Public toilets in the vicinity of the King Street Metro Station
“Inequality in access to public toilets has taken on an increasingly urban/suburban divide. In suburbia, bathrooms in privately owned businesses such as gas stations, fast-food restaurants, or big-box stores stand in for public toilets. In contrast, fewer establishments in the city allow access to toilet facilities, particularly for non-customers.” So states the brief for this year’s Virginia Prize, written by faculty from Virginia Tech’s Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center (the WAAC), which afforded students the opportunity to design a public toilet for the local municipality of Alexandria, Virginia in the vicinity of the King Street Metro Station.
The brief was distributed to students at Hampton University, the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech (both in Blacksburg and at the WAAC), William & Mary, and James Madison University at 5 PM on Friday 31 January. Submissions were due at 9 AM Monday 3 February. Over those scant sixty-four hours, students developed their entries.
Each school selected no more than ten of their best entries for further consideration by a jury consisting of Julie Nelson, AIA, David Kubik, AIA, Harpreet Dhaliwal, AIA and Todd Poisson, AIA from the New York City-based firm BKSK Architects.
BKSK Architects is an accomplished firm designing across a broad range of markets with expertise in sustainability, preservation, community impact, and planning. Their projects include Battery Playscape, an intentionally flexible framework that supports open-ended play informed by the local ecology, which was nominated for the Best Public Playground in the United States. Principal Julie Nelson, who received Honorable Mention in a past edition of the Virginia Prize while studying at UVA, offered that the firm “has a surprisingly large portfolio of public restroom facilities including several in New York City Parks and a large restroom project at the Bellevue Men’s Shelter,” and suggested that it was “great to see this program as the focus of a design competition and the care the students put into the design solutions.”
The jury “appreciated submissions that were easy to understand graphically, particularly those that had a legible site plan and floor plan. This allowed us to understand how the proposed projects engaged with the context, the Metro station and the plaza.” They were “drawn to designs where the form grew out of site conditions and program, rather than being a predetermined form that ‘landed’ on the site.” And they “appreciated those submissions that considered the project holistically, thinking about not only form-making but also the user experience and environmental impact.”
As a result of their deliberations, the jury commended “the variety of responses and the thoughtfulness that the students brought to the brief, despite the short weekend timeframe” and awarded the following prizes.
First Prize: Taylor Wypyski (VT) “Washington D.P(ee)” – $3,000
The jury appreciated that this project was ambitious in its design while intelligently addressing functionality. The connection to the existing Metro at two levels and the use of stormwater runoff from the large station roof to serve the bathrooms was particularly notable. The inventive form marked a gateway to the station while serving the variety of functions required by the program. The color of the finish material was found to be sympathetic to the surrounding context and a nod to the color of Virginia clay.
Second Prize: Ethan Turner (UVA) “King Street Comfort Station” – $1,500
This project was considered to be thoughtful in its urbanistic approach and in its execution. The jury appreciated not only the presentation, but also the siting, which used the bathroom structure to create a transition between Old Town and the Metro Plaza. Its circulation was considered to be particularly successful – circulation both directly through the structure and along the paths that accessed the restrooms, lavatories, and bike parking. The use of recycled materials was found to be sympathetic to the context while reducing environmental impact.
Third Prize: Eleanor Dedrick (UVA) “Go with the Flow” - $1,000
The jury discerned that the design solution grew out of an understanding of the commuters’ existing circulation patterns. They appreciated how the colorful palette and playful forms enlivened and successfully engaged with the existing concrete structure. They also enjoyed the addition of the swirling light fixtures and confetti, noting that these simple design elements add to the sense of play. And they noted that the written description of this submission was clear and effective in conveying the design intent.
Honorable Mention:
Kristina Dickey (UVA) “Tree Toilet”
This project was described by the jury as “the restroom we would most like to use.”
Addison Mainer (Hampton) “The Hive”
The jury noted that “anyone who has been in the DC Metro knows the signature floor tiles used throughout the system. We loved that these served as the point of departure for this proposal.”
