The Jane Drew Prize recognizes “an architectural designer who, through their work and commitment to design excellence, has raised the profile of women in architecture.” This year’s award will be presented to British Architect Amanda Levete, Founder of London-based AL_A. The architect — known for the “bold materiality” in her designs — has several renowned projects to her credit including the recent addition to the V&A museum in London, the Museum of Arct, Architecture, and Technology (MAAT) in Lisbon, the 2015 MPavilion in Melbourne, and the Central Embassy Shopping Center in Bangkok.  Prior to founding AL_A in 2009, Levete ran the Stirling Prize-winning practice Future Systems with her then-husband Jan Kaplický. The Lord’s Media Center designed by the duo wonthe 1999 RIBA Stirling Prize.  “Amanda Levete is an architect whose career has been notable at several points, but whose independent practice has blossomed internationally, and whose independent voice has generated welcome debate and reform,” said Paul Finch, editorial director of the AJ and the Architectural Review, as noted by Arch Daily.  Read more