Posted in Architizer, Awards, Civic, Elizabeth River Project, ERP
A photograph of the Elizabeth River Project’s Ryan Resilience Lab by longtime WPA collaborator Yuzhu Zheng has been named a finalist in the 2025 Architizer Vision Awards. The image, captured from above to highlight the facility’s relationship to the Knitting Creek shoreline in Norfolk, was recognized in the Architecture & Environment category of the contest’s Photography section.
Now in their second year, the Vision Awards were created to celebrate the most forward-thinking ideas in architecture — not just the buildings themselves, but the images and drawings that help bring them to life and the photography that captures their aesthetic and impacts. Entries from more than 50 countries were evaluated by a jury of architects, designers, technologists, and media leaders, alongside Architizer’s editorial team.
“From concept sketches and intricate models to provocative renderings, photographs and films, this season’s winning works form an inspiring showcase of architectural ideation,” Architizer editors wrote. “The authors behind them have earned the title of architectural visionaries, translating ideas into powerful imagery and speculative projects into cultural provocations.”
Designed as a “living classroom” for climate adaptation, the Ryan Resilience Lab integrates environmental education, flood-resilient architecture, and green infrastructure. Its inclusion in this year’s awards reaffirms that place-based, community-driven solutions have a critical role to play in shaping the future of cities and coastlines.
We are grateful to Architizer for recognizing the Ryan Resilience Lab as a powerful example of how architecture can lead by example and transform communities, and to Yuzhu for being an amazing photographer.
View all the winners and finalists here.