Project focus: Transformations in the built environment within dynamically changing societies.

This November, Rafael Viñoly Architects will award up to five grants of US$60,000 each for studies focused on transformations in the built environment within dynamically changing societies. Singular grants have been a vital component of the practice's Training and Research Programs since their 2005 introduction. This year, to commemorate the firm's twenty-fifth anniversary, multiple grants will be conferred.

Proposed projects should emphasize original research focused on any region of the world, though there is particular interest in studies addressing relevant issues in China, the Middle East, Russia, and South America. Study subjects might include new demands for housing and infrastructure due to urban immigration in China, South Asia, and Africa; the proliferation of new cities in sparsely populated regions of the Middle East; threats to historic resources posed by development or changing political climates in Russia, Eastern Europe, and former European colonies; and more. The firm seeks insights into how these and other transitions are reshaping the work of architects and others charged with managing our physical surroundings.

Citizens of all countries are eligible to apply for the grants individually or as teams. In addition to receiving financial support to pursue their studies, Rafael Viñoly Architects Research Fellows may elect to spend a portion of their time in residence at the firm's New York offices.

The deadline for submitting grant proposals is August 1, 2008.  Grant recipients will be notified in November.

Please visit www.rvatr.com for more information.