The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Houston selected AMB Architects as the 2023 Firm of the Year. The award is given annually to a Houston architecture firm that has consistently produced distinguished architecture for at least ten years and made significant accomplishments in both the profession and community.

It’s the accomplishments in the profession and community that made AMB stand out to judges. The firm’s tagline, Creating Positive Change Through Design, speaks to both the clients who benefit from AMB’s work, and the AMB employees behind it. Since opening in 2006, AMB has tackled long-standing issues in the profession, encouraging more women to get into and stay in architecture, eschewing excessively long work hours, providing schedule flexibility, embracing technology and checking egos at the door.

On the question of great architecture, the firm has won dozens of design awards. More importantly, the firm has over 100 happy clients, several of whom have been around since AMB opened their doors. Repeat clients, that seems like a better testament to great architecture.

A very short list of AMB’s standout projects includes the Lonestar Legal Aid headquarters in Houston, The Hub at The Galleria, Pediatrix urgent care centers around Houston, and the Intuitive Machines lunar operations center at the Houston Spaceport.

Alyse Makarewicz, AIA, founder of AMB Architects, accepted the award alongside other AMBers at the recent Architecture Center Houston/AIA Houston Celebrate Architecture Gala.