The Chicago Athenaeum, alongside The European Center for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies, organized this award program to honor and recognize international projects that stretch the boundaries of architecture, regardless of style, complexity, and scheme and budget size. 

The multi-building consulate sits on a 7.6-acre site and features a chancery, Marine Security Guard residence, support buildings, and facilities for the Consulate General community. According to the project description, the design embraces traditional regional architecture. The signature element of the building is the latilla shade canopy, which defines functional outdoor rooms, provides shade, and gives a sense of openness to the facility. The landscape design includes extensive native plantings and stormwater management features.

In addition, the consulate hosts a permanent art collection, curated by the Office of Art in Embassies, which includes contemporary art in a variety of media including sculpture, painting, and photography by artists from both the United States and Mexico. 

For 2021, over 130 winning projects were selected out of over 800 entries from 46 countries. All of the awarded entries can be viewed on The Chicago Athenaeum’s website here.