The OS House by John J. Macaulay, courtesy of Johnsen Schmaling Architects

The OS House by Johnsen Schmaling Architects is the lone single-family residence on the list. Built on land abutting Lake Michigan in Racine, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee, the forward-thinking house stands apart from the neighboring Victorians and brick Colonials by emphasizing transparency and outdoor spaces. While some community members are sure to complain of an eyesore, AIA jury member Lauren Yarmuth credits OS House with “changing the paradigm of what a house can be in an urban/suburban environment.”