Recognition
Railyard Park — 2024 AIA Chicago Design Excellence Awards, Citation of Merit
Ross Barney Architects’ ideas and projects have been recognized by organizations from around the world. The studio’s work has been exhibited in Chicago, New York, Washington D.C., and San Francisco; and has received more than 200 design awards.
Personal Accolades
Gold Medal, American Institute of Architects, 2023.
Design Leader, Architectural Record Women in Architecture Awards, 2022.
Notable Leaders in Sustainability, Crain’s Chicago, 2022.
Order of Lincoln, The Lincoln Academy of Illinois, 2021.
Contribution to Architecture, Female Frontier Awards powered by World Architecture News, 2021.
Award for Excellence in Design, Leadership, and Service, Society of Architectural Historians, 2019.
Illinois Medal, School of Architecture at the University of Illinois, 2019.
Honorary Membership. American Society of Landscape Architects, 2018.
Game Changer, Metropolis Magazine, 2018.
Chicagoan of the Year, Chicago Magazine, 2017.
Lifetime of Hipness, Interior Design Magazine, 2017.
Gold Medal, American Institute of Architects Illinois, 2015.
Award of Honor, Chicago Building Congress, 2011.
Chicagoans of the Year for Architecture, Chicago Tribune. 1997 + 2017.
Studio Recognition
Ross Barney Architects’ ideas and projects have been recognized by organizations from around the world. The studio’s work has been exhibited in Chicago, New York, Washington D.C., and San Francisco; and has received more than 200 design awards.
Best Large Midwest Architecture Firm, The Architect’s Newspaper, 2022.
World’s Most Innovative Companies, Fast Company, 2022, 2019.
National Design Award for Architecture and Interior Design, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 2021.
Firm Award, American Institute of Architects Illinois, 2000.
Firm Award, American Institute of Architects Chicago, 1995.
Design Awards
Railyard Park - Archello Awards Longlist: Pavilion of the Year, 2023
Design Excellence Awards, Architecture Medium — Citation of Merit, American Institute of Architects Chicago, 2024.
Lerch Bates People’s Choice Award — Finalist, American Institute of Architects Chicago, 2024.
AIA Honor Award for Regional & Urban Design, American Institute of Architects, 2023, 2018.
Archello Awards Longlist: Pavilion of the Year, 2023.
Design Excellence Awards, Architecture XL, American Institute of Architects Chicago, 2023.
Innovation by Design Award, Fast Company Magazine, 2022.
CODAworx Award, 2021.
Finalist Transportation, Collaboration of Design + Art, 2021.
Decarbonization Award, American Institute of Architects Chicago, 2021.
Distinguished Building Award, American Institute of Architects Chicago, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2011(2), 2010, 2008, 2003, 1999, 1997(2), 1996, 1995, 1992, 1989.
World Changing Idea, Fast Company, 2021.
O'Hare International Airport, Multi Modal Terminal - Design Excellence Awards, Architecture XL, 2023
International Architecture Award, Chicago Athenaeum Museum and Design Center and the European Center for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies, 2020.
Best of Award, Unbuilt, The Architects Newspaper, 2020.
International Architecture Award, Chicago Athenaeum Museum and Design Center and the European Center for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies, 2020.
Divine Detail Award, American Institute of Architects Chicago, 2019, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2005, 2003, 1997, 1995.
AIA Honor Award for Architecture, American Institute of Architects, 2018, 1999, 1994, 1991.
Architecture + Urban Transformation (Popular Choice and Jury Honor), Architizer, 2018.
Global Award for Excellence, Urban Land Institute, 2018.
Honor Award, American Society of Landscape Architects, 2017.
National Planning Excellence Award for Urban Design, American Planning Association, 2016.
Transportation High Commendation, World Architecture Festival, 2013.
COTE Top Ten Award, American Institute of Architects, 2013, 2009.
SustainABILITY Award, American Institute of Architects Chicago, 2013, 2012, 2004.
Interior Architecture Award, American Institute of Architects Chicago, 2009, 2005, 2003, 2002 (2), 1997, 1996, 1994.
Community Buildings High Commendation, World Architecture Festival, 2009.
Architectural Excellence in Community Design, Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, 2006, 2002, 2001.
AIA Honor Award for Interior Architecture, American Institute of Architects, 2002.
Federal Design Achievement, National Endowment of the Arts, 1992.
Exhibitions
Parallel Histories, Chicago Architecture Biennial, Chicago, Illinois, 2023.
From Me to We: Imagining the City of 2050, Chicago Architecture Center, Chicago, Illinois, 2019.
River Edge Ideas Lab, Chicago Architecture Biennial (sponsored by the City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development and the Metropolitan Planning Council), Chicago, Illinois, 2017.
50 Designers, 50 Ideas, 50 Wards, Chicago Architecture Center, Chicago, Illinois, 2016.
Fit Nation, The Center for Architecture, New York City, New York, 2013.
Reinventing Ritual: Contemporary Art and Design for Jewish Life, The Jewish Museum. New York City, New York and San Francisco, California, 2009 – 2010.
Parallel Histories, Chicago Architecture Biennial
Thresholds Along the Frontier: Contemporary U.S. Border Stations, General Services Administration, Traveling, 2007.
5 Architects (Carol Ross Barney, Jeanne Gang, Zaha Hadid, Kazuyo Sejima, Julie Snow), Chicago Architecture Foundation, Chicago, Illinois, 2005.
Renewing, Rebuilding, Remembering, Van Alen Institute, New York City, New York, 2002.
Federal Design Now! The 2000 GSA Design Awards, National Building Museum, Washington, D.C. 2001.
Material Evidence: Chicago Architecture at 2000, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 2000.
People + Places, The Work of Carol Ross Barney, Ispace, Gallery of the School of Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Chicago, Illinois, 1999 – 2000.