Two SOM Projects Win AIA California Merit Awards

Two recent completions have been recognized with Merit Awards by the 2024 AIA California Design Awards program as projects that “celebrate the value exceptional design has on the fabric of society.”

Completed in 2022, the International Arrivals Facility (IAF) at Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is the most complex endeavor in the airport’s history. The 600,000-square-foot, LEED Silver addition to the campus integrates terminal concourses to create a welcoming gateway to the United States that doubles international flight capacity. The project includes a 780-foot aerial pedestrian walkway, the longest structure across an active taxilane in the world. As the jury said, “This is a really interesting addition to an already incredibly dense infrastructure. The bridge—to have a structure that airplanes can scoot around and under—was a very a bold move.”

Our second Merit Award recipient is the new Ralph S. O’Connor Building for Engineering and Science, the largest research facility on Rice University’s historic core campus, providing students with technology-rich facilities that embody the University’s goal to stay at the forefront of scientific discovery. Described AIA California, “The jury admires the attention to access to daylight and fresh air, and selection of healthy and resilient materials aimed at reducing carbon emissions and minimizing chemicals of concern within the indoor air environment.” Complementing the surrounding historic buildings, the new building features a facade of articulated brick pilasters and fins. Completed in September 2023, the building has already become a new center of gravity for campus activity, enriching the academic and social experience.

Learn more about both projects and the awards below.

See the winners