Optima Announced as 2021 AIA Chicago Firm of the Year Award Recipient

11.15.2021

Optima has been selected as the recipient of the 2021 Firm of the Year Award.

AIA Chicago announces that Optima, Inc. has been selected as the 2021 AIA Chicago Firm of the Year recipient. The AIA Chicago Firm of the Year Award, now in its 30th year, recognizes achievements and excellence in the body of work produced by a firm over a period of time, and the ongoing contributions of a firm to the advancement of the architectural profession. 

David Hovey, FAIA, and his wife Eileen Hovey, founded Optima, Inc in Chicago in 1978 with the intention of elevating multi-family housing by creating a design-driven firm combining architecture, development, construction, sales and management. Hovey, a self-proclaimed modernist since his days as a student at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), where Ludwig Mies van der Rohe was a founding director and remaining influence, believes that architecture must be expressive of both time and place, which is the foundation of Optima's work.

This year's jury noted and commended Optima for their innovative and unique approach to the profession. One juror stated: "Optima changed what a practice of architecture could look like," highlighing the approach that David Hovey, FAIA, operates as the Co-Founder of Optima Inc., while his wife Eileen serves as the CEO of Optima Real Estate Inc. and Optima Reality Inc.

All can partake in a celebration for this phenominal achievement by attending AIA Chicago's Holiday Party on Tuesday, December 7, 2021 at 6:00pm at Cosentino's Chicago Showroom. More information to come at AIAChicago.org.