Amt, Ford, Price, and Wardell Elevated to Fellowship

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is elevating four AIA members from AIA Virginia to its prestigious College of Fellows, AIA’s highest membership honor for their exceptional work and contributions to architecture and society. The 2024 Jury of Fellows is elevating 96 members this year to the College of Fellows.

The fellowship program was developed to elevate those architects who have achieved a standard of excellence in the profession and made a significant contribution to architecture and society on a national level.

As many of you know, the College of Fellows is AIA’s highest membership honor, with only 3% of members achieving this distinction. The bar is justifiably high, and the jury deliberates for days on the hundreds of applicants. If you’re new to AIA or interested in understanding the process better, you can learn more about the nomination and criteria, which includes fellowship objects, here.

The newly elevated fellows from AIA Virginia are:

  • Michelle Amt, FAIA of VMDO Architects (Central Virginia)
  • Edward Ford, FAIA of Edward R. Ford Architect-Author (Central Virginia)
  • Mel Price, FAIA of Work Program Architects (Hampton Roads)
  • Bruce Wardell, FAIA of brwarchitects, p.c. (Central Virginia)

New fellows will be honored at the AIA Virginia Fellows Fête, March 16, 2024 at Barboursville Vineyards.

New fellows will be honored at the AIA Awards Gala, June 7, 2024, at the National Building Museum in Washington D.C. Learn more about fellowship on AIA’s website.

ArchEx 2024: Call for Presentations

Architecture Exchange East is the annual thought-leadership conference and expo curated by AIA Virginia. It will be held Nov. 6-8, 2024, in Richmond, Virginia! Our goal is to bring together the brightest minds and most engaging speakers to present talks that are future-focused on a wide range of subjects, to provoke important conversations among design professionals, and to promote networking, relationship building, and collaboration.

Celebrating its 37th year, ArchEx has always strived to help push the profession forward. We are looking for exciting and engaging topics and speakers to make this year unforgettable.

We value sessions that encourage conversation, connections, and collaborative learning. Think workshops, roundtables, tours, and interactive panels. Many of our session slots will be 60 minutes, but we’ll also reserve longer time slots for more in-depth explorations. 

To propose an offering, complete and submit the Presentation Proposal Form by April 30, 2024. Your proposal will be reviewed, and you will be contacted no later than July 2024. Incomplete forms will not be accepted.

Requirements

  • Submit a completed proposal form online
  • Proposals must be received by the deadline date.
  • Expert speakers with public speaking experience are preferred
  • Presentation content must be sufficient for the proposed length of the session

Deadline is 5:00 p.m., April 30, 2024

Decision Process

All proposals are evaluated by AIA Virginia’s Education Advisory Council to ensure they address the educational needs of the audience and that the program is well-balanced. The submission review process will begin in June and will continue until the entire program is set.

If you would like to be a part of the Education Advisory Council and help shape the ArchEx program, please contact Delaney Ogden at dogden@aiava.org.

Suggestions and Questions

Suggestions for potential speakers or questions about the conference can be directed to Delaney Ogden, Director of Education at dogden@aiava.org.

Suggested Topics

  • Tours — Projects of interest, in progress or recently completed, restoration, redevelopment, urban planning, art installations, artist studios, creatives, historical architecture, etc.
  • Tours/experiences of cultural, historical, and artistic interest
  • Workshops/experiences that involve community design/engagement
  • Business planning
  • Excellence in Design
  • New Uses of Technology
  • Codes
  • Accessibility
  • Leadership
  • Office management
  • Residential design
  • Healthcare and wellness
  • Sustainable Design

Register NOW for the Virginia Design Forum XVI – [Un]Certainty: Reflections on Craft at the Cyberfrontier

Hurry, get your tickets! REGISTRATION CLOSES FRIDAY, MARCH 22!

Tickets are now available for the 2024 Virginia Design Forum XVI – [Un]Certainty: Reflections on Craft at the Cyber Frontier! Taking place in Richmond, VA on April 5-6, 2024 at the Institute for Contemporary Art VCU. Our speakers will challenge assumptions and define new boundaries along the spectrum of craft and design, evolving how humanness and technology continue to intersect in our built environment.