Rifat Mostafa (VT – WAAC) “Social Lounge”
“We loved the energy of this scheme and the way the interventions permeated the site, inside and out. The bathroom facility layout was well done.”
Marie Zenzie (VT) (no title)
“The project was notable for its quality of presentation and clarity of idea.” The pencil drawings of the curvilinear glass block scheme were “simple yet evocative.”
Congratulations to those who were recognized. Gratitude to the jury. And appreciation to all who entered.
Entries to the 2025 Design Awards program are now being accepted. AIA Virginia’s Awards for Excellence in Architecture (also known as the Design Awards) recognize outstanding design, built and unbuilt, from the past seven years. The program is juried by a team of esteemed practitioners from outside of the region.
No specific number of awards is set, and the program is open to all categories of building as well as interiors projects. The location of projects is not restricted, but any built works submitted for consideration must have been completed on or after Jan. 1, 2018.
All submissions are due by Friday, June 27, 2025 at 5 p.m.
Each entry must include a completed Framework for Design Excellence Project Information Form as page one of their submission. Note: Entrants should not feel obligated to respond to every measure within the Framework — only those that apply to the project being submitted. It is understood that every project is different and may not respond to each measure within the Framework. The jury will consider each design holistically and within context. (Note on the form itself – make sure all of your entry text is visible from the PDF before uploading.)
Submission Requirements
MAY NOT EXCEED 12 MB, 8 pages, and pages 2-7 may not exceed 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio in page size This PDF must include: Page 1: Required Framework for Design Excellence Project Information Sheet (Note on the form itself – make sure all of your entry text is visible from the PDF before uploading) Page 2: Brief project description (voided of design firm’s name or logo) and category to which it is being submitted Pages 3,4,5,6, 7: Photographs, renderings, and/or plans/sections that provide a clear understanding of the project. Also encouraged are concept sketches that communicate the development of the project and or its method of construction. There may not be any information in this document that identifies the firm. Entries with identifying information will be disqualified.
Entries are due by 5 p.m. on June 27, 2025.Note: You should be prepared to submit your concealed ID and project submission upon entry.
Entry fees
AIA VirginiaMembers: $210 for the first project $180 for each additional project The Small Projects Category has a reduced entry fee of $100 Note: The entrant must be a member of AIA Virginia to be eligible to receive the member discount. The submitting AIA Virginia member must be a contributor to the design team.
Non-members of the AIAVA (must have an office located in Virginia): $295 for the first project $270 for each additional project The Small Projects Category has a reduced entry fee of $200
Developed by members of the AIA, the Framework for Design Excellence, represents the defining principles of good design in the 21st century. It’s intended to be accessible and relevant for every architect, every client, and every project — regardless of size, typology, or aspiration.
The 10 measures that make up the Framework are intended to inspire progress toward a zero-carbon, equitable, resilient, and healthy built environment. They represent standards of excellence as defined by members of the AIA. These measures align with the AIA’s core values which are collectively defined by members across the country.
The completed Framework for Design Excellence Project Information Form is required and shall be page 1 of each submission. The remaining 6 pages of each submission may be designed and defined by the entrant.
Use the Project Narrative section to describe how the design aligns with the Framework for Design Excellence. Entrants are encouraged to address all applicable measures.
We recognize every project is different and may not respond to every measure within the Framework. The jury will consider the design holistically and within context.
Data may not be available for some metrics on the form, or the client may prefer to keep certain metrics confidential. If this is the case, space is provided on the form to provide an explanation.
Entrants are encouraged to call out extraordinary responses to specific measures in the remaining 6 pages of their submission as well.
Resiliency is the ability to quickly recover from disruption. But, how quickly can our buildings and systems bounce back from natural or man-made disasters? Can our infrastructure rapidly adapt to changing environmental, social, and economic conditions?
Join AIA Virginia from 12:00-1:00 pm each day from May 19 to May 20 for an exploration of resiliency in the built environment and discover why investing in resilient solutions can help protect us all.
