American Thom Mayne snags Pritzker architecture prize
{{date|March 22, 2005}}

Longtime [[Los Angeles]] architect {{w|Thom Mayne}} was awarded this year's {{w|Pritzker Architecture Prize|Pritzker Architecture Prize}}. Established in 1979 to honor "consistent and significant contributions to humanity," the prize is considered by many to be the highest honor in the field. The award includes a bronze medallion and [[US$]]100,000.  Mayne was the first American to receive it in 14 years; previous American recipients include {{w|Robert Venturi}} (1991) and {{w|Frank Gehry}} (1989).

Mayne earned his architecture degree from the {{w|University of Southern California|University of Southern California]] in 1968.  A few years later he founded his own architecture school, the {{w|Southern California Institute of Architecture|Southern California Institute of Architecture}}, which remains to this day.  He then moved to Los Angeles, where in addition to running a firm, Morphosis, he teaches architecture at [[UCLA]].

Mayne's earlier work, considered "angry" and "brooding", was outside of the architectural mainstream. His style was often called bold and audacious. This style has recently become more accepted, as Morphosis won contracts to design government buildings in California, Oregon, and Washington, DC. The firm also designed an Olympic village in {{w|Queens, New York|Queens}}, in preparation for the city's 2012 Olympics bid.

On receiving the prize, Mayne said, "This is such a big deal....it is not in my nature to think about being the one who prevails. For my whole life, I've always seen myself as an outsider."

== References ==
* {{source
|url    = http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/03/21/features/Cwhat.html 
|date   = March 21, 2005
|pub    = IHT
|title  = Architecture: Pritzker is awarded to American
|author = 
}}
* {{source
|url    = http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=7961813 
|date   = March 21, 2005
|pub    = Reuters
|title  = American Thom Mayne Wins Pritzker Architect Prize
|author = 
}}
* [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/2005/03/20/2002214233.jpg Headshot of Mayne]

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[[Category:Architecture]]
[[Category:California]]
[[Category:New York]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:Oregon]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:University of California, Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Washington, D.C.]]
Longtime Los Angeles architect Pritzker Architecture Prize|Pritzker Architecture Prize. Established in 1979 to honor "consistent and significant contributions to humanity," the prize is considered by many to be the highest honor in the field. The award includes a bronze medallion and US$100,000.  Mayne was the first American to receive it in 14 years; previous American recipients include Frank Gehry (1989).

Mayne earned his architecture degree from the University of Southern California in 1968.  A few years later he founded his own architecture school, the
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