A small U.S. firm wins a big commission and joins the world's top architects

[M II A II R II K]

The Top 5 Architectural Firms


Jul 5, 2010

Barb Taormina



Read More: http://www.constructiondigital.com/i...tectural-firms

The architectural world was caught off guard last winter when the U.S. State Department announced that the small Philadelphia firm Kieran Timberlake won the design competition for the new U.S. embassy in London. Kieran Timberlake beat out such architectural giants as Thom Mayne and Pei Cobb Freed for the job.

The $1 billion project, which includes the cost of the land at Nine Elms in the northeast corner of the city, generated plenty of interest since the building is meant to redefine American values and aspirations abroad in a post 9/11 world. State Department officials said the Kieran Timberlake design, a crystalline cubic form atop a colonnade, reflected “the core beliefs of our democracy — transparency, openness and equality.”

But others called the design dull – or worse. New York Times critic Nicolai Ouroussoff compared it to a “bland glass cube” with all the glamour of a corporate office block. Jay Merrick, an architecture correspondent for The Independent, also kicked the Kieran Timberlake design in the shins referring to it as, “a moated cube wrapped in seersucker body armour.”

But neither Stephen Kieran nor James Timberlake is troubled by the snarky critics. They stand by their reputations as innovators in sustainable design and they are pleased that they are, at least for the moment, sharing the spotlight with the some of the major players in the architectural world. In fact, some of the top firms and the most sought-after architects share the same concerns and ideals, and Kieran Timberlake now stands in the company of the following firms that are creating new skylines and cityscapes across the globe.

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- Foster & Partners, a London firm considered by many to be the leader in contemporary architecture, has a history of green designs that dates back to the 1960s, long before sustainability became a dominant force in architecture. Norman Foster built the company on a holistic approach that melds all aspects of a building from its structure and site to its intended use and symbolism of form. Since its launch, the firm has maintained a reputation for impeccable quality.

- Aedas is an architectural powerhouse with a strong presence in Europe, Asia the Middle East, and both North and South America. Formed in 2002, Aedas has catapulted to the head of the design pack by mergers and strategic alliances such as its partnership with Dan Meis, known for his designs of major entertainment and sports complexes. Aedas’ alliance with New York architect David Brody Bond allowed the firm to establish a presence in North and South America.

- Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, known simply as KPF, is headquartered in New York but its most impressive work has been in Asia. With offices in London, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Seoul the firm’s portfolio includes offices, hotels and residential towers to educational and laboratory facilities.

- Many of Zaha Hadid’s designs never make it past paper. Still the British Iraqi “deconstructivist” is probably one of the most closely followed architects working today. Hadid relentlessly challenges the expectations of space to create some of the current architectural community’s most breathtaking designs.

[Austinlee]

Looks like this is the new building:


http://www.cavanaughlegal.com/us-emb...et-a-new-home/

[uaarkson]

Mehhhhhhhhhh.