Pritzker Prize

Architect Thom Mayne has won the Pritzker Prize, considered the Nobel Prize of architecture. Torontonians might not know his name but certainly know his building. Mayne and his firm Morphosis is responsible for University of Toronto's controversial "Grad House". Previous winners include I.M. Pei (CIBC Tower), Frank Gehry (Transformation AGO), Renzo Piano (Toronto Lighthouse Theatre), Rem Koolhaas (Seattle Public Library), Joern Utzon (Sydney Opera House) and last years's winner Zaha Harid (Contemporary Arts Center); the first woman to win the award. The NY Times has the story.

On a related note, Toronto's Architecture & Urban Design Awards 2005 will be announced on May 16.