Schedule:
5/19: Peter Williams with ARISE US – The Business Case for Resiliency – submitted for AIA CES approval
5/21: Jessica Steelman with Resilient Virginia – Resilient Virginia Initiatives – submitted for AIA CES approval
5/22: Denise Nelson with DNAdvising, LLC – Sustainable Infrastructure – submitted for AIA CES approval
5/23: John Wilson with Drishti Compost – The Importance of Microbes – submitted for AIA CES approval
When the weather starts to get warm and the flowers bloom, it makes us reflect on the wonders of nature. Whether it’s the beauty of a spring day or the power of a hurricane, our buildings will endure through the best and worst this world has to offer. It’s important that us as architects learn to work with nature and not against. AIA Virginia Outreach Advisory Council has been planning the next Resiliency Week for May 19th– May 23rd in order to highlight what Virginians have been doing to build more resilient communities and buildings. In anticipation of this, we would like to highlight a firm who has learn to adapt to coastal flooding. VIA Design in Norfolk has become a local expert in Coastal Virginia for resilient buildings, and we hope you will enjoy this article on their award-winning project, VIMS Eastern Shore Sea Water Lab.
Join AIA Virginia for virtual Architecture Month Trivia on Wednesday, April 23 from 12:00-1:00pm on Zoom for three rounds of Architecture trivia:
1. Name that Virginia Main Street ($25 Amazon gift card winner) 2. Virginia History ($25 Amazon gift card winner) 3. Name that Virginia Architect ($25 Amazon gift card winner)
AIA Virginia is pleased to announce the jury for the 2025 AIA Virginia Prize. The competition — which took place over the weekend of January 31-February 2 —challenged students to design a public toilet for the local municipality of Alexandria, Virginia in the vicinity of the King Street Metro Station. The facility should serve to support and further the city’s identity and image, creating an environment that elevates the program into an architecturally significant design.
Each school’s faculty reviewed the submissions and sent up to 10 finalists for final consideration by the jury which is chaired by Julie Nelson, AIA.
About the Jury
Julie Nelson, AIA, Partner
Julie became a Partner at BKSK in 2009. Her work ranges across typologies and disciplines – distinguished by design ambition that celebrates place, community, and environmental stewardship. As Partner in Charge and Lead Designer, she has been responsible for the design and construction of many of BKSK’s architecturally ambitious and complex civic and institutional projects. Julia was an Adjunct Professor at the City College Spitzer School of Architecture, teaching Design Studio and Professional Practice. An advocate for women in practice, Julia has been an active participant in mentoring through the AIANY Women in Architecture Committee. Julie holds both Bachelor of Science and Master’s degrees in Architecture from the University of Virginia.
Todd Poisson, AIA, Partner
Todd became a Partner at BKSK in 2009 and has over 30 years of experience in the architecture profession. As Partner in Charge and Lead designer, he has been responsible for the design and construction of many of BKSK’s most architecturally and technologically ambitious projects, ranging between institutional, residential, hospitality, and mixed-use types. Todd received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art, and Planning, and has enjoyed interviewing aspiring architectural students for admission in the program for 20 years.
David Kubik, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Partner
David Kubik joined BKSK in 2003 and was named Partner in 2018. He plays a strong role in the design of both institutional and development projects, and pays careful attention to details in both custom interior work and base building new construction. David has extensive experience coordinating large consultant teams on complex projects. David has served as Adjunct Assistant Professor at City Tech’s program for Architectural Technology. He received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Architecture degrees from the University of Maryland, where he was awarded the Thesis Citation.
Since joining BKSK in 2004, and being named Partner in 2025, Harpreet has overseen a variety of Public, Institutional, and Non-profit projects that weave together sustainability, community, and mission. Through her experience working with the NYC Department of Design and Construction, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, NY State Parks, and Queens Public Library, among others, she has developed a deep understanding of public agency process, requirements, and standards. Harpreet received her Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Virginia.
