River Building
River Building
In early 2010, Grace Farms Foundation selected SANAA, a Tokyo-based architectural firm, to execute its vision for a vibrant place and multi-purpose building where visitors could experience nature, encounter the arts, pursue justice, foster community, and explore faith. SANAA’s design for the facility, known as the River building, was the first U.S. building designed by the architectural firm after they were awarded the Pritzker Prize. SANAA’s goal was to make the architecture of the River become part of the landscape without drawing attention to itself, demonstrating a high degree of sensitivity to the landscape and its topography. Structurally, the building of glass, concrete, steel, and wood is in essence a single long roof, which seems to float above the surface of the ground as it twists and turns across the landscape.
Grace Farms and its River building were honored with a number of prestigious design awards from local, national, and international organizations. In addition to excellence in design, many of the citations recognized the unique mission of Grace Farms and the integration of social good into the concept of a publicly available space.
Awards
Second Prestigious LEED Certification, Gold, 2024
2023 MCHAP Symposium and Gala Awards, 2023
Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business, 2022
CT Green Building Council awards Design for Freedom the Trailblazer Award, 2022
Design for Freedom Face Mask – Longlist for the Dezeen Awards, 2021
The CEO Forum Group’s Transformative CEO Award in Leading Through Crisis, 2020
2015-2025
American Institute of Architects New York Chapter NYC Visionary Award, 2019
ASLA PA-DE Honor Award in General Design, Grace Farms and OLIN Studio, 2018
American Institute of Architects (AIA) National Architecture Honor Award, 2017
Illuminating Engineering Society, Lumen Awards, Award of Merit, BuroHappold for Grace Farms, 2016
American Institute of Architects (AIA) Connecticut Design Honor Award, 2016
Fast Company Innovation by Design Awards, Social Good Finalist, 2016
Mies Crown Hall Americas Prize (2014-2015)
River Building Timelapse Aug 2013–Aug 2015