As of last week's 2007 TED Conference, Architecture for Humanity's Open Architecture Network is live and making giant waves in media, design and architecture circles. Following on the heels of the launch, Architecture for Humanity also just announced that in partnership with Advanced Micro Devices' (AMD) 50x15 Initiave, they will this year establish the Open Architecture Prize -- a $250,000 grant for "the design of a sustainable technology facility and community center which incorporates a centralized building equipped with internet connectivity solutions designed to enable an entire community to access the transformative power of the Internet. The competition will be developed with a local community partner for a specific site and community. Once a design is selected, the prize money will be used to implement the winning scheme. Designs will also be made available through the Open Architecture Network."

The 50X15 Initiative exists to tackle the goal of connecting 50% of the world's population to the Internet by 2015. By encouraging online collaboration through Open Architecture Network's system, the competition will foster greater access and incentive for connectivity in the interest of community development, and improved social and educational infrastructure.

Congrats to Cameron Sinclair, Architecture for Humanity's co-founder and our Worldchanging team member and friend, and to Kate Stohr, who co-founded AfH with Cameron. This is a great achievement and it portends even greater and bigger things in the future.

Also, check out this recent interview with Cameron about the Open Architecture Network.