Click here to learn more about a recent Hanbury project that addressed challenges of public restrooms at the Hermitage Museum in Norfolk, VA.
Over the January 31-February 3 weekend, the 2025 AIA Virginia Prize competition kicked off with students around Virginia. We were thrilled to have William & Mary join competitors from Hampton University, UVA, Virginia Tech (Blacksburg and the WAAC), and JMU in addressing the challenge.
The first round of submissions is juried at the university level and up to 10 finalists from each school will be sent to be juried at the state level by the competition jury. We look forward to sharing and celebrating the results.
2025 AIA Virginia Prize Challenge
Background
Inequality in access to public toilets has taken on an increasingly urban/suburban divide. In suburbia, bathrooms in privately owned businesses such as gas stations, fast-food restaurants, or big-box stores stand in for public toilets. In contrast, fewer establishments in the city allow access to toilet facilities, particularly for non-customers. Disparate constituencies such as cab or delivery drivers, unhoused individuals, or those with medical conditions often find themselves in urgent need of toilet facilities while away from home. Many have pointed out the way in which public toilet access historically has facilitated participation in public life for women, workers, tourists, and many others. More recently, bathroom access has become a lightning rod for controversies over the inclusion of trans and nonbinary people in the public sphere. Today, cities like Tokyo are reinvesting in the public toilet, or the “comfort station,” as a form of branding and placemaking, often including additional amenities such as bike racks, benches, shade. Most importantly, they offer those in need a safe, clean, comfortable, and often beautiful facility designed with provocative forms, materials, or graphics.
The Challenge
Design a public toilet for the local municipality of Alexandria, Virginia in the vicinity of the King Street Metro Station. The facility should serve to support and further the city’s identity and image, creating an environment that elevates the program into an architecturally significant design. It must accommodate three to five visitors at a time and include a custodial service room. The design should consider the needs of the following: the differently abled, infants, young children, and their caregivers, the full spectrum fo gender identity, environmentally sustainable features and/or technologies, and potential suitability for prototyping.
About the AIA Virginia Prize
Conducted simultaneously at Hampton University, the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech (both in Blacksburg and at the Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center/the WAAC), William & Mary, and James Madison University, the competition is a design charrette that engages students across the Commonwealth. Students receive the competition program on a Friday afternoon at 5 p.m. They work over the weekend to create a design solution and submit it by 9 a.m. the following Monday.
Launched in 1980, the competition is intended to promote collaboration between the profession, students, and professors in Virginia.
Development of the competition brief rotates between the schools annually — the 2025 Prize challenge was developed by the WAAC.
The AIA Virginia Prize is a design charrette that engages students at all of the architecture programs in Virginia. Conducted simultaneously at each institution, students are given the competition program Friday at 5 p.m. They work over the weekend to create a board presenting their design solution by 9 a.m. the following Monday. The competition is intended to promote collaboration between the profession, students and professors in Virginia.
The first round of submissions is juried at the university level and up to 10 finalists from each school will be sent to be juried at the state level.
The 2025 competition takes place over the January 31 weekend. Faculty at Virginia Tech WAAC are finalizing the brief. The challenge brief will be posted to this page at 5 p.m. on Friday, January 31 and submissions are due to the school at 9 a.m. on Monday, February 3.
We wish the participating students a pleasant outing and look forward to considering and celebrating their proposals.
AIA Virginia is pleased to announce the 2024 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 award category, consideration was given to sustainability, affordability, social impact, innovation, durability, addressing the natural and built context, and meeting the client’s specific needs.
From a field of 143 entries, only 19 were selected by the jury for recognition. These few projects stood above the rest and were 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 Mark Cavagnero, FAIA, Principal and Design Leader at Mark Cavagnero Associates Architects in San Francisco, California, judged the entries for AIA Virginia’s 2024 Awards for Excellence in Architecture. Joining Cavagnero on the jury were Craig Hartman, FAIA, Curtis Clay, AIA, Paul Woolford, FAIA, and Bill Leddy, FAIA.
