Visions for Architecture, created in 1998, is AIA Virginia’s annual Honors and Awards gala.
Visions celebrates the achievements of those whose work makes especially strong contributions to society and celebrates the recipients of AIA Virginia’s Honors Awards and the Awards for Excellence in Architecture.
Visions for Architecture 2023 will be held on Thursday, November 2nd at the Hippodrome in Richmond. A cocktail social will follow the awards celebration. Tickets can be purchased with your Architecture Exchange Registration here>>
To support this event by becoming a sponsor, contact Jody Cranford at jcranford@aiava.org (800) 818-0289.
A committee of esteemed architects chaired by Ray Calabro, FAIA, will judge 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. These annual awardsrecognize outstanding design, built and unbuilt, from the past seven years. Also known as the Design Awards, the program is open to all categories of building as well as interiors projects. The awards program is currently open for submissions. Each entry will be judged on how successful the project is in meeting its individual requirements. 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. Deadline for entries is5 p.m. on June 28, 2023.
About Ray Calabro, FAIA
Calabro is a principal of the Pennsylvania firm Bohlin Cywinski Jackson. Educated at Virginia Tech (B. Arch., 1994), he began his career there as a lecturer in the College of Architecture and Urban Studies. Since joining Bohlin Cywinski Jackson in 1995, Ray’s project experience spans academic, cultural, commercial and residential projects in the continental U.S. and Canada. In 2014, he was elevated to the College of Fellows.
About Jennifer Devlin-Herbert, FAIA
Devlin-Herbert, of San Francisco’s EHDD, was the firm’s first woman partner, and is now its first woman CEO. She is a distinguished design leader for evolving trends in learning environments across multiple project types, from educational spaces to science centers and libraries. Throughout a career spanning 30 years, her rich portfolio includes projects that reflect an unwavering commitment to her clients. Her work has been recognized with a National AIA Honor Award for Design.
About Omar Gandhi, FRAAC
Gandhi is the Principal of Omar Gandhi Architects, a Canadian architectural practice with small teams in both Halifax and Toronto. He was chosen as one of the Architectural League of New York’s ‘Emerging Voices’ of 2016 and in 2018 was appointed the Louis I. Kahn Visiting Assistant Professorship in Architectural Design at the Yale School of Architecture. Gandhi was made a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Association of Canada in 2022.
About Karen Lu, AIA, NOMA
Lu is an Associate Principal at Snow Kreilich Architects in Minneapolis. Her commitment to design excellence and to positively impacting future generations of architecture professionals and global citizens is evident in her professional work and service to the AIA and her community. She is currently the AIA Strategic Council Minnesota Representative and a board adviser to MSP NOMA.
Entries to the 2023 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.
Each entry will be judged on how successful the project is in meeting its individual requirements. 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.
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.
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, 2016. Enter online.
Entries are due by 5 p.m. on June 28, 2023.Note: You should be prepared to submit your concealed ID and project submission upon entry.
Entry fees
AIA VirginiaMembers: $190 for the first project $160 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): $245 for the first project $220 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.
AIA Virginia is pleased to announce the 2022 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 155 entries, only 16 were selected by the jury for recognition. These few projects stood above the rest as particularly notable. Awards of Merit are presented to those project 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.
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
Arts and Letters Creative Co. (Richmond, Va.)
Image courtesy of ARCHITECTUREFIRM. Photos by James Ewing, James Ewing Photography.
Architecture Firm: ARCHITECTUREFIRM Owner: Arts & Letters Creative Co. General Contractor: DPR Construction Structural Engineer: Engineering Solutions MEP Engineer: AKF Group LLC Photographers: Kate Thompson, Palindrome Creative Co. and James Ewing, James Ewing Photography
Jury Comments: This creative workplace displayed a clear attitude toward reuse. The simple, white objects are juxtaposed against the raw, patinated, existing container — allowing you to understand both in a new way. It’s a clear and well-executed renovation strategy that simultaneously preserves and repurposes the building for its next life.
Award of Merit
Assembly (Norfolk, Va.)
Images courtesy WPA. Photos by Yuzhu Zheng Photography.
Architecture Firm: Work Program Architects (WPA) Owner: Assembly (Drew Ungvarsky) General Contractor: Clancy & Theys Construction Company Interior Design: Campfire+Co. Photographer: Yuzhu Zheng Photography
Jury Comments: This coworking facility is organized around a new, open stairway that provides connection between a variety of work settings created on all levels of the historic building. The procession up and through the building is celebrated, while simple, light-filled interiors breathe new life into a former department store.
