Fabrication Begins on Components for Baha'i Temple in South America

February 19, 2007

Source: Baha'i World News Service

http://news.bahai.org/story.cfm?storyid=505

TORONTO, Canada, 19 February 2007 (BWNS) -- After months of testing a key computer model for the unique Baha'i house of worship to be built in Chile, architects have announced that fabrication of components for the structure is now beginning.

The milestone comes just as the design for the building received a coveted architectural award - a citation from Architect magazine in its annual Progressive Architecture competition. The awards, established in 1954, are among the most prestigious honors for projects that have not yet been built.

The Baha'i temple in Chile is one of eight projects from around the world that received an award or citation in the program this year.

"For architects, it's the award that recognizes designs that go in a new direction," said Siamak Hariri of Hariri Pontarini Architects of Toronto, the firm that designed the house of worship and is overseeing its construction. Representatives of the firm traveled to New York last month for the awards ceremony.