2021 Richard J. Neutra Award for Professional Excellence awarded to Toyo Ito

The Department of Architecture, California Polytechnic University, Pomona, is pleased to award Toyo Ito the 2021 Richard J. Neutra Award for Professional Excellence. The Neutra Award recognizes the contributions that Richard Neutra, an acclaimed modern architect, and former Cal Poly Pomona lecturer, made to the practice of architecture within the areas of research and style. The Neutra Award acknowledges individuals who have dedicated their careers to researching and developing new environments during which to figure, live and play.

Mr. Ito (1941-) graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1965 and worked in the office of Kiyonori Kikutake until 1969. In 1971, he founded his own office Urban Robot (URBOT), which was renamed Toyo Ito & Associates, Architects.

Ito receiving his medal last night from Thomas J. Pritzker, chairman of The Hyatt Foundation (Photo: © Rick Friedman). Read Ito’s 2013 acceptance speech here.

Mr. Ito is the recipient of numerous awards for his innovative and forward-looking architecture. He is the recipient of the Golden Lion from the International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia; Royal Gold Medal from The Royal Institute of British Architects; The 22nd Praemium Imperiale in Honor of Prince Takamatsu; The Pritzker Architecture Prize, The UIA Gold Medal.

Sendai Mediatheque, 1995—2000, Sendai-shi, Miyagi, Japan Photo by Tomio Ohashi

Tama Art University Library (Hachiōji campus), 2004—2007, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo, Japan Photo by Tomio Ohashi

Toyo Ito’s significant projects include the Sendai Mediatheque (Japan); Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2002 (UK); Tama Art University Library (Hachioji campus, Japan); Torres Porta Fira (Spain); Toyo Ito Museum of Architecture, Imabari (Japan); National Taiwan University, College of Social Sciences (Taiwan R.O.C.); ‘Minna no Mori’ Gifu Media Cosmos (Japan); Museo Internacional del Barroco (Mexico); National Taichung Theater (Taiwan R.O.C.); ‘Meguri no Mori’ Kawaguchi City Funeral Hall (Japan).

To view the awards ceremony and lecture, see the virtual event details below.

Award Ceremony and Lecture
When: May 7, 2021, 06:00 PM Pacific Time (the US and Canada)
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://cpp.zoom.us/j/88017714829

To dial-in:
Webinar ID: 880 1771 4829
US: +1 669 900 6833

International numbers available: https://cpp.zoom.us/u/kchB1AoCVf