“He is the quintessential builder, committed to mastering the craft and technology of construction, harnessing it towards efficient buildings, and forging an expressive architectural language,” wrote Moshe Safdie, in support of Rogers’ nomination for the Gold Medal. “Before it was fashionable, he was an environmentalist, who recognized early in his career the challenges of energy and climate, and developing innovative solutions.”

Wrote Piano: “Richard Rogers is a friend, a companion of adventures and life,” adding that in addition to being a great architect, Rogers is “a planner attracted by the complexity of cities and the fragility of earth; a humanist curious about everything (from art to music, people, communities, and food); an inexhaustible explorer of the world. And there is one more thing he could be: a poet.”

The AIA also recognized Boston-based Payette as winner of the 2019 Firm Award. Founded in 1932, the 140-person practice, which takes building science as a central tenant, is led by a team of 10 partners.  

“The importance and contribution here of Payette is that they are today taking some of the most energy intensive and technologically challenging building types we have to new levels of design and integrated performance,” wrote Stephen Kieran, supporting Payette’s nomination. “The breadth and depth of this transformation position Payette as a model for future practice.”

The firm recently completed the Northeastern University Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex with Arup, and is currently adding a pedestrian bridge to the campus.