Speaker Line Up:

Billie Tsien of TWBTA
Ted Flato of Lake Flato
Rick Joy of
Studio Rick Joy
Dwayne Oyler of
Oyler Wu Collaborative

Earn 6.75 AIA LU | Elective (pending)

Schedule

FRIDAY
2:00 p.m.  Meet and Greet, Registration Opens
3:00 p.m. Welcome and Moderator Remarks | Dwayne Oyler
4:00 p.m. Ted Flato, FAIA
5:30 p.m. Happy Hour Reception
7:00 p.m. First Fridays in Richmond, VA (attendees out on your own)

SATURDAY
8:30 a.m.  Check-in and Breakfast
9:30 a.m. Billie Tsien, AIA
10:45 a.m. Rick Joy, FAIA
11:45 a.m. Provided Lunch
1:00 p.m. Moderator Remarks and Speaker Panel
2:00 p.m. Tour of the Institute of Contemporary Art VCU with Quinn Evans (associate architect)
3:00 p.m. Closing Remarks

Location
Attendees can join us at the award-winning Institute for Contemporary Art VCU in Richmond, Virginia.

Tickets
AIA Member/VANOMA Member: $250
Assoc. AIA Member: $175
Non-member: $300
Student: $60

Lodging
The room block for this event is SOLD OUT.

Please join us in thanking our generous supporters.
Want to become a sponsor? Check out our sponsorship package and complete this form.

Platinum Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Mark S. Orling, AIA

Sterling Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Epic Metals logo

Bronze Sponsors

2023 Design Awards Announced

AIA Virginia is pleased to announce the 2023 Design Awards. These honors celebrate projects no older than seven years that contribute to the built environment and are clear examples of thoughtful, engaging design. Within each of the award categories, consideration was given to sustainability, affordability, social impact, innovation, durability, addressing the natural and built context, and meeting the specific needs of the client.

From a field of 144 entries, only 14 were selected by the jury for recognition. These few projects stood above the rest as particularly notable. Awards of Merit are presented to those projects worthy of recognition and an Award of Honor is reserved for those projects deemed by the jury to be truly exceptional. Consideration is given to aesthetics, social impact, innovation, context, performance, and stewardship of the natural environment — with particular emphasis on the Framework for Design Excellence.

About the Jury
A committee of esteemed architects chaired by Ray Calabro, FAIA, judged the entries for AIA Virginia’s 2023 Awards for Excellence in Architecture. Joining Calabro on the jury are Jennifer Devlin-Herbert, FAIA; Omar Gandhi, FRAAC; and Karen Lu, AIA.

In the ADAPTIVE OR CONTINUED USE category

The work of retrofitting, renovating, adapting, and remodeling existing buildings accounts for almost half of U.S. architecture billings. This award celebrates design interventions upon existing buildings that help achieve carbon reduction through creative reuse and adaptation.

Award of Honor

The Assembly (Pittsburgh, Pa.)

Architecture Firm: ZGF Architects
Owner: University of Pittsburgh
General Contractor: Turner Construction
Structural Engineer: Thornton Tomasetti
MEP Engineer: Affiliated Engineers, Inc.
Photographers: Connie Zhou and Halkin Mason Photography

Jury Comments: We appreciated the significant yet respectful transformation of the existing building, particularly the double-height glazed space. The adaptive reuse of the assembly bays into open, flexible spaces for research is great.

In the ARCHITECTURE category

The jury considers aesthetics, adherence to the client’s wishes, proven and projected building performance, and concept development during its deliberations.

Award of Honor

The Center of Developing Entrepreneurs (Charlottesville, Va.)

Architecture Firm: WOLF ACKERMAN
Associate Architect: EskewDumezRipple+
Owner: CSH Development
General Contractor: Hourigan Group
Photographer: Alan Karchmer

Jury Comments: We appreciated the attention to design at every level: a clever site response to the Halprin master plan, great massing strategies, and beautiful use of material and detailing at both interior and exterior. We applaud the integration of high sustainability goals/LEED Platinum.

