The year 1990 in architecture involved some significant architectural events and new buildings.

Events

• Caruso St John architectural practice established in the U.K. by Adam Caruso and Peter St John.

Buildings and structures

• Atatürk Dam in Turkey is completed
• Scotia Tower (Montreal) in Montreal, Canada
• Bank of China Tower, Hong Kong, designed by I. M. Pei, is completed and becomes the tallest building in the British Commonwealth (1990-1992).
• Messeturm in Frankfurt, is completed and becomes the tallest building in the European Union (1990-1997).
• U.S. Bank Tower in Los Angeles, designed by architectural firm Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, is completed.
• Two Prudential Plaza in Chicago is completed.
• Scripps Center in Cincinnati is completed.
• Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro in Ivory Coast, designed by Pierre Fakhoury, is consecrated as one of the world's largest churches.
• The Round Building at Hathersage in the Peak District of England, for David Mellor (cutler), designed by Michael Hopkins, is built.^[1]
• Construction of the Washington National Cathedral is completed.

Awards

• American Academy of Arts and Letters Gold Medal – Kevin Roche.
• AIA Gold Medal – E. Fay Jones.
• Architecture Firm Award – Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates.
• European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture (Mies van der Rohe Prize) – Sir Norman Foster for New Stansted Airport Terminal, London.
• Grand Prix de l'urbanisme – Jean-François Revert.
• Grand Prix national de l'architecture – Francis Soler.
• Praemium Imperiale Architecture Laureate – James Stirling.
• Pritzker Prize – Aldo Rossi.
• RAIA Gold Medal – Peter McIntyre.
• RIBA Royal Gold Medal – Aldo van Eyck.
• Twenty-five Year Award – Gateway Arch.
• UIA Gold Medal – Charles Correa.

Deaths

• April 20 – Arnold Alas, Estonian soldier and architect (born 1911)
• August 6 – Gordon Bunshaft, American architect (born 1909)
• June 19 – Steen Eiler Rasmussen, Danish architect (born 1898)
• December 24 – Judith Ledeboer, Dutch-born English architect (born 1901)
• December 31 – Giovanni Michelucci, Italian architect (born 1891)