In the ARCHITECTURE category
The jury considers aesthetics, adherence to the client wishes, proven and projected building performance, and concept development during its deliberations.
Awards of Honor
Arthur J. Altmeyer Social Security Administration Building (Woodlawn, Md.)
Image courtesy of HGA. Photos by Kendall McCaugherty.
Architect of Record: HGA Design Architect: Snow Kreilich Architects Owner: General Services Administration General Contractor: Hensel Phelps Façade Consultant: Studio NYL Landscape Architect: OLIN Civil Engineer: Sorba Engineering Structural Engineering: Woods Peacock and HGA Structural Mechanical Engineer: HGA Mechanical Electrical Engineer: HGA Electrical Fire Protection Engineer: Summit Fire Protection Acoustics/AV/Building Security: Polysonics Blast & Site Security: Hinman Cost Estimating: Toscano Clements Taylor (TCT) LEED Consultant: Sustainable Design Consulting, LLC Enclosure Commissioning: WDP & Associates: Photographer: Kendall McCaugherty, Hall Merrick McCaugherty Photographers
Jury Comments: A remarkable transformation of an unremarkable government building into a 21st-century workplace. The curtainwall system is well considered, beautifully detailed, and reductive — creating wonderful daylit spaces out of what was previously a warren of dark anonymous hallways. The exterior expression is subtle but engaging, creating a gradation when seen from the distance, and experienced as a slow and engaging change when approached on foot.
Architecture Firm: HGA Owner: Capital One Financial (Barry Mark, Representative) General Contractor: The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company Photographer: Alan Karchmer
Jury Comments: A sophisticated performing arts facility inserted into a complex urban site. The public spaces and the “house” are warm and wonderfully detailed. The limited material palette provides cohesiveness to what is a very large building. The powerful pleated façade begets a striking reciprocal interior ceiling that together act as a counterpoint to the refined wood and steel jewel box that is the theater. The public rooftop park and garden are a wonderful bonus gift to the city.
R|refuge (Leonardtown, Md.)
Images courtesy of Page/. Photos by Anice Hoachlander.
Architecture Firm: Page/ Owner: withheld General Contractor: J. Johnson Enterprises Inc. Structural Engineer: Springpoint Structural Civil Engineer: Soltesz Photographer: Anice Hoachlander, StudioHDP
Jury Comments: This private residence reveals a clear, processional experience in which the remarkable waterfront view is gradually revealed to the visitor. The integration of the home into the landscape is impressive and extends the generative logic into the site. The sequence of the plan and site is tightly woven with the ecological program. Each design decision seems to be multivalent, performing multiple duties with minimal wasted effort. The material palette is restrained and durable without feeling cold, and the material choices help reinforce the clarity of the plan and the sustainability goals of the project.
Awards of Merit
AC Hotel by Marriott (Washington, D.C.)
Images courtesy of WDG Architecture. Photos by Joseph Romeo Photography.
Architecture Firm: WDG Architecture Owner: OTO Development General Contractor: Lend Lease (US) Construction, Inc. Photographer: Joseph Romeo Photography
Jury Comments: This urban infill project uses an ingenious unitized enclosure system to activate the street wall and mediate between two disparate neighboring buildings. The result is something at home on the street but surprising and engaging. The emphasis on single window units subtly telegraphs the interior program to the exterior.
Edneyville Elementary School (Hendersonville, N.C.)
Images courtesy of Clark Nexsen, Photos by Mark Herboth.
Architecture Firm: Clark Nexsen Owner: Henderson County (John Mitchell, Representative) General Contractor: Beverly-Grant Inc. / Barnhill Civil Engineering: WGLA Engineering, PLLC Landscape Engineering: Siteworks Studios Structural Engineering: Kloesel Engineering, PA Interior Design: Division 12 Design Studio Photographer: Mark Herboth, Mark Herboth Photography
Jury Comments: This elementary school is simple and direct – inserting a splash of color without being patronizing. The clear, well-organized plan makes good use of the site, creating a variety of inviting learning environments at many scales. It harvests natural light from multiple sources in nearly every space, both direct and borrowed. The building’s performance is particularly commendable.
Virginia Beach Sports Center (Virginia Beach, Va.)
