Archinect - News

Richard Driehaus, Chicago philanthropist and Driehaus Prize sponsor, has died

2021-03-10T20:11:00-05:00

Richard Driehaus, the founder of Chicago’s Driehaus Capital Management and namesake of the Driehaus Museum and DePaul University’s Business School, died Tuesday, according to Driehaus Private Equity. He was 78.

Among his numerous charitable contributions, Driehaus was especially committed to the preservation of historical architecture. The Richard H. Driehaus Prize at the University of Notre Dame was established in 2003 to recognize living architects with significant contributions in the field of traditional and classical architecture. The German architect Sebastian Treese was announced last month as the 2021 recipient of the $200,000 annual prize.

In 2015, Driehaus received the Lifetime Achievement Award from AIA Chicago — the only non-architect in the award's history.

Blair Kamin, author and Pulitzer Prize-winning former architecture critic for the Chicago Tribune, remembered Driehaus in a heartfelt tweet today, writing: "I am stunned, and deeply saddened, to read of the death of Chicago investor and philanthropist Richard Driehaus. Richard cared passionately about the built environment and manifested that passion with unparalleled generosity. He sponsored the Driehaus Prize for traditio...

Scott Merrill wins the 2016 Driehaus Prize

2016-01-20T14:29:00-05:00

Scott Merrill, an architect known for his originality and creative application of architectural precedents, has been named the recipient of the 2016 Richard H. Driehaus Prize at the University of Notre Dame. Merrill, the 14th Driehaus Prize laureate, will be awarded the $200,000 prize and a bronze miniature of the Choregic Monument of Lysikrates during a ceremony on March 19 (Saturday) in Chicago.

Scott Merril, the founder and principal designer of Merrill, Pastor & Colgan in Vero Beach Florida, has been awarded the 2016 Richard H. Driehaus Prize at the University of Notre Dame.

Now in it's 14th year, the Driehaus Prize is something like an alternative Pritzker awarded to "a living architect whose work embodies the highest ideals of traditional and classical architecture in contemporary society, and creates a positive cultural, environmental, and artistic impact."

Initiated by the fund manager and philanthropist Richard Driehaus, the Prize comes with a $200,000 check – about double the amount awarded with the Pritzker.

"The jury’s selection of Scott Merrill as the 2016 Driehaus Prize laureate brings into focus his remarkable ability to apply the principles of traditional architecture to a wide variety of building types while integrating unique regional identities,” Driehaus stated in the award announcement. “His work beautifully demonstrates the inherent versatility of tradition...

I Like Ike (and His Memorial)

2012-03-23T14:39:00-04:00

"What has fueled the Eisenhower memorial controversy in the media are the public pronouncements of two of the president’s granddaughters, Susan and Anne Eisenhower, who have proclaimed themselves dissatisfied with the design. Understandably, their position is being taken seriously. Yet I am concerned that the growing public brouhaha will ultimately weaken the memorial design."

Witold Ribczynski adds his opinion and some new information to the Eisenhower Memorial design debate with this Op-ed piece for The New York Times.

Driehaus and Krier do battle against Gehry's Eisenhower Memorial design

2012-02-15T20:59:00-05:00

An aesthetic traditionalist who sponsors an annual architecture award that bears his name, Driehaus is no fan of Frank Gehry's proposed modernist design for the Eisenhower Memorial in Washington, D.C. And he's doing what he can to fight it. Earlier this week, a public relations operative who works for Driehaus called me and offered the following essay, by the influential neo-traditionalist architect Leon Krier, who offers a tough critique of Gehry's plan and ideology.