CHICAGO—IIDA is pleased to announce the Best of Competition winners for two international design competitions, the 2022 Best of Asia Pacific Design Awards and the 2022 Global Excellence Awards. The 2022 Best of Asia Pacific Design Awards Best of Competition winner is Steve Leung Design Group for Bay of Modern Art in Xiamen, China, and the 2022 Global Excellence Awards Best of Competition winner is Cheng Chung Design (HK) Ltd. for Banyan Tree Nanjing Garden Expo in Nanjing, China.

“We’re always astounded by the level of talent found in modern design from firms around the world,” said IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO, Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA. “As two of the industry’s most prestigious competitions, it’s a privilege to present these awards to such deserving firms for their inventive, trailblazing projects.”

The Best of Asia Pacific Awards winners, including the Best of Competition, were chosen by a jury of design professionals including GGLO Principal, Kimberly Frank, IIDA; Huang Iboshi Architecture, Inc. Principal and Founding Partner, Emily Huang; and ODA Principal, Ryoko Okada.

“The Bay of Modern Art project by Steve Leung Design Group exemplifies the finest innovation the industry has to offer,” said Okada on behalf of the jury. “It’s at once captivating yet grounding and classic yet futuristic.”

The Global Excellence Award winners, including Best of Competition, were chosen by a jury of design professionals including Revel Architecture & Design Managing Principal, Sarah Devine, IIDA; Hickok Cole Associate Principal, Director of Interiors, Mike Johnson II, IIDA, AIA, NOMA; Designworks, A BMW Group Company, Director, Industrial Design, Los Angeles Studio, Johannes Lampela; and Antunovich Associates Senior Principal, Director of Interior Design, Patricia Rotondo, IIDA.

“The Banyan Tree Nanjing Garden Expo project is inspiring in its duality and exemplifies the characteristics the jury looks for in our review process,” said Rotondo on behalf of the jury. “Simultaneously understated and grand, the project is nothing short of deserving of this monumental award.”

The Best of Competition winners were announced and honored at a special celebration on January 21, 2023 at the Secret Gallery in Paris and can be viewed on IIDA.org (on pages for the Best of Asia Pacific Design Awards and Global Excellence Awards, respectively). For more information, please contact IIDA Design Competitions Manager, Veronica Whitaker at vwhitaker@IIDA.org.