The School of Architecture and John Portman & Associates (PORTMAN) today announced that Miguel Otero Fuentes has been awarded the prestigious Portman Prize – an architectural design challenge that provides students the opportunity and platform to showcase their design talents. Otero Fuentes, completing his first year in the Masters of Architecture program at Georgia Tech, came to the school from Puerto Rico when he received the T. Gordon Little Fellowship, a full scholarship for his study.  He won the top honor for his design “Midtown Gardens School for the Arts.” This year’s charge was to design a charter high school for the arts located at the southern end of Midtown Atlanta.

Otero Fuentes’ winning design marries the unique cultural offerings and personalities of two iconic streets in Atlanta: Peachtree Street and Juniper Street.

“Peachtree and Juniper Streets highlight the spirit and culture of Atlanta. Peachtree is one of the most important streets in Atlanta and is full of activity while Juniper is more tranquil with great potential,” said Otero Fuentes. “In order to showcase the best of both worlds, this proposal creates an overlapping space that accommodates the school’s private program while allowing an art gallery to break the surface for public display.”

The award was established by PORTMAN with the intention of encouraging students to develop a holistic design approach that ties the big idea to the small detail. With this year’s challenge, students were charged with promoting a higher quality learning environment while thoughtfully addressing day lighting, ventilation, acoustics and thermal comfort.  

PORTMAN shared its expertise through the jury participation of Walter Miller, Principal and Design Director.

“The winning project was a low-scale scheme that devoted a large portion of the site to green space. Miguel did an exceptionally good job organizing the program components. His was a very simple, elegant scheme that was visually commanding,” said Miller.

In addition to attracting many of the highly talented architecture students at Georgia Tech, the challenge also brings together some of the most distinguished architects and engineers from across the globe to serve as jurors. This year Jane Wernick, a structural engineer and founder of Jane Wernick Associates in London, served as the visiting critic.  She has taught at many architecture schools and lectured at universities around the world.

"We are grateful to John Portman & Associates for its continued partnership and are honored to offer our students a competition that truly allows them to apply their studies in a tangible and impactful way,” said George Johnston, chair of the School of Architecture at Georgia Tech.

The first place winner received a cash prize and is offered a paid summer internship with PORTMAN. Second place winner, Bunny Tucker, a second-year architecture graduate student, and third place winner, Ekram Hassan, were also awarded cash prices for their outstanding design work.

“The Portman Prize was established to give future leaders in our industry the voice and support necessary to hone the art of architecture. Through this competition, students get real-life experiences in merging the built environment with the design concept to create places that not only work functionally, but personify the spirit and potential of a community,” said John “Jack” Portman, III, CEO of John Portman & Associates and a graduate of the School of Architecture at Georgia Tech.

To learn more about the Portman Prize, please visit http://www.arch.gatech.edu/people/portman.

About John Portman & Associates

John Portman & Associates, Inc. (PORTMAN) is an internationally recognized architectural and engineering firm with offices in Atlanta, Georgia and Shanghai, China. Established in 1953, Portman has nearly 60 years of expertise in designing hotels, universities, offices, trade marts, and mixed-use urban complexes. With a diverse team of experienced professionals, the firm provides design services in architecture, master planning, programming, structural engineering, and project management around the world. John Portman & Associates designs landmark projects that enhance the environment for those who use them, while being a sound investment for those who own and operate them. For more information, please visit www.portmanusa.com.