AIA honors Pugh + Scarpa Architects, Peter Bohlin

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Every creative field has its glitzy awards, and the architecture world is no exception.

Today, the American Institute of Architects announced its top honors for the year. The firm award went to Pugh + Scarpa Architects, which has locations in Santa Monica and North Carolina. The AIA said in its citation that the award is based on the firm’s 35 years of ‘consistent excellent work, including its seamless blending of architecture, art and craft.’

Among the firm’s local projects are the Solar Umbrella home in Venice, the Orange Grove lofts in West Hollywood and the Colorado Court housing project in Santa Monica.

The firm is headed by Gwynne Pugh, Lawrence Scarpa and Angela Brooks. (The latter two are pictured, right.)

Architect Peter Bohlin has won the AIA’s Gold Medal, which is awarded to an architect for his or her ‘exceptional contextual use of materials.’

Bohlin is based in Pennsylvania and is a founder of the firm Bohlin Cywinski Jackson. His notable projects include the 5th Avenue Apple Store in New York, Seattle’s City Hall and the Ledge House, which is in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Rounding out today’s awards announcement was architect Michael Graves, who will receive the Topaz Medallion for Excellence in Architectural Education. Graves is a professor emeritus at Princeton University’s School of Architecture.

The awards will be presented Jun. 12 at the 2010 AIA National Convention in Miami.

-- David Ng

Lawrence Scarpa, two of the principals of the firm Pugh + Scarpa. Credit: Jillian Sorkin