The Buoyant Ecologies Float Lab, a project designed by AEL directors Adam Marcus, Margaret Ikeda, and Evan Jones in collaboration with partners at the Benthic Lab at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories and Kreysler & Associates, has been recognized by the American Institute of Architects with a 2019 Innovation Award. The Float Lab is a pilot for a floating breakwater, recently launched in San Francisco Bay for a three-year deployment as a floating research laboratory developing new material approaches to resilience and climate adaptation.
The AIA Innovation Awards recognize the exemplary use and implementation of innovative technologies and progressive practices among architects and designers, collaborators, and clients. Recipients include the most technologically advanced and forward-thinking projects by architects practicing internationally.
Jurors for this years awards program included Anthony Hauck (Hypar AEC), Phillip Bernstein, FAIA, (Yale University School of Architecture), Desiree Mackey (GEI Consultants), Sera Maloney (The Foth Companies), and Natasha Luthra (Jacobs).
In their award statement, the jury referred to the Float Lab as “a terrific project that combines pedagogy, sustainability, design technology, practice, and fabrication. This is the future architecture should be building—integration with and enhancement of the natural environment."
Link: Buoyant Ecologies Float Lab wins 2019 AIA Innovation Award