Architizer, the world’s largest online platform for architecture, announced this week the winners of the 1st Annual A+Firm Awards, a new architectural awards program created to spotlight the architects behind the world’s best buildings and spaces.

Building on the success of its A+Awards program, the world’s largest architectural awards program, this new program is the first of its kind dedicated to celebrating AEC companies of all sizes, geographies, and specializations. 

"It is a great honor for our studio to be recognized in an important global arena like Architizer A+ as Best in Asia.  It marks a meaningful step for us on the international stage." - Chaiyapat Mirasena, Department of ARCHITECTURE Ltd.

An incredible range of architecture and consulting firms participated in the inaugural season, with some 400 firms — hailing from 50 countries across 6 continents — submitting portfolios for consideration. An influential jury of creative thought leaders has awarded 31 firms with the top honor of World’s Best. From far-flung, relatively unknown studios, to some of the industry’s most illustrious names, Winning firms illustrate the diverse talent designing and delivering incredible architecture today. 

Best Overall Winners include:

• Foster + Partners (Best XL Firm)

• Neri&Hu Design and Research Office (Best Large Firm)

• Koichi Takada Architects (Best Medium Firm)

• Shulin Architectural Design (Best Small Firm)

• OFFICE OFF COURSE (Best Young Firm)

For the complete list of winners, please visit: https://winners.architizer.com/2021/Firms/

“We are honored and delighted to have won an inaugural A+Firm award. This is testament to our amazing global and diverse integrated design team who help create thoughtful, pioneering and sustainable buildings and projects all over the world.” - Matthew Streets, Foster + Partners

The prestigious A+Firm Awards Jury, which includes luminaries such as Virgil Abloh (Founder, Off-White), Kelly Wearstler (Founder, Kelly Wearstler Design), Toshiko Mori (Principal, Toshiko Mori Architect), and David Rockwell (Chairman, Rockwell Group), expressed their admiration for the evolving efforts of firms working at the forefront of contemporary design. 

“The A+Firm Awards reveals that design need not exclude sustainability, access, and equity. It was heartening to see these principles seamlessly embedded in the firms’ work without sacrificing thrilling formal solutions.” - Charles Renfro, Diller Scofidio + Renfro

In keeping with the A+Awards’ mission to democratize architecture and honor innovation, dedicated awards were also given for firms responding in dynamic ways to evolving global challenges. Honors for project specializations and geographies that represent millions of global stakeholders include:

• MASS Design Group (Best Humanitarian Architecture)

• Mecanoo (Best Cultural Architecture)

• Department of ARCHITECTURE Co. (Best in Asia)

• Koffi & Diabaté Group (Best in Africa)

“Our passion and commitment as a firm have always been in developing meaningful solutions that engage the local community and tackle climate change. To be recognized for that work is an incredible feeling...” - MGA | Michael Green Architecture

In collaboration with its official partners Phaidon, Aesthetica Magazine, ICON, AIA New York, Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, and v2com Newswire, Architizer will honor A+Firm Awards winners online. Select Winners will also be featured in Aesthetica’s Future Now Symposium and in “Architizer: The World’s Best Architects,” a stunning, hardcover book set for publication in Fall 2021.

About Architizer 

Architizer’s core mission is to empower architects. Through its inspiring content, building-product marketplace, awards programs, and vast online reach, Architizer connects architects with the tools they need to build better buildings, better cities, and a better world. 

Key Dates 

Launch: September 15, 2020

Winners Announced: January 20, 2021