We believe there’s a superhero in each of us - so we’re launching our annual True Superheroes awards to celebrate people who’ve overcome adversity, made amazing contributions to society, and inspired others to do the same. We’ll nominate people in art, design, music, tech, sport and many other fields. This week we share a few of our many nominees from architecture.
Sir David Adjaye
Sir David Adjaye wasn’t always the global cultural superstar designing zeitgeist spaces like the National Museum of African American History and SPYSCAPE HQ. In fact, his career was almost over by 2009. He was on the cusp of bankruptcy and lost his life savings when a twist of fate changed David’s life.
Jeanne Gang is best known for her Chicago Aqua skyscraper and chiseled New York Solar Carve. Back in 2015, though, she was focused on police shootings - every five days a Chicago cop fired a gun, usually at an African-American male. Jeanne wanted to use architecture to break down barriers between the police and neighbors, even if she had to fund the idea herself.
Growing up in the rubble of WWII Italy, Renzo Piano retreated into a world of movies and daydreams: “From where I stood, there were two avenues of escape, two frontiers to cross - the sea and the cinema.” Now aged 83, he has finally crossed both with the opening of Los Angeles’ Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and self-funded plans to restore his beloved hometown of Genoa.
Nominate your True Superhero - someone who’s overcome adversity, made amazing contributions to society, and inspired others to do the same - and you could win tickets to our VIP Awards Ceremony in New York City on Superhero Day - April 28th. Your nominee can be from any background, from arts and sciences to sports and education.
