News News

A new exhibition is bringing the compelling work recognized by the Mies Crown Hall Americas Prize (MCHAP) to life in downtown Chicago.  

Housed in Chicago Architecture Center’s Usher Lambe Gallery on the southern bank of the Chicago River, “The Prize Is the Beginning” exhibit highlights architecture projects that demonstrate a deep commitment to craft, community, and context. 

“‘The Prize is the Beginning’ provides a real-world glimpse into architectural and design excellence in the Americas,” says Eleanor Gorski, Chicago Architecture Center CEO and president. “The exhibition delves into how artists and designers find abundance within creative constraints, enrich built environments with community, and embrace differences to foster deeper understanding. Hosting this exhibition gives us the opportunity to celebrate Illinois Institute of Technology as an institution that prioritizes connecting Chicago to international architects and academia.” 

Dirk Denison, College of Architecture professor and director of MCHAP, supports further exhibits showcasing projects to the public. 

“The exhibition marks an important moment of recognition and assessment for the work of the Mies Crown Hall Americas Prize,” Denison says. “Collaborating with Chicago Architecture Center has been a new and valuable opportunity to reflect on what we’ve learned, with the curatorial team re-reading the projects through resonant themes. At the same time, the partnership is a conduit to reach a larger audience who is interested in architecture and the quality of the built world, outside of the professional and academic communities.” 

Among the projects featured are Ecoparque Bacalar from Mexico; Clínica Veterinaria Guayaquil from Argentina; Centro de Investigación Mar de Cortés from Mexico; Pumphouse from Canada; and Thaden School from the United States.  

To coincide with the exhibition opening, MCHAP will debut a series of videos for the Americas Prize Cycle Five finalists. Taken during the jury’s on-site visits with the finalist teams, each video offers an immersive look at the finalist work in its context, interviews with architects, clients, users, and the jury’s impressions. Together, they reveal the stories behind each project—its design process, lived experience, and broader impact on its community and context. The full video series will be available beginning June 23 via the MCHAP YouTube channel.