Japanese architect wins U.S. prize

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., April 13 (UPI) -- Shigeru Ban was awarded the 40th annual Thomas Jefferson Medal in Architecture Wednesday by the University of Virginia in ceremonies at Charlottesville, Va.

The award was presented for the Japanese architect's innovative use of building materials.

Among Ban's works are a building made of recycled paper that was used as shelter for victims of the 1995 earthquake in Kobe, Japan. His works were later reused at other earthquake sites in turkey and India.

"Shigeru Ban's groundbreaking work using non-traditional materials, concern for the environment and humanitarian efforts places him at the forefront of new research in architecture," said the university's architecture school dean Karen Van Lengen.