From the jury: In summary, our jury members have all been involved in architectural design for many years. There were many that were very close in our consideration, but the final call was to honor these 19 projects as just slightly more worthy of our accolades and acknowledgment. As a team we thoroughly enjoyed seeing and considering the extremely high-quality designs submitted. Well done, Virginia!
Celebrate these winning designs and designers at Visions for Architecture, on Nov. 7th at the Downtown Richmond Marriott.
In the ARCHITECTURE category
In their deliberations, the jury considers aesthetics, adherence to the client program, proven and projected building performance, and concept development.
Award of Honor
Stead Park Recreation Center (Washington, D.C.)
Image courtesy of VMDO Architects. Photo by Tom Holdsworth.
Architecture Firm: VMDO Architects Owner: DC Department of Parks + Recreation Contractor: GCS SIGAL Photographer: Tom Holdsworth
Jury Comments: The jury unanimously found this project elegant, handsome, and thoughtful. We discussed its beautiful proportions and its strong, clear diagram. The Net Zero aspect was also very well appreciated. One juror called this project the one true Home Run in the competition, leaving the group with very little need to spend much time reviewing it beyond accolades and appreciation.
Awards of Merit
U.S. Consulate General in Hyderabad, India
Image courtesy of HGA. Photo by Gabe Border.
Design Architect: Richard Kennedy Architects Associate Architect: HGA Contractor: Caddell Construction Co., LLC Photographer: Gabe Border
Jury Comments: The jury found this to be a generally very handsome statement of civic presence and cultural architecture. The systems’ explanation in the submittal was well-appreciated. Jurors admired the lobby particularly.
UVA Softball at Palmer Park (Charlottesville, Va.)
Image courtesy of VMDO Architects. Photo by Tom Holdsworth.
Architecture Firm: VMDO Architects Owner: University of Virginia Contractor: Jamerson-Lewis Construction Photographer: Holdsworth Photography
Jury Comments: The jury saw this as a strong and clear architectural form. The base is well detailed and the canopy above is a beautiful form.
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.
Citation
Folly & Utility at the MSV (Winchester, Va.)
Images courtesy of Reader & Swartz Architects, P.C.
Architecture Firm: Reader & Swartz Architects, P.C. Owner: Museum of the Shenandoah Valley Contractor: Howard Shockey & Sons Inc. Photography: Beth Reader, FAIA, Chuck Swartz, FAIA, Caleb Snyder, AIA
Jury Comments: The jury appreciated the way the architect clarified the earlier Michael Graves’ project without overshadowing it. The horticultural center was particularly well received as a sophisticated response to the context. Overall the counterpoint was subtle, clear, and in-balance.
In the ADAPTIVE or CONTINUED USE category
Projects submitted in this category should include either a renovation within an existing building or new construction that expands an existing structure or site. This award intends to recognize thoughtful interventions that create synergy between old and new construction, improve functionality, and energy efficiency, meet contemporary standards for comfort and utility, and/or capitalize on the embodied energy of an existing structure.
Jury Comments: The jury saw this as an exemplary piece of workplace architecture and a clever way to engage a historic structure and give it new life. The stair was particularly well received.
Citations
The Historic Douglass High School Education & Development Campus (Leesburg, Va.)
Image courtesy of Beyer Blinder Belle. Photo by Sam Kittner.
Jury Comments: The jury, once again, was impressed by the sensitivity and understanding the architects’ displayed in handling such a culturally significant building and all it represents to the community.
The University of Virginia: Renovation of Gilmer Hall (Charlottesville, Va.)
Image courtesy of Perkins&Will. Photo by Lincoln Barbour
Architecture Firm: Perkins&Will Owner: University of Virginia Contractor: The Whiting Turner Contracting Company Photographers: Todd Mason and Lincoln Barbour
Jury Comments: The jury discussed the care and restraint involved the project execution. It was seen as a very strong example of architects understanding one of our important roles- of maintaining, preserving and communicating the cultural heritage of artifacts entrusted to us.
