This year’s Pritzker Prize—the highest annual accolade in architecture—has been awarded to Alejandro Aravena, the Chilean talent who heads the Santiago-based firm Elemental. The Pritzker jury, made up of a handful of industry leaders (including past recipients Glenn Murcutt and Richard Rogers), noted Aravena’s commitment to humanitarian works, especially housing. Tom Pritzker, the chairman and president of the Hyatt Foundation, which sponsors the prize, praised Aravena in a statement, saying he “has pioneered a collaborative practice that produces powerful works of architecture and also addresses key challenges of the 21st century.” Since founding Elemental in 2000, Aravena has created economical yet boldly imagined social housing—more than 2,500 residential units in all—and helped rebuild disaster-torn areas. Throughout his career, the architect has also dotted Latin America with grand civic and institutional buildings, and designed chic office spaces as far away as Shanghai. Aravena, who is the first Chilean to be awarded the Pritzker, will formally receive his prize on April 4 at United Nations in New York City.

Here are a few of our favorite buildings in Aravena’s portfolio.

Siamese Towers, 2005

Located on the Universidad Católica de Chile’s San Joaquín campus, Aravena’s glazed tower, which houses classrooms and offices, has bifurcated upper floors.

UC Innovation Center–Anacleto Angelini, 2014

After the Angelini Group donated funds to create a hub that melded business and educational sectors on the Universidad Católica de Chile’s San Joaquín campus, Aravena responded with an austere concrete edifice whose central atrium floods the core with light.

St. Edward’s University Dorms, 2008

Aravena crafted this 300-bed residence hall for St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, so that each room has ample sunlight and privacy.

Las Cruces Pilgrim Lookout Point, 2010

Nestled in the picturesque hills of Jalisco, Mexico, this remote observation point was designed to look like a natural part of the landscape as it ages.

Constitución Seaside Promenade, 2014

In the wake of the devastating tsunami that struck the seaside city of Constitución, Chile, Aravena created this refined lookout point to help reinvigorate the coastline.