5468796 architecture's Bond Tower

Each year the Architecture League honors a group of up-and-coming North American architecture firms as Emerging Voices, an award that recognizes "a distinct design voice" and "the potential to influence the disciplines of architecture, landscape design and urbanism." This year the panel selected eight firms: INABA, 5468796 architecture, SCAPE Landscape Architecture, Studio NMinusOne, Oyler Wu Collaborative, SsD, Arquitectura 911sc, and Atelier TAG.

To commemorate the achievement, each firm will present their work as part of a lecture series hosted by the Architecture League beginning on March 2nd at Cooper Union, in an auditorium designed by past Emerging Voice winner, Morphosis. Tickets go on sale this week, but if you'd like to know a little bit more about each firm before attending, here's a rundown of the first half of the bunch. Stay tuned for part 2.

INABA's New Museum installation

INABA Location: Los Angeles Mission Statement: Inaba takes an analytical approach to form-making and building and an analysis-based approach for its urban planning and development projects. They also create "artifacts," or installations and art objects. Major Projects: Said "artifacts" have been exhibited by The Walker Art Center, The Whitney, New Museum and the Storefront for Art and Architecture. They've been published in The Financial Times, FRAME, Domus, Art Review, Artforum, The New York Times, Archinect and BLDGBLOG.5468796 architecture Location: Winnipeg Mission Statement: 5468796 find creative ways to meet the budget demands of their housing, offices and public commissions. Their style is very stark and minimal, with an obsessive focus on details. Major Projects: University of Winnipeg, Bond Tower, a stark office building by day, glowing billboard space by night.

From SCAPE Landscape Architecture' MoMA's Rising Currents exhibition

SCAPE Landscape Architecture Location: New York Mission Statement: As their name implies, SCAPE specializes in landscape and urban design with a focus on sustainability. Major Projects: New York Hall of Science, Seattle Public Library and campus design (Cornell, Pratt, Bard. Caltech).

Studio NMinusOne's Pool House

Studio NMinusOne Location: Toronto Mission Statement: According to NMinusOne's website, which is "permanently under construction," they work in urban design, architecture and objects and engages in "popular culture, media, art, sociology, psychology, economy, science, technology and everything else in this world to extract architecture." More clearly put, they approach design with a focus on its human, psychological impact. I think. Major Projects: Your guess is as good as mine. Most of their project seem to be theoretical or under construction.