Self-luminous glass, luxury ping-pong tables and pop-up seating — see these 2017 Architizer awardees

by Brianna Crandall — May 5, 2017 — Architizer, the online resource for architecture, recently announced the winners of the 5th Annual Architizer A+Awards. The A+Awards honor the best architecture, spaces, and products from across the globe. In addition to the amazing buildings whose designers were honored, what facilities managers (FMs) might be interested in are some of the innovative products, including furniture, lighting, building products and more.

This year’s A+Awards winners, which Architizer says emphasize superstar women and a global outlook, include: the De Maria Pavilion in Bridgehampton, NY, USA, by Gluckman Tang; Peter Zumthor’s Zinc Mine Museum in Allmanajuvet, Norway; Salerno Maritime Terminal by Zaha Hadid Architects; IwamotoScott’s Pinterest Headquarters in San Francisco, CA, USA ; Writers Theatre in Glencoe, IL, USA, by Studio Gang Architects ; and the Ribbon Chapel by Hiroshi Nakamura + NAP. The full list of winners , with photos and descriptions, can be found online.

Two panes of ALED Privacy Plus

Award-winning ALED Privacy Plus is self-luminous glass with an enhanced privacy effect, from LightGlass. The degree of transparency can be individually controlled as required. Photo courtesy of LightGlass.(PRNewsfoto/LightGlass Technology GmbH)

Product awards were presented in numerous categories, including Building Products (three new categories: Building Envelopes and Cladding, Glazing Systems and Products, Windows and Doors); Equipment: Appliances; Furniture: Contract, Outdoor and Residential, and Contract and Residential Seating; Architectural and Decorative Lighting; Plumbing; Technology; and more.

A few highlights include: a dynamic building façade that moves in the wind to look like rolling waves; self-luminous glass with an enhanced privacy effect; two high-design ping-pong tables that can double as conference tables: one made out of clear glass with hand-crafted Red Oak base and a brushed aluminum frame, and the other made of durable powder-coated steel; and auditorium seating that pops out of the floor of a multi-functional room.

This year, the A+Awards received over 5,000 entries from 100+ countries. A jury-selected winner and a Popular Choice winner were awarded in each of the 102 categories, with Popular Choice winners determined by more than 400,000 public votes cast from around the world. In addition, six special awards for achievement will be presented to architectural firms and the Product of the Year (DJI Drone) at the A+Awards gala on May 11 in New York City , including:

2017 winners from the Typology and Plus Categories will be featured in A+Architecture: The Best of Architizer 2017, a hardbound book to be published by Phaidon in July 2017.