Steven Holl has been awarded the American Institute of Architects Gold Medal, which recognises individuals whose work has had a lasting influence on architecture. 

The institute also named VJAA as the recipient of the 2012 Architecture Firm Award, which is given to practices which have consistently produced distinguished architecture for at least 10 years.

Holl and his firm, Steven Holl Architects, have completed projects including the Department of Philosophy in New York City and the Knut Hamsun Centre in Norway. He has been a professor in the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture and Planning since 1981.

The Glasgow School of Art practice recently completed two major projects in China, the Linked Hybrid in Beijing and the Vanke Centre in Shenzen.

Holl is the 68th winner of the Gold Medal. Previous winners include Thomas Jefferson, Frank Lloyd Wright and I.M. Pei.

Based in Minneapolis, the practice was founded in 1995 and its projects include the Chalres Hostler Student Centre in Lebanon and the Type Variant House in Wisconsin.

VJAA is the 49th recipient of the Architecture Firm Award. Previous winners include Venturi, Raunch and Scott Brown, I.M. Pei and Partners and SOM.