The Pritzker Architecture Prize has announced that Barry Bergdoll and Deborah Berke have been named as the new jury members of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, the award that is known internationally as architecture’s highest honor. 

The 2020 edition of the Pritzker Prize marks the 42nd anniversary of the accolade, which is known internationally as architecture’s highest honor. 

"The jury is pleased indeed to add two new members, Deborah Berke and Barry Bergdoll," said Stephen Breyer, Chair of the Pritzker Prize Jury. 

"Together they bring to the jury experience in architectural practice, education, and history. Their presence will help us keep abreast of both historical and contemporary challenges that architecture is facing. Their broad knowledge of the field and their experienced judgment will prove invaluable."

Image courtesy of Columbia Global Centers

Mr. Bergdoll is a Meyer Schapiro Professor of Art History and Archaeology at Columbia University and former curator of the Department of Architecture and Design at The Museum of Modern Art, New York. His proficient knowledge of buildings informs his critical analysis of contemporary architecture.

From 2007 to 2014, he served as the Philip Johnson Chief Curator of Architecture and Design, The Museum of Modern Art; and has co-curated seminal exhibitions including “Frank Lloyd Wright at 150: Unpacking the Archive,” The Museum of Modern Art (June-October 2017) with Jennifer Gray; “Latin America in Construction: Architecture 1955-1980,” The Museum of Modern Art, (March-July 2015) with Carlos Eduardo Comas, Jorge Francisco Liernur and Patricio del Real; and “Henri Labrouste: Structure Brought to Light,” Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine, Paris (October 2012-January 2013), The Museum of Modern Art (March-June 2013), with Corinne Bélier and Marc LeCoeur.

"It is an enormous honor to be joining the Pritzker Prize Jury at this key moment in architectural practice and culture," stated Mr. Bergdoll. "The Prize has established itself long ago as a leading recognition of architectural invention and excellence, as well as a means of amplifying the importance of architectural work that enhances the quality of places around the world and the lives of those who use and interact with designed spaces." 

"It has shown itself to be in tune with what matters in architectural work and honored those who practice architectural design with commitment and integrity at the highest level. Today the environmental and social challenges that form a key part of every design brief make the awarding of the prize ever more relevant."

Deborah Berke is a practicing international architect, educator and Dean of the Yale School of Architecture. She is the recipient of a 2019 Medal of Honor from the AIA New York Chapter and the 2017 Sackler Center First Award, was the inaugural recipient of the 2012 Berkeley-Rupp Prize at the University of California at Berkley, and the recipient of a National Design Award from the Cooper-Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum.

"I am honored to serve on the jury as we celebrate the finest and most humane architecture from around the world. I believe the Prize can also help educate that public about what architecture can achieve, now and in the future," remarked Ms. Berke.

She established Deborah Berke Partners in 1982 in New York City. The award-winning, 80-person firm makes true-to-place projects around the country and the world. Deborah Berke Partners has been recognized for works including Rockefeller Arts Center, State University of New York at Fredonia, New York (2017); Marianne Boesky Gallery, New York (2007); the Cummins Indy Distribution Headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana (2017); Yale School of Art, New Haven, Connecticut (2000); and 21c Museum Hotels throughout the Southern and Midwestern United States. The firm’s current projects include the New Residential Colleges at Princeton, the Lewis International Law Center at the Harvard Law School, and NXTHVN, an arts and community incubator in New Haven, Connecticut.

Mr. Bergdoll and Ms. Berke join Jury Chair Stephen Breyer, U.S. Supreme Court Justice; and distinguished members including André Corrêa do Lago, architectural critic, curator, and Brazilian Ambassador to India, Delhi, India; Kazuyo Sejima, architect, educator and 2010 Pritzker Laureate, Tokyo, Japan; Benedetta Tagliabue, architect and director of EMBT Miralles Tagliabue, Barcelona, Spain; and Wang Shu, architect, educator, and 2012 Pritzker Laureate, Hangzhou, China. 

Martha Thorne, Executive Director of the Pritzker Prize and also Dean of IE School of Architecture and Design manages the open nominations process, which accepts suggestions from architects from all over the world.

Richard Rogers, 2007 Laureate and founder of Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, with offices based in London, Sydney and Shanghai; and Ratan N. Tata, Chairman of Tata Trusts, Mumbai, and recipient of the highest civilian honors in India, Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan; depart the Jury, after serving five and six years, respectively. 

Ms. Thorne reflected: "It was a pleasure to count on the wisdom and solid judgement of Richard Rogers and Ratan Tata as jury members. We owe them a debt of gratitude for their service."

The 2019 Pritzker Prize was most recently awarded to Arata Isozaki of Japan, and the 2020 Laureate will be announced next spring. 

> via The Pritzker Architecture Prize