Rem Koolhaas, a professor at the Graduate School of Design (GSD), has been awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize, often described as the discipline's highest honor.

Koolhaas, who is professor in practice of architecture and urban design, was chosen from a pool of more than 500 nominees worldwide.

He will fly to Jerusalem at the end of May for the awards ceremony, at which time he'll receive a $100,000 grant and a bronze medallion.

The award annually honors a living architect based on built work that has produced "consistent and significant contributions to humanity and the built environment through the art of architecture," according to the prize committee's website.

Koolhaas said his being chosen was significant because he interprets architecture differently from past recipients.

"I think I've always been somebody who believes that architecture is much more than building," he said. "This is the first time they've given the award to somebody with those ideas."

Assistant Professor of Architecture Ronald Witte agreed that the choice of Koolhaas has changed perceptions of the prize.

"It's often awarded for past accomplishments, and while Koolhaas certainly has significant past achievements, there's a sort of promise in that the award was given to him," Witte said. "He's in the process of [creating] future accomplishments."