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The Pritzker Architecture Prize is considered to be the highest award recognizing excellence in architectural practice – the “Nobel Prize” of architecture.
The award was founded in 1979 by the Pritzker family – owners of the internationally known Hyatt Hotels. The Hyatt brand became synonymous with innovative architectural design beginning in 1967 when Jay Pritzker visited Atlanta and was shown an unfinished hotel on Peachtree Street. He bought it.
That building is the Hyatt Regency – the breakout building designed by Atlanta’s own John Portman. The Hyatt Regency transformed hotel design globally and was the first step towards the founding of this internationally coveted prize.