Photo by Dave Chance Photography.Photo by Yuzhu Zheng Photography.Images courtesy of Hanbury
Architecture Firm: Hanbury and Clark Nexsen Owner: City of Virginia Beach Public Works (Tom Nicholas, PE, Representative) General Contractor: MEB General Contractors Photographers: Dave Chance, Dave Chance Photography and Yuzhu Zheng Photography
Jury Comments: This very simple, direct, rigid-frame building creates a set of large, open, daylit recreation spaces. The spaces and framed views make theater of the activities taking place every day. The design “moves” are limited but focused. The result is maximum effect with very limited means.
Architecture Firm: HDR Owner: Virginia Commonwealth University Health System (Shirley Gibson, Representative) General Contractor: Hourigan Structural Engineering (parking/envelope): Walter P Moore MEP Engineer: WSP Civil Engineer: Draper Aden Assoc. Curtain Wall: Ventana Photographer: Dan Schwalm, HDR and Quentin Penn-Hollar, QPH Photo, LLC
Jury Comments: This large, programmatically complex building utilizes very simple variations in the curtainwall to express the individual program elements. These create subtle but engaging differences in the surface qualities without fracturing the character of the shape. The limited palette of materials and well-proportioned composition create a cohesive form at home in its context. The golden mesh is a comprehensive design move that accomplishes multiple goals. It covers the garage, defines and makes a grand entry, and creates a surprising ethereal surface quality.
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.
Award of Honor
Daughters of the American Revolution Constitution Hall (Washington, D.C.)
Images courtesy Quinn Evans. Photos by Ron Blunt Photography.
Architecture Firm: Quinn Evans Owner: Daughters of the American Revolution (Stephen Nordholt, Representative) General Contractor: Christman Company MEP Engineering: Greenman Pedersen Inc. and Loring Consulting Engineers Historic Paint Finishes Specialist: Artifex Ltd. Structural Engineer: 1200 Architectural Engineers Theatrical Lighting and Theater Planning: Schuler Shook Lighting Design (Phase 1): Gary Steffy Lighting Design Acoustical Consulting: Jaffee Holden Life Safety Engineering: GHD Photographer: Ron Blunt Photography
Jury Comments: This restoration of a large historic meeting space seamlessly integrates lighting and mechanical systems to preserve the building and create a modern meeting venue. The historic spaces are brought back to “like-new” condition with a lighting strategy that transforms them into something entirely new.
Award of Merit
Antler House Restoration (East Hampton, N.Y.)
Images courtesy of Two Street Studio. Photos by Ashok Sinha.
Architecture Firm: Two Street Studio Owners: Chris Fisher and Blair Moritz Contractor: CCI Construction Consultants Interior Designer: Logan Killen Interiors + Blair Moritz Photographer: Ashok Sinha
Jury Comments: A truly quirky and weird home had been stripped of its character by decades of ill-fated “improvements.” This restoration returns the home’s “hippie-coolness” in a very unapologetic fashion and creates a sympathetic addition. The interiors are consistent with the spirit of the home.
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
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library (Washington, D.C.)
Images courtesy of OTJ Architects. Photos by Trent Bell.
Executive Architect: OTJ Architects Design Architect: Mecanoo Owner: District of Columbia Public Library General Contractor: Smoot Construction and Gilbane Building Company Photographer: Trent Bell and Robert Benson Photography
Jury Comments: This interior reconsiders the Miesian masterpiece. The design identifies the existing building’s strengths and weaknesses and takes it into the present and the future. The addition of the sinuous stairs is a bold celebration of the inhabitants and a subtle criticism of the existing structure. Some of the original lighting and material strategies are maintained and extended to link the new
Award of Merit
Bill Richards Center for Healing (Rockville, Md.)
Images courtesy of Gensler. Photos by Halkin Mason Photography.
Architecture Firm: Gensler Owner: Shady Grove Adventist Hospital Foundation General Contractor: Deerfield Construction Group, Inc. Photographer: Halkin Mason Photography
Jury Comments: This small, flexible interior accomplishes a lot by employing a limited set of tactics. The serpentine wood wall ties the interior together, shapes the public procession, and functionally screens equipment and clutter. Simple ceiling manipulations further subdivide the space and the use of indirect lighting gives a sense of breadth.
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.
Award of Honor
StoryBoard (Washington, D.C.)
Images courtesy of KUBE architecture. Photos by Anice Hoachlander.
