British architect John Simpson has been awarded the world's largest architecture prize, the Driehaus Prize, for his exceptional contributions to traditional urbanism and architecture. The prize, valued at $200,000, is a testament to Simpson's dedication to preserving classical styles and urban planning principles. Simpson's notable projects include the Royal College of Music in London, a master plan for the area around St. Paul's Cathedral, and the museum at Kensington Palace, which was opened by Queen Elizabeth II for her Diamond Jubilee in 2012. His work also includes the University of Notre Dame's Walsh Family Hall of Architecture in Indiana. Simpson's commitment to traditional forms is environmentally sound and enhances local identity, as noted by Stefanos Polyzoides, dean of Notre Dame's School of Architecture. Additionally, French architect Philippe Villeneuve will receive the Henry Hope Reed Award in 2026, recognizing his visionary leadership in the restoration of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris after a devastating fire in 2019. The jury praised Villeneuve for advocating for the cathedral's original construction methods and form. The Driehaus Prize, presented annually by the University of Notre Dame, celebrates the laureate's body of work and is named after the founder of Driehaus Capital Management. The award ceremony will take place at Chicago's Driehaus Museum, followed by a tribute to Léon Krier, the 'godfather of the New Urbanism movement', who was the first Driehaus Prize laureate in 2003.
