A new architecture prize from China, by way of USC

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Add another prize to the already crowded field of architectural honors. Only this award comes from Inner Mongolia in China, with some help from the University of Southern California.

The Ordos Prize, which will be announced in August, is the first international architectural award to come from Asia. Unlike other honors that recognize established architects, the Ordos is meant to spotlight emerging talent in the field of design.

The winner will receive a commission to design a structure for a site in the city of Ordos in Inner Mongolia. The prize also includes a $20,000 award as well as exhibitions of work at venues in the United States and Asia.

Qingyun Ma, the dean of USC’s School of Architecture, is the founding director of the prize and is working with Jiang Yuan Cultural & Creativity Development Co., which originally commissioned 100 young architects from throughout the world to design 100 villas in Ordos. The prize is an extension of that project.

The jurors for this year’s inaugural prize are Rem Koolhaas, Yun Feng, Lauren Bon, Zhiyuan Cui and Robbi Finkel. Dean Ma will also serve on the jury.

Nominations for the Ordos prize are scheduled to be announced next week.

-- David Ng