Awards of Merit

Church Hill North – The Kitchens at Reynolds (Richmond, Va.)

Architecture Firm: Quinn Evans – Architect of Record
O’Neill McVoy Architects – Design Architect
Owner: Church Hill North Holdings LLC
General Contractor: Hourigan
Structural Engineer: Silman
MEP Engineer: Valley Engineering
Civil Engineer: Timmons
Consultant: Clyde Construction Engineering
Photographer: Ansel Olsen

Jury Comments: We admired the social program of this building and its response to serving the surrounding community. It has a strong diagrammatic response to the site, and we appreciated the bold forms and use of materials. It will be great to see how it performs after all spaces are inhabited.

Thurston Hall Renovation (Washington, D.C.)

Architecture Firm: VMDO Architects
Owner: The George Washington University
General Contractor: Clark Construction
Photographer: Alan Karchmer

Jury Comments: A few simple moves result in a thoughtful yet dramatic renovation to maximize daylight and connection to the outdoors. This is a case study for adapting existing buildings, especially student housing, which is an important component of student wellness and building community on any campus.

In the HISTORIC PRESERVATION category

The historic preservation category focuses specifically on excellence in strategies, tactics, and technologies that advance the art, craft, and science of preserving historically significant buildings and sites. The jury takes into consideration adherence to local, state, and national criteria for historic preservation.

Awards of Merit

Warm Springs Pools (Warm Springs, Va.)

Architecture Firm: 3North
Owner: The Omni Homestead Resort
General Contractor: Lionberger Construction
Structural Engineer: 1200 Architectural Engineer, PLLC
Photographer: Gordon Gregory

Jury Comments: We applaud this gentle restoration of beautiful 19th-century wood bathing structures. The elegance comes from the restraint and what they chose to restore rather than reimagine. Appreciated the clarity of the submission and the photos of the project history.

Renovation of Historic Camping Cabins, Douthat State Park and Fairy Stone State Park

Architecture Firm: PMA Architecture
Consulting Architect: Stemann | Pease Architecture
Owner: Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
General Contractor: Thor Construction LLC
Photographers: Yuzhu Zheng and Dave Chance Photography

Jury Comments: This project honors the existing historic cabins in a thoughtful way. We appreciated the accessibility story, the highly crafted additions, and treating these modest buildings with a gentle touch.

In the INTERIOR DESIGN category

Interior design projects are judged on mastery of composition, functionality, material and color palettes, and well-integrated adherence to the highest levels of accessibility, health and safety, environmental, and occupant-comfort considerations, standards, and regulations.

Honorable Mention

Symphony Orthodontics (Bristow, Va.)

Architecture Firm: OLI Architecture PLLC
Architect of Record: Aurora Architects LLC
Owner: Dr. Zahra Heidari
General Contractor: Liberty Group LLC
Millworkers: Hachi Collections, LLC and Epic Enterprises Inc.
Photographers: Susuan Stripling and Cameron Davidson

Jury Comments: We appreciated the commitment of both client and designer to crafting an immersive environment. Appreciate the floor plan and a series of minimal but highly refined and crafted spaces.

In the RESIDENTIAL DESIGN category

Aesthetic appeal and functionality are two long-established criteria for home design, as are affordability and resource efficiency. The jury looks at each submission in its totality toward meeting those goals.

Awards of Merit

Foal House and Studio (Charlottesville)

Architecture Firm: Gehrung Graham LLC
Owner: Audrey & Mark Graham
General Contractor: Jobes Builders (phase 1) and Promethean Homes (phase 2)
Lighting Design: MSLD
Landscape Architecture: JCLA Studio
Photographer: Virginia Hamrick

Jury Comments: We applaud this project’s commitment to Passive House design. It is one of the few residential projects to actually provide EUI data and the commitment to sustainability is noteworthy.

Nebo House (Nebo, N.C.)

