One of six recipients of this year’s AIA Young Architects Award, James Dayton of Minneapolis, has been cited not only for his “well-crafted spaces” but also for his use of Digital Project, the architectural design software from Gehry Technologies. It is unusual, and possibly unprecedented, for the AIA to mention design software as an element of an award-winner’s success.
Dayton worked for five years at Gehry Partners in Los Angeles before leaving to start his own firm, James Dayton Design, in Minneapolis. As they say in Minneapolis, he is part of “those” Daytons. His great-grandfather founded the stores that today are known as Target; his father’s cousin is US Senator Mark Dayton of Minnesota. In an interview for Architectural Record, he says he prefers not to work on projects for family related businesses. “That’s a slippery slope,” he told AR.
The award says Dayton works to “combine innovative forms, curves, industrial materials, and use of daylight” which sounds like he draws his inspiration from his mentor, Frank Gehry. The AIA award committee received a letter of support for Dayton from Gehry: “I am encouraged to see that the focus of Jim’s work is innovative, trying new ideas, pushing the concepts of design ahead. He has always shown a commitment to producing architecture of a very high quality.”
The award announcement said that Dayton’s use of Digital Project was a key to “establishing Dayton as a leading designer in the region.” The website for James Dayton Design notes:
“[James Dayton Design] is the first architectural firm in Minneapolis to utilize Gehry Technologies’ Digital Project, the CATIA-based software designed by Gehry’s office, further establishing JDD as a leading design firm in the region. The software will also allow the firm to further develop its role as a leading technical practitioner, with an emphasis on rigorous detailing and construction management.”
Recent notable projects include the Minnetonka, Minnesota Center for the Arts, the Macphail Center for Music in Minneapolis, the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota, and the headquarters of The Creative Company in Mankato, Minnesota.
The use of a specific design software product was not mentioned for the other five winners (John Sangki Hong of Cambridge, Massachusetts; Michael Arad of New York City; Shannon Kraus of Dallas; Soren Simonsen of Salt Lake City; Patrick Tighe of Santa Monica, California).
--RSN