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 Honor
Michigan Central Station (Detroit, Mich.)
Image courtesy of Quinn Evans.
Architecture Firm: Quinn Evans Owner: Michigan Central, Ford Motor Company Contractor: Christman/Brinker Photographers: James Haefner, Justin Maconochie, Jason Keen
Jury Comments: The jury found the historic building to be a joyous expression of civic architecture and realized that its preservation was an enormous effort worthy of such a building. The discussion also praised the government entities who found the funding to commit to such a restoration and realization of architecture’s cultural significance within a community.
Renovation of Richmond’s Old City Hall (Richmond, Va.)
Image courtesy of Quinn Evans. Photo by Joseph Romeo.
Architecture Firm: Quinn Evans Owner: Virginia Department of General Services Contractor: Grunley Construction Photographer: Joseph Romeo Photography
Jury Comments: The jury also found great effort and skill in the resolution of such a complex project. Like the Michigan Central Station, the jury discussed with excitement the wonderful level of commitment it took to not only design and build this but to find the funding to execute it. These projects were really inspiring to the jury for what architects can do with their skill, determination and energy in the 21st Century to carry forward our earlier aspirations and realizations.
Award of Merit
The Kanawha (Washington, D.C.)
Image courtesy of Bonstra | Haresign ARCHITECTS. Photo by Anice Hoachlander.
Jury Comments: The jury appreciated the careful preservation of the street façade and the beautifully detailed contemporary rear face which relates to the historic structure through its sense of scale, craft and care.
Citation
Georgetown University Gaston Hall Balcony Reinforcement (Washington, D.C.)
Image courtesy of Hord Coplan Macht. Photo by Anne Chan.
Architecture Firm: Hord Coplan Macht Owner: Georgetown University Contractor: The Christman Company Photographer: Hord Coplan Macht, Anne Chan
Jury Comments: The jury appreciated the hard work and clever determination involved in relocating the columns to celebrate the historic balcony form. The craft and care is very evident.
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.
Award of Honor
Embassy of Australia (Washington, D.C.)
Image courtesy of KCCT. Photo by Joe Fletcher
Architect of Record: KCCT Lead Designer: Bates Smart Owner: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Contractor: Clark Construction Group, LLC Photographer: Joe Fletcher
Jury Comments: The jury found the interiors to be stunning and strong in their cohesion. It was seen as a jewel-box in the city, reflecting a level of care and materiality not existing around it. Though submitted as an architecture candidate, the jurors thought the interiors were the strongest of any project submitted and so decided to recategorize the project as such, allowing it to achieve a higher award level.
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
Citations
North Adams House (Arlington, Va.)
Image courtesy of Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, Architect. Photo by Anice Hoachlander.
Jury Comments: The jury enjoyed seeing a home without a huge budget developed into a cheerful, light-filled, and well-organized structure. The plan is logical yet reveals quite a bit of spatial interest throughout.
Sister Cities Pavilion (Philadelphia, Penn.)
Image courtesy of StudioMB Architects. Photo by Sahar Coston-Hardy.
Architecture Firm: StudioMB Architects Owner: Center City District Contractor: Bittenbender Construction Photographer: Sahar Coston-Hardy
Jury Comments: The jury found this project to be clever, thoughtful, and quite simple. There is delight in a small but important urban intervention. It reminded one juror of 20th-century pocket parks in its ability to take a small space and create a large engagement.
Projects up to $150,000
Award of Honor
Sylvan Scrapple (Columbus, Ind.)
Image courtesy of After Architecture, LLC. Photo by Hadley Fruits.
Architecture Firm: After Architecture, LLC Owner: Landmark Columbus Foundation Contractor: Before Building Laboratory Photography: Leonid Furmansky, Hadley Fruits for Landmark Columbus Foundation, and After Architecture, LLC
Jury Comments: The jury found this project delightful in the unique combination of humility and budget versus beauty and impact. The submittal was very clearly put together as well. The plan is both rigorous and playful and charming in the way it engages the landscape. The use of materials was also discussed as very clever and well done.
