Portman Prize Studio Critic
The purpose of the Portman Prize and the Portman Visiting Critic Program is to foster design excellence and student creativity in the School of Architecture at Georgia Tech. Recognizing student accomplishment and excellence in the integration of technical considerations is a key constituent of the design process pursued through the Portman Prize. It is awarded through competition by a distinguished jury chaired by the Portman Visiting Critic who also participates over the semester as a roving design studio critic and public lecturer.
The competition jury awards ranked prizes, each carrying monetary awards. Since 2024, the top prize winner is also offered an internship by Portman Holdings during the following spring.
2027 Portman Prize Critic:
Billie Tsien
Billie Tsien is a New York-based architect, mentor, and leading voice in the design and broader cultural community. Her approach to architecture is rooted in the spirit of collaboration with a portfolio imbued with a sense of optimism, warmth, texture, and serenity. She is a founding partner of Studio Tsien and Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects.In parallel to her architecture practice, Billie has taught at many institutions and is a devoted participant in many arts organizations. From 2021-2024 Billie was the Chair of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts. Her dedication to work and the cultural landscape at large has garnered her numerous awards including the National Medal of Arts, the 2013 AIA Architecture Firm Award, and the 2019 Praemium Imperiale presented by the Japan Art Association. As an educator, arts advocate and practitioner, Billie is steadfast in her mission to create a better world through architecture.
About John Portman
Portman earned a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1950. After a three-year apprenticeship with an Atlanta firm, he opened his own firm in 1953 and began making history.
Throughout his career, his ties to Georgia Tech have remained strong. The Portman Prize and Portman Visiting Critic Program foster design excellence and student creativity in the School of Architecture at Georgia Tech.
The Portman Prize is awarded through competition by a distinguished jury chaired by the Portman Visiting Critic, who also participates over the semester as a design studio critic and public lecturer. The competition jury awards ranked prizes, each carrying monetary awards, and the top prize winner is also offered a summer internship in the office of John Portman & Associates.