Sheila O'Donnell was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters at their Spring Dinner in New York on April 10th 2019. The following citation was read:

The buildings made by Sheila O’Donnell speak using the language of solidity. They feel familiar in that they seem to “belong” but they are at the same time always utterly new. She was awarded the Royal Gold Medal by the Royal Institute of British Architects, one of the most important architectural awards in the world, with her partner and husband John Tuomey. Her work has also been shortlisted six times for the Mies Van der Rohe Award that recognizes the best work in Europe. She is an architects’ architect. Her powerful work continues to exemplify the balance of invention and authenticity for all who practice and all who care about architecture.

American Academy of Arts and Letters Citation