The State Historical Society of Missouri (SHSMO) and the Maricopa County Southeast Justice Center (SEJC) have been recognized for design excellence in the 2024 American Architecture Awards program, organized by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design, The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies, and Metropolitan Arts Press. The State Historical Society of Missouri received an American Architecture Award in the Institution category, while the Maricopa County Southeast Justice Center was honored with a prestigious Honorable Mention in the Government/Civic Buildings category. These awards underscore the vital role architecture plays in shaping cultural and civic spaces.

The State Historical Society of Missouri received an American Architecture Award in the Institution category. This annual awards program celebrates significant new buildings and planning projects designed and/or built in the U.S. and abroad by American designers.

Founded in 1898 by the Missouri Press Association, SHSMO has long been a champion of preserving, publishing, and collecting materials that reflect Missouri’s history across all periods. Its new 76,000-square-foot facility near Peace Park addresses the challenges of its previous location—a fragmented, dark, and confined space in the basement of Ellis Library at the University of Missouri. Designed through rigorous programming and stakeholder engagement, the building now serves as a functional and inspiring venue for education, research, and community engagement.

SHSMO is a hub for public discourse, hosting programs that examine critical topics such as the African American Experience in Missouri. From analyzing the African American press to exploring race, democracy, and inequality in the St. Louis suburbs, SHSMO fosters understanding of the past to inform a better future.

The Maricopa County Southeast Justice Center received a 2024 American Architecture Honorable Mention in the Government/Civic Buildings category. This recognition reflects our commitment to designing spaces that embody the ideals of justice and civic engagement. The fragility of democracy compels us to recognize the responsibility and privilege we hold in shaping the spatial and material dimensions of justice. With SEJC, our aim was not to dictate an experience but to create a space that allows for individual reflection and fosters the coexistence of civic institutions and social pluralism.

These honors reaffirm the importance of thoughtful design in shaping spaces that reflect and serve their communities. We are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to these vital projects and for the recognition from The Chicago Athenaeum and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.