Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects were honored by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) with one of its Institute Honor Awards, "the profession's highest recognition of works that exemplify excellence in architecture, interior architecture and urban design." The Barnes was chosen as one of 28 winners from more than 700 submissions. The overall assessment of the building cited the "light-filled, contemplative space" that "honors the Merion facility" by replicating "the scale, proportion, and configuration of the original Merion spaces." The Barnes Foundation serves as an example for the museum building typology in its careful consideration of the foundation's mission, user experience, and sustainable operating practices. It commands attention by inviting pedestrians to the site and incorporating the historic landscapes of Philadelphia's Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
Given the collection's requirement for display in its original context, the architect cleverly placed the "old building" within its overall solution.
The building form successfully resolves challenges of context, security, and materiality as it melds tradition with modernity.
· 2013 AIA Institute Honor Awards - Architecture [bustler]
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