Citation
Studio.mp.2 (Washington, D.C.)
Image courtesy of Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, Architect. Photo by Anice Hoachlander.
Jury Comments: The jury found this project to be an excellent example of an architect re-purposing smaller elements and fabrics. Nooks and crannies are all utilized to high advantage. It is part of a larger story about clever ways to densify our community without losing character.
Projects up to $500,000
Award of Merit
CUSHNER (Washington, D.C.)
Images courtesy of David Jameson Architect. Photo by Paul Warchol Photography.
Jury Comments: The jury appreciated the way two small structures were used to create a third element- the garden as the space between. The structures themselves were simple, clear and worked together strongly.
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.
Citations
Agricultural Retreat (Churchville, Va.)
Image courtesy of ARCHITECTUREFIRM
Designers: Adam Ruffin, Danny MacNelly
Jury Comments: The jury found this project to be sensitive and emotive in ways not typically seen. One juror was impressed with the development of vernacular forms into a strong contemporary expression.
The Shockoe Project (Richmond, Va.)
Image courtesy of Baskervill.
Designer: Burt Pinnock, FAIA, NOMA
Jury Comments: The jury found it handsome, lyrical and restrained. One juror appreciated it moving beyond more common African prototypes in its expression. Another jury was happy to see architecture highlighting an important part of history.
AIA Virginia is pleased to announce that Mark Cavagnero, FAIA, Principal and Design Leader at Mark Cavagnero Associates Architects in San Francisco, California will chair the 2024 AIA Virginia Design Awards Jury.
Mark Cavagnero, FAIA, directs a large architecture firm in California. He began his career in New York being mentored by Edward Larrabee Barnes, a nationally prominent architect known for work in the arts and higher education. In 1993, Mark established Mark Cavagnero Associates in San Francisco. The firm’s first project was the modernization of the iconic California Palace of the Legion of Honor. Over the course of the next three decades, Mark has led the design of a large and significant portfolio of new buildings and building modernizations. These projects have been widely published nationally and internationally and have received numerous awards. Projects include the SFJAZZ Center, the Oakland Museum of California, the ODC Theater Center, the Moscone Convention Center, the San Francisco Public Safety Building, the Diane B. Wilsey Center for Opera, the Finn Center in Mountain View, and the Bowes Center for the Performing Arts at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. His work has included multiple projects in New York, Chicago, and Atlanta. He also has executed projects in numerous locations abroad: London, Amsterdam, Munich, Dublin, Tokyo, Paris, Hyderabad, and Sydney. He also currently serves as the master architect for the global software company Salesforce. Current projects include three embassies for the U.S. State Department- located in Estonia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Burkina Faso.
Mark’s projects have garnered well over 100 major design awards. These awards range from national, state, and local awards from the American Institute of Architecture, the Chicago Athenaeum Awards for both International and American Architecture, the International Interior Design Association Awards and numerous others. Mark was personally honored with the 2010 Distinguished Practice Award and the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Maybeck Award from the American Institute of Architects. In 2012 the firm received the Firm of the Year Award from the California Council of the American Institute of Architects. Under Mark’s leadership, the firm ranked #8 in Architect Magazine’s ranking of the top architecture firms in the country for design.
Mark has been very involved in the community in California. He has been a Board Member for a number of institutions, by way of example, currently serving on the Board of Trustees of the UC Berkeley International House, an organization initiated by the Rockefeller family to promote international understanding and collaboration for the past hundred years. His community efforts have also included many tasks of planning commission participation and chair leadership, athletic coaching, involvement with libraries and theater organizations, and fundraising for his college and graduate school alma maters. He has served UC Berkeley’s School of Architecture as a distinguished Howard Friedman Professor and as a member of the Chancellor’s Curriculum Committee.
