A committee composed almost entirely of community members interviewed several prominent architects before settling on Mr. Holl.

"I could easily plan the perfect house for the past 26 years," said Ms. Korda, 53, who is interviewing architects.

The real estate committee didn't interview other architects or ask for submissions because "we didn't think we needed it," Mr. Mirante said.

Then they spent months poring over books on Case Study houses and interviewing architects, most of whom were too expensive.

Once convinced it was sound financially, company officials spent 18 months interviewing architects and contractors.

Watres departed for New York City to interview architects.

They began to interview architects in New York, but without much encouragement.

A building committee has been interviewing other architects, including the Italian Renzo Piano, who is considered the favorite, people in architectural circles said.

As a next step, Lincoln Center officials will interview architects and acousticians and will visit the halls and projects that best represent their work.

They interviewed top architects, and in a sign of growing interest in affordable housing, nearly all of them expressed interest.