said Walt Eckenhoff, Chairman of the CAF Board of Trustees. “This beautifully illustrates the public and private sectors working together to create architecture that challenges our ideas about public space and recreation.”

A distinguished panel of jury members who made the final selections for those winners of the first annual Patron of the Year award included: Sarah Amelar, Architectural Record - Jury Chair; Allison Davis, The Davis Group; Doug Garafalo, Garafalo Architects; Henry Kuehn, The Graham Foundation; Margaret McCurry, Tigerman-McCurry Architects; Elizabeth Smith, Museum of Contemporary Art; and, Bob Wislow, U.S. Equities Realty.

Three categories of projects were considered for awards this year. The jury selected patrons of commercial, institutional, and governmental buildings. Walter Eckenhoff AIA, Principal, Eckenhoff Saunders Architects and CAF Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Lynn Osmond announced this year’s Patrons of the Year at the luncheon.
Each recipient received a fantastic trophy designed exclusively for the Patron award event. The award piece is a custom-fabricated brushed aluminum square, imbedded with a jewel-like level, symbolizing the new level of architectural innovation and excellence these patrons have helped to foster in Chicago.

The 2004 recipients of the Chicago Architecture Foundation’s Stein Ray & Harris Patron of the Year award in the governmental category are:

Mayor Richard M Daley
John Bryan, Chairman
The Crown Family for the Crown Fountain, designed by Jaume Plensa with Krueck & Sexton Architects
Miguel d’Escoto and the City of Chicago Department of Transportation for the Millennium Park Bicycle Station, designed by Muller & Muller
Joan W. and Irving B. Harris for the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, by Hammond Beeby Rupert Ainge
BP for the BP Bridge, designed by Gehry Partners and The Pritzker Family for the Pritzker Pavilion, designed by Gehry Partners Joan Harris for the Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater for Music and Dance; Commissioner Miguel d’Escoto of the City of Chicago Department of Transportation for the Millennium Park Bicycle Station; and Ed Uhlir, Design Director of the Millennium Park Project accepted on behalf of the Millennium Park winners.