Other 2024 Design Awards Jury members include:
Craig Hartman, FAIA Craig W. Hartman, FAIA, is an architect and Design Partner in Skidmore, Owings & Merrill’s San Francisco, California, office. His most prominent work includes the Cathedral of Christ the Light for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland. It is the first cathedral in the world built entirely in the 21st century. He also completed the International Terminal at the San Francisco International Airport, Harvard University’s Northwest Science Building, and the new US Embassy in Beijing.
Hartman was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, and graduated from Wolf Lake High School in 1968. He enrolled in Ball State University’s College of Architecture & Planning and spent a year studying under Cedric Price at The Architectural Association in London. After graduating from Ball State in 1973, Hartman started his career at SOM in Chicago. He has served as a Design Partner in SOM’s Houston and Washington, D.C. offices prior to joining the San Francisco office as an architectural Design Partner for SOM’s West Coast operations in 1990.
In 2001, Hartman became the youngest recipient of the AIA California Council’s Maybeck Award—an Individual Honor Award for Outstanding Achievement expressed in a body of work. In September 2008, Hartman received the Vatican’s Knighthood for Service to Society (St. Sylvester) from Pope Benedictus XVI during the dedication ceremony for The Cathedral of Christ the Light. He is a member of the AIA’s College of Fellows and a Design Futures Council Senior Fellow.
He received an Honorary Doctor of the Arts Degree, conferred by Ball State University, during the school’s 2009 commencement ceremony. He also received an Honorary Doctor of the Arts Degree from DePaul University in 2017.
Curtis Clay, AIA
Curtis Clay is the Director of Architecture at the Department of State’s Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations. Mr. Clay is responsible for overseeing a wide range of architectural project design functions that support the design, construction, and renovation of diplomatic posts overseas. Mr. Clay is a licensed architect in Virginia and the District of Columbia and supervises all phases of architectural design and construction. He has over 20 years of experience in the design and construction industry including government, commercial, institutional, and private work. OBO is the single real property manager for all U.S. diplomatic facilities around the world, managing a portfolio of properties in over 291 locations around the world, valued at over $80 billion. OBO’s mission is to provide safe, secure, and resilient facilities that represent the U.S. government to the host nation and support its staff in the achievement of U.S. foreign policy objectives.
Paul Woolford, FAIA
As the design principal for HOK’s San Francisco studio and member of the firm’s global design board, Paul leads interdisciplinary teams of architects, engineers, interior designers and landscape architects.
Paul has focused his entire career on rethinking the relationships between people and their environments. His design of innovative, people-centered buildings has earned him numerous accolades, including three AIA COTE Top Ten Awards and consistent LEED Platinum certifications.
Under Paul’s guidance, our San Francisco studio has been recognized as AIA California’s Firm of the Year, and his teams have won dozens of regional and national design awards.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Paul is an influential figure in architectural education, having taught at UC Berkeley, Cornell University and the Savannah College of Art and Design. He is also an engaged member and leader of various organizations, demonstrating his dedication to public service and urban planning.
Bill Leddy, FAIA
William Leddy, FAIA, is a Founding Principal of San Francisco-based LEDDY MAYTUM STACY Architects (LMSA), the 2017 recipient of the national American Institute of Architects Firm Award. For over three decades he has been a national leader in the design of environments that promote social justice and advance urgent climate action. LMSA has received over 175 regional, national and international design awards and has been recognized by numerous organizations including the American Institute of Architects, the French Institute of Architects, the Norwegian Association of Architects, the U.S. Department of Energy, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the National Building Museum. The firm is one of only three in the nation to have received eleven or more national AIA Committee on the Environment Top Ten Green Project awards. Leddy has lectured widely and served as visiting professor at the Southern California Institute of Architecture and the California College of the Arts, as the Howard A. Friedman Visiting Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and the Pietro Belluschi Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of Oregon. As past chair of both the national AIA Committee on the Environment Advisory Group (COTE) and the AIA California Climate Action Committee, he has worked for decades to accelerate the decarbonization of the built environment in California and beyond. His firm’s new book – “Practice with Purpose: A Guide to Mission Driven Design” was published in 2023.
