The AIA St. Paul Chapter is delighted to announce the receipt of thirteen submissions for the 2025 AIA St. Paul Prize competition.
To celebrate the exceptional talent showcased in the competition, all submissions are featured below. This virtual exhibition allows a broader audience to appreciate the innovative ideas that came out of this two and a half week competition.
Finalists and Recipient
Following a rigorous evaluation process, the jury expressed its deep appreciation for the caliber of work and the diverse range of design thinking presented in this year’s submissions. Each participant was tasked with addressing an expansive and complex prompt, and the three finalists distinguished themselves through an exceptional level of thought, rigor, and care.
The competition was conducted in two stages, beginning with a blind review of all submissions. Three finalists were selected to move forward to a second, which included in-person discussions with the jury to further explore their conceptual approaches. After careful deliberation, the jury named Alap Sunilkumar Parikh, Assoc. AIA, as the recipient of the 2025 AIA Saint Paul Prize for the proposal, Unbound.
Unbound was recognized for its methodical and well-reasoned analysis of the site context. By leveraging local precedents, the proposal establishes a strong connection to Downtown through the visual and pedestrian extensions of Minnesota and Cedar Streets. The jury particularly noted the thoughtful adaptive reuse of existing structures along Kellogg Boulevard into mixed-use towers, providing vital housing and community amenities. From a master planning perspective, the proposal was lauded for promoting a level of vibrancy and urban integration that successfully met the highest goals of the prompt.
The jury also recognized two other finalists for their remarkable contributions. Jack Weiler, Assoc. AIA, presented Living Water, a proposal praised for its careful rigor and “elegant, visually compelling” response. It stood out as the only submission to suggest allowing the river’s edge to return to a natural state, demonstrating a high sensitivity to historical and natural flood cycles. Teddy Gustafson, AIA, presented Shared Currents, which focused on a “noble intent” to provide a regenerative landscape. The jury commended the project’s ability to weave together community amenities and event spaces designed to draw people back to the riverfront.
About the St. Paul Prize
The St. Paul Prize Design Competition is an annual program focused on celebrating and recognizing innovative ideas by young design professionals. Architects and designers within 10 years of graduating from an accredited professional degree program are eligible to participate. Learn more
