Pritzker Prize to be delayed following Jeffrey Epstein revelations

This year's Pritzker Architecture Prize announcement is set to be delayed following the foundation's director, Tom Pritzker, being named in the Epstein files.

A spokesperson for the organisation told the New York Times that this year's announcement, which typically happens in the first week of March, would be delayed.

The news follows Tom Pritzker resigning from his role as executive chairman of the Hyatt Hotels Corporation, after it was revealed he continued correspondence with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein after his conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2008.

"Exercised terrible judgment"

Following this conviction, Epstein was registered as a sex offender.

In a statement released alongside his resignation, Tom Pritzker said he had "exercised terrible judgment in maintaining contact with [Epstein]".

Tom Pritzker remains vice president of the Pritzker Foundation and president of the Hyatt Foundation, which established the Pritzker Architecture Prize.

Prize awarded "free from external influence"

A statement from the Pritzker Architecture Prize aimed to defend the award, which is widely considered the highest honour in architecture, and its independence.

"The jury, composed of internationally respected professionals from a range of disciplines, has always and will continue to conduct its work confidentially and free from external influence," said the statement issued to the New York Times.

The Pritzker Architecture Prize was established by Tom Pritzker's father, Jay Pritzker, in 1979, with Philip Johnson being named the first winner.

Previous winners of the award include some of architecture's best-known names – Zaha Hadid, Frank Gehry, Richard Rogers, Norman Foster, Rem Koolhaas, Álvaro Siza and Tadao Ando.

Last year, the prize was won by Chinese architect Liu Jiakun.

Tom Pritzker is mentioned over a thousand times in the latest release of Epstein's emails, which were made public on 30 January.

The files reveal numerous conversations between Tom Pritzker and Epstein, including arrangements to meet. The financier was invited to the awards ceremony numerous times.

The photo is courtesy of the Pritzker Architecture Prize.

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