Architecture Firm: KUBE architecture Owner: Warmington Oppenheim Development General Contractor: Warmington Oppenheim Development Photographer: Anice Hoachlander
Jury Comments: This urban infill project ingeniously reinterprets the bay window to create a truly unique expression – at once sympathetic and new. The decision to recess the entries on both sides allows the façade to be disconnected from its neighbors, while clearly continuing the street wall. The new bay windows can be occupied, adding character to the interior spaces, and framing exterior views.
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.
Award of Honor
Heirloom Farm Studio (location withheld)
Photos courtesy of Bushman Dreyfus Architects. Photos by Virginia Hamrick Photography.
Architecture Firm: Bushman Dreyfus Architects Owner: withheld Owner’s Design Representative: Ivy Naté General Contractor: Element Construction Photographer: Virginia Hamrick Photography
Jury Comments: This simple, almost archetypal structure is clad in a dark wooden exterior clearly juxtaposed against both the minimal white interior and the surrounding landscape. All the design decisions are focused and disciplined, resulting in something simultaneously abstract and familiar. A well-proportioned and beautifully crafted piece of work at home in the shadows beneath the tree line.
Award of Merit
Studio 6420 (location withheld)
Images courtesy of Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, Architect. Photos by Anice Hoachlander.
Architecture Firm: Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, Architect Owner: withheld General Contractor: Peterson & Collins, Inc. Interior Design: Baron Gurney Interiors Landscape Architect: Campion Hruby Landscape Architects Photographer: Anice Hoachlander
Jury Comments: This small studio space and landscape employ a restrained set of tactics to shape both the exterior and interior space. A common material palette ties the composition together. The car in the garage is likely more expensive than the garage that contains it – but equally as beautiful. A straightforward, well-detailed example of complex simplicity.
The Design Awards recognize outstanding design, built and unbuilt, from the past eight years. The location of projects is not restricted, but any built works submitted for consideration must have been completed after January 1, 2015. The entry deadline is June 28, 2022.
Each entry will be judged on how successful the project is in meeting its individual requirements. 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.
Anne Marie Duvall Decker, FAIA, with her partner, Roy Decker, FAIA, founded Duvall Decker in Jackson, Mississippi — a place defined by both palpable need and engaging culture. The firm is a diverse and expanded practice, employing planning, development, design, and building care to promote the quality of the built environment and the health and well-being of its inhabitants. Duvall Decker delivers design excellence and promotes social, economic, and environmental quality, no matter the scope, type, budget, or scale of the project.
Anne Marie pursues a meaningful public architecture that elevates the individual human experience. She has designed award-winning public schools, affordable housing, state institutions, libraries, and university buildings that embrace their physical surrounds and cultural traditions with innovation and invention. She is the leader in the studio, fostering design quality, detailing building construction, making exemplary construction documents, and finding ways to be efficient and have joy in the work.
Anne Marie Duvall Decker, FAIA, received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Mississippi State University. She is a recognized contributor to the advancement of the profession. She has served as a board member and past President of AIA Mississippi and as a trustee and past Chair of the AIA Trust. Anne Marie is often invited to share the firm’s work and her experience as a lecturer, critic, teacher, and design juror, most recently serving as Visiting Professor of Practice at the University of Tennessee College of Architecture and Design. She has served on the jury for the 2018 AIA Institute Honor Awards for Architecture and as a selection committee member for the Architectural League of New York’s American Roundtable initiative. Most recently, she serves the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations as an Industry Advisory Group Peer.
The profession came together for the first time in nearly two years at Visions for Architecture on Nov. 5, 2021 to hear a talk by 2020 AIA Gold Medal winner Marlon Blackwell, FAIA and to celebrate the AIA Virginia Honors Awards and Design Awards. Photos by Yuzhu Zheng.
Marlon Blackwell, FAIA
Small Projects Awards
Adaptive or Continued Use Awards
Historic Preservation Award
Contextual Design Award
Residential Design Awards
Unbuilt Work Awards
Architecture Awards
Presidential Citation
Test of Time Award
AIA Virginia Honors
Honorary Membership
Virginia Emerging Professional Awards
Award for Distinguished Achievement
Architecture Medal for Virginia Service
William C. Noland Medal
2020 Honors Awards Recipients
Visions for Architecture 2021 was generously sponsored by the following:
AIA Virginia is pleased to announce the 2020 Awards for Excellence in Architecture. Also known as the 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. Award categories include Architecture, Contextual Design, Historic Preservation, Interior Design, and Residential Design. Within each of the 5 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 180 entries, only 33 were selected by the jury for recognition. These few projects stood above the rest as particularly notable. A project is recognized with an Honorable Mention for incorporating approaches that advance the profession. Awards of Merit are presented to those project worthy of recognition and an Award of Honor is reserved for those projects deemed by the jury to be truly exceptional.
