The Pritzker Architecture Prize has often been described as the "Nobel of architecture" because of its great importance.

It was established in 1979 to honor annually "a living architect of talent, vision, and commitment who has produced consistent and significant contributions to humanity and the built environment through the art of architecture." Over the past two decades, many of the most outstanding international architects have received this highly coveted award, and their works are among the finest examples of contemporary architecture throughout the world.

This volume is published on the occasion of an exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago that surveys the Pritzker Architecture Prize's twenty-year history.