2009 Winners
The Art Institute of Chicago
The Modern Wing
2009 WinnerOne of the oldest and largest encyclopedic art museums in the country, the Art Institute of Chicago opened the eighth expansion in its history in May. Designed by renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano, the Modern Wing redefines the museum and its relationship to the city around it.
Using sustainable technology that takes full advantage of natural light, the Modern Wing is a temple of transparency engaged with the city, Millennium Park, and the lake- front. Internationally recognized as a premier museum building, the Modern Wing is the most recent addition to a city already filled with historically significant architecture.