“Champion of Architecture” Awarded to a Champion of Sustainability

We are incredibly proud to share that Nico Kienzl has been awarded the 2025 “Champion of Architecture Medal” by AIA New York.

First presented to R. Buckminster Fuller in 1952, this prestigious award has been presented annually to a visionary leader outside the architecture profession who has made a significant impact on the advancement of the built environment.

Nico’s contributions to the built environment began in the early days of his career, long before he co-founded Atelier Ten’s New York office. As a junior designer in Germany, he recognized the importance of integrated design and the need for deep technical expertise to execute novel high-performance systems such as hybrid natural/displacement ventilation and naturally ventilated double-skin façades.

Realizing the building industry and planet would require a radical shift towards more sustainable solutions, Nico returned to MIT for graduate school to deepen his technical expertise. He conducted research on advanced façade materials and designs, including phase change materials, aerogel and elecrochromic glazing. Nico continued his studies at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard in the Doctor of Design program. Nico’s doctoral thesis focused on how energy simulation could be used to provide parametric analysis of the energy performance of new materials with dynamic properties.

“For me, to create a more sustainable future through improvements in our built environment is not a choice but a necessity in order to achieve a truly sustainable future for our planet.” – Nico Kienzl, Atelier Ten

Nico co-founded Atelier Ten’s New York City office and paved the way for a more just, equitable and sustainable future. Under his leadership, Atelier Ten has grown into one of the leading sustainable design-consulting firms in North America.

Nico was named LEED Fellow by the GBCI in 2012 and has since led many of Atelier Ten’s most notable and high-achieving projects beyond benchmarks set by LEED. His worldwide breadth of work includes the Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation at the American Museum of Natural History, Disney’s new headquarters at 7 Hudson Square, and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) expansion.

As Executive Director, Nico continues to advance Atelier Ten’s technical acumen and direction alongside his co-directors across Atelier Ten’s international offices. He continues to explore the future of sustainability in the built environment and the impact on society and the economy