Roxbury Branch of the Boston Public Library Renovation designed by Utile, Inc. awarded prestigious Harleston Parker Medal
BOSTON, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Boston Society for Architecture (BSA) held its annual awards gala last night to celebrate the people and projects that advance excellence in architecture and design in and around Boston. The BSA and its juries bestowed a total of 23 design awards that collectively recognize the power of the built environment to empower communities, promote change, and build a more sustainable and equitable Boston.
The winner of the prestigious Harleston Parker Medal to recognize “the most beautiful piece of architecture, building, monument, or structure built in the metropolitan Boston area in the past 10 years” is the Roxbury Branch of the Boston Public Library Renovation, designed by Utile, Inc. The jury found that “this building demonstrates a good model for how to transform brutalist buildings, of which Boston has so many. Its ‘outside-in’ experience is enhanced by the view of the canopy of the interior ‘trees’ from outside. One can see how the community is involved in this space. Overall, the project required a lot of community engagement, evident in its community-driven programming, like the Nutrition Lab.” This was Utile’s first time receiving the Harleston Parker Medal.
“Architecture isn’t just about buildings—it’s about people. It’s about shaping environments that bring us together, foster equity, and create opportunities for everyone. Exceptional design has the power to redefine what’s possible,” said Danyson Tavares, executive director of the Boston Society for Architecture. “The annual BSA Awards gala is an opportunity to celebrate that power—the creativity that fuels it, the brilliant minds who drive it forward, and the community that makes it all meaningful.”
Projects were evaluated by a jury of architects, designers, artists, public servants, planners and more from Boston and across the country and three levels of design awards were bestowed – Honor, Merit and Impact Advancement Commendation. Additionally six annual BSA awards were conferred including the Harleston Parker Medal, the Harleston Parker People’s Choice Award, the Commonwealth Award, the BSA Award of Honor, BSA Honorary Membership and the Earl R. Flansburgh Young Designer’s Award.
For images and details on the winners, please visit designawards.architects.org
2024 BSA Award Winners:
Harleston Parker Medal
Roxbury Branch of the Boston Public Library Renovation (2020)
Firm: Utile, Inc.
Harleston Parker People’s Choice Award
Project: Harvard University District Energy Facility (2021)
Firm: Leers Weinzapfel Associates Architects
Built Design Excellence, Adaptive Reuse, Renovation or Historic Preservation – Honor Award
Project: Aliki Perroti and Seth Frank Lyceum at Amherst College
Firm: Bruner/Cott Architects
Built Design Excellence, Educational Facilities – Honor Award
Project: Bowdoin College, Barry Mills Hall and the John Lile Gibbons Center for Arctic Studies
Firm: HGA
Built Design Excellence, Housing – Honor Award
Project: Jackson Hole Workforce Housing
Firm: Merge Architects, Inc
Built Design Excellence, Other – Honor Award
Project: Downtown Cary Park
Firm: Machado Silvetti
Built Design Excellence, Other – Honor Award
Project: Land’s Sake Farmstand
Firm: Payette
Small Firms, Adaptive Reuse, Renovation, or Historic Preservation – Honor Award
Project: Church Street Residences
Firm: Studio Luz Architects, Ltd
Small Firms, Other – Honor Award
Project: The Point House
Firm: Studio Hearth Architecture + Design
Commonwealth Award
UMass BRUT
Rose Kennedy Greenway
BSA Award of Honor
Maryann Thompson, FAIA
Earl R. Flansburgh Young Designers Award
Calvin Boyd-Morlani, AIA
Honorary BSA Member
Chris O’Hara, Founding Principal, Studio NYL
Anthony Flint, Senior Fellow, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
The BSA would like to recognize and thank the sponsors of this year’s BSA Awards Gala, most notably, Ground, Inc the Impact Sponsor for the event.
The Boston Society for Architecture (BSA) is a non-profit membership organization focused on improving the quality of life for Boston-area residents by championing innovation in the built environment, with particular emphasis on sustainability and social equity. We achieve this by connecting our diverse and passionate network of over 4,500 architects, firms and allied members through collaborative initiatives that create solutions towards a more equitable and sustainable future. We extend and deepen these efforts philanthropically through our BSA Foundation, with donations and hands-on work in our community. The BSA is one of the oldest and largest chapters of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). For more information about the BSA and the BSA Foundation, visit architects.org.
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SOURCE Boston Society for Architecture
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