Mystic – Mystic Seaport’s new Thompson Exhibition Building, designed by Centerbrook Architects & Planners of Essex, has earned its second design award.

The 21,000-square-foot building, that evokes a breaking wave and the ribs of a wooden ship, was given an Honor Award-With Distinction at the American Institute of Architects annual Quality Unites Architectural Design Conference awards in Albany, N.Y. The conference is comprised of AIA chapters from Connecticut, New Jersey, New York State and Pennsylvania.

The awards jury called the Thompson building “Whimsical and joyful, this project has very strong imagery: the jury admired its resilience and its work with glulam structure to connect with traditional shipbuilding imagery.”

Earlier this year, the building received a CREW CT Blue Ribbon Award for Best Specialty Project.

The building includes a large exhibit hall that can accommodate traveling exhibits and is a major part of the museum’s effort to become more of a year round destination.

Centerbrook’s designs have won 380 awards, including the Architecture Firm Award, a distinction held by only 37 active firms nationwide.