In the ARCHITECTURE category
The jury considers aesthetics, adherence to the client wishes, proven and projected building performance, and concept development during its deliberations.
Awards of Honor
Foreign Affairs Security Training Center (Blackstone, Va.)
Architecture Firm: KieranTimberlake Owner: U.S. Department of State and the U.S. General Services Administration, Public Buildings Service Mid-Atlantic Region Contractors: Hensel Phelps and Mortenson Construction Photographer: Tim Griffith Drone Photography: AECOM – FASTC Office Rendering: Brooklyn Digital Foundry Jury Comments: This project has inventive qualities. The jury noted that this submission was among the strongest in the category.
Museum at the Lumpkin’s Slave Jail Site / Devil’s Half Acre (unbuilt)
Architecture Firm: SmithGroup Owner: City of Richmond, Va. Consulting Architect, Interior Design: KEi Architects Landscape Architecture: Mikyoung Kim Design Civil Engineering: Greening Urban Archaeology and Cultural Historic Preservation: Gray & Pape Museum Planning and Development: Chora Visitor Experience Planning: Gallagher & Associates Jury Comments: The jury particularly appreciated this design as an appropriate response to the history of the site. They are looking forward to seeing the completed project.
Awards of Merit
The Aya (Washington, D.C.)
Architecture Firms: Studio Twenty Seven Architecture with Leo A Daly (joint venture) Owner: District of Columbia Department of General Services Photographer: Hoachlander Davis Photography Structural Engineer: Silman Associates MEP Engineer: SETTY & Associates Civil Engineer: A. Morton Thomas Geotechnical: ECS Capitol Services Cost Estimate: TCT Cost Consultants Land Use Attorney: Holland & Knight Archeologist: John Milner Associates Acoustical Engineer: Acoustical Design Collaborative Jury Comments: This is a commendable affordable housing project. There is a nice relationship between façade and volume and the standard dwelling units are well designed.
New River Train Observation Tower (Radford, Va.)
Designers: Virginia Tech faculty and students led by Prof. Kay Edge, RA, and Prof. Edward Becker, Intl. Assoc. AIA Owner: Radford Heritage Foundation Contractors: Edward Becker, Intl. Assoc. AIA and Kay Edge, RA Photographer: Kay Edge, RA Jury Comments: As a prototype, this nicely articulates a collaborative, exploratory research-based process. The team is to be commended.
Greer Environmental Sciences Center at Virginia Wesleyan University (Virginia Beach, Va.)
Architecture Firm: VMDO Architects Owner: Virginia Wesleyan University Contractor: Hourigan Construction Photographer: Alan Karchmer Jury Comments: The commitment to sustainable strategies coupled with the overall quality of the exterior and interior design is notable.
Honorable Mention
Marvin Gaye Recreation Center + Trail (Washington, D.C.)
Firm Name: ISTUDIO Architects Owner: DC Department of General Services Contractor: MCN Build Photographer: Hoachlander Davis Photography Jury Comments: The jury particularly appreciated the passive strategies. The design team clearly accomplished a lot with this project
DC Water Headquarters (Washington, D.C.)
Architecture Firm: SmithGroup Owner: DC Water and Sewer Authority Contractor: Skanska USA Building Inc. Photographers: Alan Karchmer Photography, Emily Hagopian Photography Landscape Architecture: OEHME van Sweden | OvS Structural Engineering: The SK&A Group Associate Architects/Associate Structural Designers: Leuterio Thomas, LLC Associate MEP Engineers: JVP Engineers PC (now part of Ameresco) Civil Engineering: Wiles Mensch Corporation Commissioning: SETTY & Associates Traffic Consultants: Gorovo/Slade Associates, Inc. Program Managers: Samaha Associates, PC Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment Consultant: Studio of Sandra Raan Owner’s Representative: Constance Schwartz Jury Comments: For a municipal infrastructure project on an unusual site, this LEED Platinum water plant was particularly notable.
FutureHAUS (Blacksburg, Va.)
