American Institute of Architects

I went once to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) to see an exhibit in its lobby: Unbuilt -> Built: The Influence of the Progressive Architecture Awards. The exhibit was part of three exhibits organized by the National Building Museum related to unbuilt work. Incidentally, I visited the two related exhibits at the National Building Museum and the District Architecture Center.

AIA's annual award for a notable design of a building or complex often goes to projects in progress. This exhibit profiles twenty-five winning projects that were completed. It was neat to see the different styles and sensibilities en vogue over the years. Some awardees have aged well. Some have not. Some are fantastical such as a pair of hotels at Disney World (the Dolphin & Swan Hotels). Others are bland.

The pictures in the exhibit--which was mostly pictures--were large and vibrant and gave enough of a sense of the spaces that I don't feel a need to visit many of these in person.

I've been to only two winners: Faneuil Hall Marketplace in Boston and Battery Park City in Manhattan.

By the way, AIA's building, in particular its crescent-moon-shaped glass-enclosed atrium, feels good inside.