Rigor: Working with Intent

The Opacity Initiative is the "measure of our design conscience," a way for us to revisit and understand our work from outside perspectives. It is a yearly design review, in which outside experts from varied disciplines are invited to evaluate the firm’s work and offer their feedback. In 2017, we were joined in Chicago, Illinois, by five outside critics who reviewed and critiqued a portfolio of work from our offices around the globe.

This book traces that Opacity event and the work the jurors recognized.

The title of this second Opacity book captures the spirit of the 17 honored projects, all of which display a heightened level of discernment and care. Last off, and perhaps most importantly, it speaks to the practice of architecture and the essence of great buildings and considered landscapes. Creating spaces and places that inspire and endure requires passion and discipline. The shaping of our built environment should always be a rigorous undertaking.