Design Team: Students and Faculty from Virginia Tech Center for Design Research Owner: Virginia Tech Photographer: Erik Thorsen Jury comments: The jury was impressed with this solar-powered, net-positive concept home. It brought together a series of environmental strategies without looking like a pastiche. They also appreciated the plug-and-play cartridge construction which allowed the project to be easily shipped, assembled, and disassembled.
Co|Lab (Falls Church, Va.)
Architecture Firm: William McDonough + Partners Owner and Contractor: HITT Contracting Photographer: John Cole Photography Jury comments: The jury appreciated the lifecycle thinking and the use of CLT, noting that this project was designed for disassembly. “We need more of this,” they said.
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
Masoro Health Center (Republic of Rwanda)
Architecture Firm: General Architecture Collaborative Owner: Masoro Health Center Contractor: Structure Stone Photographers: James Setzler, Yutaka Sho, Leighton Beaman Jury Comments: The jury agreed, as a whole, that this project was exemplary — it was their top choice. The site plan, in particular, was very well conceived.
Awards of Merit
American Civil War Museum (Richmond, Va.)
Architecture Firm: 3North Owner: American Civil War Museum Contractor: Whiting-Turner Contracting Company Photographer: Keith Isaacs Associate Architects: Madge Bemiss Architects and Robert Mills Architects Structural Engineer: Balzer and Associates, Inc. MEP Engineer: Lu+Smith Engineers Civil Engineer: Draper Aden Associates Exhibit Designer: Solid Light, Inc. Jury Comments: In the U.S., it’s still a little contentious to bring together glass boxes with historical ruins, and this project does this quite effectively.
Honorable Mention
Capital Yacht Club (Washington, D.C.)
Architecture Firm: Cunningham | Quill Architects PLLC Owner: Capital Yacht Club Contractor: Clark Construction Group, LLC Photographer: ALAN KARCHMER | PHOTOGRAPHER Jury Comments: The jury appreciated this project’s relationship to a maritime motif. The designers did a good job of incorporating the exterior existing fabric into the design.
Carlton Union Building Renovation at Stetson University (Deland, Fla.)
Design Architect/Architect of Record: Hanbury Owner: Stetson University Contractor: Williams Company Photographer: Keith Isaacs Jury Comments: “Talk about contextual,” the jury exclaimed. The design team stitched together a variety of different spaces very successfully.
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
Carr’s Hill Renovation at University of Virginia (Charlottesville, Va.)
Architecture Firm: Glavé & Holmes Architecture Owner: University of Virginia Associate Architect: John G. Waite Associates Contractor: Alexander Nicholson Photographer: Virginia Hamrick Photography Landscape Architect: Wolf Josey Landscape Architects Jury Comments: This project was really well done. “The details are amazing,” remarked the jury.
Folger Shakespeare Library (Washington, D.C.)
Architecture Firm: MTFA Architecture Owner: Folger Shakespeare Library Contractor: Dan Lepore & Sons Company Photographer: Prakash Patel Photography Jury Comments: This was an excellent example of materials conservation. The cleaning and color-matching are textbook examples of preservation.
Honorable Mention
Richard Neutra Renovation (Richmond, Va.)
Architecture Firm: 3North Owner: David and Christy Cottrell Contractor: Mako Builders, Inc. Photographer: Ansel Olson Structural Engineer: Ehlert Bryan Consulting Interior Designer: Todd Yoggy Jury comments: Though this was submitted in a different category, they jury thought this project was notable enough to warrant recognition in the historic preservation category for its respect of the original design and the sensitive preservation of character and materiality.
Note: This project was also recognized with an award in the Residential category.
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
Quirk Hotel (Charlottesville, Va.)
Architecture Firm: ARCHITECTUREFIRM Owner: Quirk Charlottesville, LLC Contractor: Martin Horn Photographer: James Ewing / JBSA & Kate Thompson Jury Comments: Though the spaces vary in scale, there is a consistency throughout. The treatment of the arched windows, the view to the streetscape, the hallway, and the accents: they’re are all well done. “I thought this was just outstanding,” said one juror.
Awards of Merit
McKinnon and Harris Flagship (New York, N.Y.)
Architecture Firm: Architecture AF Owner: McKinnon and Harris Contractor: Tribeca Restoration Photographer: Ashok Sinha Lighting Designer: Ventresca Design Jury Comments: Through embracing the company’s all-white branding, the designers created a very pleasing space, bringing focus to the products in this retail environment. The stair and railing are very nice, as is the detailing. “It’s just beautifully put together,” the jury said.
