Holcim Foundation Awards 2025 Jury Meetings Continue in Chicago

The jury was chaired by architect Jeanne Gang, Founding Partner, Studio Gang, USA; and included a distinguished panel of experts:

• Pamela Conrad, Founder & Executive Director, Climate Positive Design, USA
• Craig Dykers, Founding Partner, Snøhetta, USA
• Hanif Kara OBE, Co-founder & Design Director, AKT II, United Kingdom
• Tina Larson, Vice President Manitoba & Saskatchewan, Lafarge Canada
• Marianne McKenna, Founding Partner, KPMB Architects, Canada

Craig Dykers reflected on the most challenging moments of the jury process: the final stage, when only a handful of projects remained. At that point, he explained, the conversation shifted from facts and functions to more intangible, qualitative aspects. Questions of beauty, atmosphere, and context came to the fore. The jury considered whether a project responded meaningfully to its surroundings and these nuanced qualities often became the decisive factors that elevated certain projects above the rest.

Hanif Kara OBE spoke to the powerful effect of context — both physical and interpersonal — in shaping the jury’s experience. He observed that the atmosphere of the meeting space immediately elevated the tone of discussion, creating a sense of heightened attentiveness and shared purpose. The combination of place and people fostered a spirit of mutual inspiration. “We were all lifted up by the environment,” he remarked, suggesting that thoughtful surroundings can spark deeper engagement just as much as the topics under discussion.

Bringing together leading voices from architecture, engineering, and sustainability, the jury evaluated each project through the lens of the Holcim Foundation’s principles: uplifting places, a healthy planet, thriving communities, and viable economics.

As part of the gathering, jury members explored notable examples of contemporary architecture in downtown Chicago, including recent work by Jeanne Gang such as Aqua Tower and St. Regis Chicago. The tour offered insight into Gang’s approach to integrating environmental performance with expressive form — from Aqua Tower’s sculpted balconies that reduce wind loads and solar heat gain, to the St. Regis Chicago’s energy-efficient façade and attention to material optimisation in high-rise design.

The outcomes of the jury deliberations will be celebrated at the Holcim Foundation Awards Ceremony to take place in November in Venice, Italy.