David Chipperfield has been awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany by the Federal President Horst Koehler. The ceremony took place at the Schloss Bellevue in Berlin on 5 October 2009.

The Order of Merit is the highest tribute the Federal Republic of Germany can pay to individuals for services to the nation. Around 40 people were honoured, including the English conductor Sir Simon Rattle and the German concert violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter.