<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"Tod Williams and Billie Tsien's architectural philosophy, as stated on their firm's website, begins, \"We see architecture as an act of profound optimism.\" In their aesthetic, this translates to sharp lines, airy rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, and spaces that transition easily between indoor and outdoor living. And it is only right, then, that this \"profound optimism\" be met with major accolades. The New York\u2013based husband-and-wife team traveled to the White House this past Monday to accept the 2013 National Medal of Arts, the highest honor given to artists and arts patrons by the federal government. The award was presented by President Obama, who remarked on all the honorees present, \"The moments you help create\u2014moments of understanding or awe or joy or sorrow\u2014they add texture to our lives. They are not incidental to the American experience; they are central to it\u2014they are essential to it.\" The AD100 firm's most significant public works of late include the sleek, limestone-clad Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, as well as the LeFrak Center at Lakeside, a recreation and event venue that features sweeping views of Brooklyn's Prospect Park and two green roof terraces."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/national-medal-of-arts-tod-williams-billie-tsien>