Architecture Firm: Fuller/Overby Architecture
Owner: Katherine Overby
Contractor: Cottonwood Development
Structural Engineer:   Nat Oppenheimer, Silman
Mechanical Engineer:  Mark Cambria, Fusion Systems
Photographer: Paul Warchol

Jury Comments: We liked the unusual forms and the way the house engages with the steep terrain. Despite the modest scale (2600 SF), the interiors are dramatic spaces filled with light. We appreciate the inventive floor plan.

In the SMALL PROJECTS category

Design excellence can be achieved, no matter the size or scope of a project. These awards celebrate projects with modest budgets that have a substantial impact. Small Project Awards are given in three categories, offering opportunities for recognition to a wide range of project sizes and budgets. All projects must demonstrate design achievement, including how the project fits into its environment and how the project connects to the Framework for Design Excellence.

Projects under 5,000 Square Feet

Award of Honor

CASA Playhouse/Play Factory (Richmond)

Architecture Firm: Hanbury
Owner: Henrico CASA
Contractor: DPR Construction
Photographer: Hanbury

Jury Comments: We loved the sense of playfulness that pervades every aspect of this modest project. And we appreciated the use of modest, reclaimed/donated materials to achieve a visual richness.

Award of Merit

Episcopal Church of the Resurrection (Alexandria)

Architecture Firm: Cunningham Quill Architects
Owner: Church of the Resurrection
Contractor: Dominion Construction Group
Landscape Architect: Campion Hruby Landscape Architects
Civil Engineer: Walter L. Phillips, Inc.
Structural Engineer: Ehlert Bryan Consulting Structural Engineers
MEP Engineer: Interface Engineering, Inc.
Lighting Design: MCLA Architectural Lighting Design

Jury Comments: The jury appreciated this project’s focus on developing a sacred space within modest means. The resulting interior space is filled with light and is sensitively positioned on the site.

Projects up to $150,000

Honorable Mention

Tangential Timber (temporary pavilion reinstalled at multiple sites)

Architecture Firm: After Architecture, LLC & University of Virginia Before Building Laboratory
Owner: University of Virginia Before Building Laboratory
Fabrication Team: Sonja Bergquist, Sophie Depret-Guillaume, Cecily Farrell, Abbey Partika, Russell Petro, Emily Ploppert, Jonathan (Yianni) Spears, Jolie Talha, Annabelle Woodcock
Photographer: After Architecture

Jury Comments: The jury recognized the proposed use of offcut/waste material into an inventive structural system. This type of thinking/research could be applied to many areas of the building profession.

In the CONTEXTUAL DESIGN category

The awards for contextual design are chosen based on outstanding architecture that perceptibly reflects the history, culture, and physical environment of the place in which it stands and that, in turn, contributes to the function, beauty, and meaning of its larger context.

Award of Honor

U.S. Embassy Campus Niamey (Niamey, Niger)

Architecture Firm/Architect of Record: Page Southerland Page, Inc.
Design Architect: Miller Hull Partnership
Owner: U.S. Department of State
Contractor: BL Harbert International, LLC
Geotechnical Engineer: Schnabel Engineering
Civil Engineer: KPFF Consulting Engineers
MEP Engineer: Mason & Hanger
Structural Engineer: Ehlert Bryan Consulting Structural Engineers
Blast Engineer: Weidlinger Associates, Inc.
Photographers: Amber Renee Design and Kevin Scott

Jury Comments: The jury appreciated the sensitive response of this building to its climate and cultural context. We particularly liked the use of locally sourced materials and the way texture and color are woven into the scheme.

In the UNBUILT WORK category

Unbuilt work was considered, as long as it was commissioned by a client as opposed to hypothetical work completed in the mode of research or academic training.

Honorable Mention

ReGen LA (Los Angeles)

Designer: Tomas Eliaeson

Jury Comments: We acknowledge the aspirational qualities of the project, which are evident at many levels. Planning principles and sustainability strategies are woven together, demonstrating the need for this type of thinking at all scales of development.