In nominating Piano for the award, Thomas S. Howorth, FAIA, chair of the AIA Committee on Design Gold Medal Committee, explained, "Renzo Piano's distinguished architecture has captured admirers around the world for more than 30 years. His work demonstrates the complete range of architectural concerns. It is sculptural, beautiful, technically accomplished and sustainable. He integrates the diverse disciplines that combine in contemporary building into cohesive, humane environments." Born in Genoa, Italy, in 1937, Piano graduated from the Milan Polytechnic School of Architecture in 1964. In addition to beginning his working career from 1965 to 1970, he traveled and studied extensively in Britain and the U.S. During this time, he befriended French engineer/designer Jean Prouvé; their friendship proved to have a deep influence on his professional life. In 1971, Piano joined forces with Sir Richard Rogers to form the Piano and Rogers Agency to collaborate on the Centre Pompidou project in Paris. This project received international acclaim, and propelled the two designers to international acclaim that both have kept earning to this day. Piano now heads the Renzo Piano Workshop, in which 100 people work in offices in Paris and Genoa. In 1988, Piano received the Pritzker Prize. Among his best-loved and well-known projects around the world are: