Patkau Architects, the Vancouver-based firm behind the Polygon, is one of 16 winners of the Royal Institute of British Architects International Awards for Excellence 2021, it was announced on July 22.
The awards, which take place every two years, recognize the most significant and inspirational projects from around the world.
The projects need to exemplify design excellence and architectural ambition, as well as deliver meaningful social impact, according to a RIBA news release.
From the Shipyards District to Shanghai and Sri Lanka, this year’s winning buildings are spread across 11 countries.
Noting that Patkau Architects’ design of the building carries forward the area’s “industrial language,” the 2017 launch of the new Polygon spelled the rebirth of an independent photography institution that had served the community for decades prior, according to the release.
In May 2020, Patkau Architects received a Governor General’s Medal in Architecture and, in May of this year, the firm received an American Institute of Architects Award for best contemporary architecture regardless of budget, size, style or type.
