The American Institute of Architects gave Verona, Wis.-based Epic Systems an honorable mention in its annual TAP/CCA Innovation Awards, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
The Innovation Awards are split into five categories, including stellar design, project delivery and construction administration excellence, project lifecycle performance, academic program/curriculum development and exemplary use in a small firm.
The Epic Deep Space Auditorium received an honorable mention in the stellar design category. The auditorium, which can seat up to 11,400 people, was designed by Minneapolis-based design firm Cuningham Group.
The Innovation Awards jury said the auditorium "seems to make the best case for innovative use of technology to achieve the result."
The AIA also commented on the use of "a large scale clay model that was 3-D-scanned in order to produce a digital point cloud ... and became the engine that drove the other technical delivery tools of the project." In addition, the AIA said the auditorium's green roof gave "visual and physical connections to the surrounding Wisconsin landscape," according to the article.
Another healthcare structure, the Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin Center for Advanced Care in Wauwatosa, Wis., received the AIA's project delivery and construction administration excellence award.
Members of the public can cast their vote for their favorite project until Nov. 18 by clicking here.