The Pritzker, or Pritzker Prize, is an international award given each year to a living architect who, in the estimation of the Pritzker Prize jury, has made profound achievements in the world of architecture. Often called the Nobel Prize of Architecture, the Pritzker is widely considered the highest award an architect can achieve.
Who Are the Pritzker Prize Laureates?:
Winners of the Pritzker are among the most influential architects of modern times. See the complete list: Pritzker Prize Laureates
History of the Pritzker Prize:
The Pritzker Prize was established in 1979 by Jay A. Pritzker, (1922-1999) and his wife Cindy Pritzker. The Prize is funded through the Pritzker family's Hyatt Foundation.
How Pritzker Winners Are Selected:
The Pritzker Prize jury has between five and nine members who serve for several years. Pritzker family members and outside observers are not permitted to participate in the selection process. The jury reviews nominations that have been submitted by past winners and other professionals in the field. The nomination deadline is in November and the jury reaches a decision in the spring. Nominees who don't win are considered for an award the following year.
The Pritzker Prize Ceremony:
Every May or June, a Pritzker awards ceremony is held in a different location, always in a building that represents a significant work of architecture. The ceremony is open only to invited guests.
Laureates of the Pritzker Architecture Prize receive $100,000, a certificate, and a bronze medallion. One side of the medal is inscribed with the words firmness, commodity and delight, recalling the principles of architecture described by the ancient Roman architect Vitruvius.
Prior to 1987, Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureates received a limited edition Henry Moore sculpture instead of the medallion.
