Jerde Receives American Institute of Architects Award for RiverWalk Kitakyushu.

Business Editors

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 31, 2003

The Jerde Partnership today announced that it has been presented with an American Institute of Architects (AIA) Award for its design of the kinetic and community-oriented cultural center RiverWalk Kitakyushu, in Kitakyushu, Japan. The Los Angeles chapter of the AIA presented the award to recognize the firm's design achievement at a gala held yesterday evening at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

"As with all of our projects, RiverWalk Kitakyushu was designed as an experience that would appeal to people universally. It has already been tremendously popular among the citizens of Japan, drawing more than 250,000 people during its opening weekend," said the firm's Founder and Chairman Jon Jerde. "We are very pleased that RiverWalk Kitakyushu is being recognized here at home by AIA/LA, especially given the extraordinary quality of this year's winning projects."

Located approximately 550 miles west of Tokyo, RiverWalk Kitakyushu takes the next step in the movement towards open and inviting cultural centers that offer a range of uses for the community. This new center for the high and popular arts incorporates a complete range of everyday experiences -- culture, media, office, commerce and entertainment -- and creates a cultural center that also serves as the primary gathering place within the emerging city. RiverWalk Kitakyushu thrives beyond the predictable rush of patrons that gather at the beginning and close of a performance. Adjacent to the historic Kokura Caste, Murasaki River and surrounding Katsuyama Park, RiverWalk Kitakyushu is aesthetically and technologically modern yet deeply rooted in the region's rich heritage and is truly a symbol of the city's rebirth.

Jerde has celebrated the openings of five projects throughout Japan in the past twelve months. The projects include: Roppongi Hills and Dentsu Shiodome in Tokyo; La Cittadella in Kawasaki; Namba Parks in Osaka and RiverWalk Kitakyushu. Jerde was embraced by critics and the public alike with its first Japanese project Canal City Hakata in Fukuoka in 1996. Shortly after the project's opening, AsiaWeek proclaimed Fukuoka "The Best City in Asia."

About Jerde Partnership

Jerde Partnership is a visionary experience architecture firm that builds innovative places which deliver memorable experiences attracting millions of people everyday. As the firm that pioneered "placemaking," Jerde projects have consistent and lasting social, cultural and economic value throughout the world and promote further investment and revitalization. Jerde takes a co-creative approach to design and collaborates with local architects to realize the vision of their projects. Jerde is based in Los Angeles, Calif. and has been designing projects worldwide for more than 25 years. The firm has received critical acclaim from organizations including the American Institute of Architects, Progressive Architecture, American Planning Association, and The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design. Jerde currently has more than 30 projects in process in Europe, Asia and the United States.