The Adams Street Library in Dorchester is one of three finalists for the Boston Society of Architecture’s (BSA) annual Harleston Parker People’s Choice Award, named as a memorial for a well-known architect. The award, established in 1921, recognizes “the most beautiful piece of architecture, building, monument, or structure built in the metropolitan Boston area in the past 10 years.”  

In addition to a juried award, each year the BSA seeks the general public’s input by voting on the same selected finalists to pick a “People’s Choice” winner. The public’s appreciation of beauty in architecture may vary from the jury decision, with the People’s Choice Award voting allowing for broader recognition and awareness of design impacts within our local communities.

In 2023, the People’s Choice Award winner was the Center for Computing & Data Sciences at Boston University, designed by KPMB Architects and the juried Harleston Parker Medal winner was Berklee Tower, Berklee College of Music, designed by William Rawn Associates, Architects, Inc.

In addition to the Adams Street Library, the other finalists are the renovated Roxbury branch of the BPL and Harvard University’s District Energy facility.

The voting for People’s Choice is open until Jan. 31 on the BSA website. The winner will be revealed at the Annual BSA Awards Gala on the evening of March 5.