ASLA Center for Landscape Architecture (Washington, D.C.)
Architecture Firm: Gensler Owner: ASLA Center for Landscape Architecture Contractor: Coakley & Williams Construction, Inc. Photographer: Halkin Mason Jury Comments: The jury was impressed by the spirit of landscape carried throughout the building, from the handling of beacon signage focusing on green vegetation at the exterior to the careful handling of rainwater-harvesting and irrigation on the roof.
Potter’s Craft Cider at Neve Hall (Charlottesville, Va.)
Architecture Firm: Studio FIGURE Owner: Dan Potter and Tim Edmond Contractor: Evergreen Builders Photographer: Nick Brinen Photography Jury Comments: This project has a subtlety to it. It’s a really nice retrofit. Instead of tearing things down, the designers showed a balanced restraint – even the lighting isn’t intrusive. “I want to be in this space,” said one juror.
Honorable Mention
Subterranean Studio (Charlottesville, Va.)
Architecture Firm: mcdowellespinosa architects Owner: Seth and Megan McDowell Contractor: mcdowellespinosa architects Photographer: mcdowellespinosa architects Jury Comments: While hesitant to elevate a project with little natural light, the jury particularly appreciated the lighting treatment and ceiling design which brought an organizing element to this subterranean space.
National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (Washington, D.C.)
Architecture Firm: OTJ Architects Client: NCARB Tenant Brokerage and Project Management: Cresa Contractor: Bognet Construction Photographer: Trent Bell Photography Jury Comments: The details on this project are well conceived and history has been incorporated in a clever way. The jury was pleased that NCARB is “walking the talk” and earning LEED Gold and Fitwel certification for the space.
Waterview Condominium (Arlington, Va.)
Architecture Firm: Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, Architect Project Architect: Nicole Dejong Owner: withheld Contractor: Peterson and Collins Inc. Photographer: Maxwell MacKenzie Interior Designer: Baron Gurney Interiors Structural Engineer: Tadjer Cohen Edelson Associates Inc. Jury Comments: The jury appreciated the rigor of the ceiling’s folded planes and lighting plan.
Offices for an Investment Firm (Bethesda, Md.)
Architecture Firm: Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, Architect Project Architect: Claire Andreas Owner: withheld Contractor: Bognet Construction Photographer: John Cole Photography Interior Designer: Baron Gurney Interiors Jury Comments: “Organizing the offices around the curving steel wall was a compelling move,” the jury remarked.
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.
Award of Honor
Richard Neutra Renovation (Richmond, Va.)
Architecture Firm: 3North Owner: David and Christy Cottrell Contractor: Mako Builders, Inc. Photographer: Ansel Olson Structural Engineer: Ehlert Bryan Consulting Interior Designer: Todd Yoggy Jury Comments: This was a careful and surgical upgrade to a modernist masterpiece. It was just plain inspiring in its rigor. Exquisite.
Awards of Merit
3131 CBR (Washington, D.C.)
Architecture Firm: David Jameson Architect Owner: withheld Contractor: Ally DC Photographer: Paul Warchol Photography Jury Comments: Beautiful clean lines and use of materials.
3333 Q St. (Washington, D.C.)
Architecture Firm: Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, Architect Project Leads: Kara McHone and Mateusz Dzierzanowski Owner: withheld Contractor: Commonwealth Building and Design Photographer: Maxwell MacKenzie Architectural Photographer Interior Designer: Baron Gurney Interiors Engineer: Robert Silman Associates Landscape Architect: Campion Hruby Landscape Architects Jury Comments: The use of the open corner facade to orient to the landscape and pool is exceptional. The clever use of glazing, doors, and the site created spaces that flow between interior and exterior.
Franzen House (Bethesda, Md.)
Architecture Firm: Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, Architect Project Leads: Sarah Solander and Nicole Dejong Owner: withheld Contractor: Commonwealth Building and Design Photographer: Anice Hoachlander Engineer: United Structural Engineers Jury Comments: Great use of the site section to create high internal volume and views out to the surrounding tree canopies. The balance between the front and rear façades is impressive
Honorable Mention
Hither Hill Residence (Montauk, N.Y.)
Architecture Firm: ARCHITECTUREFIRM Owner: Withheld Contractor: Forden & Co. Builders Photographer: James Ewing / JBSA Jury Comments: Each building on the site is done with care to proportion and detail and eloquence. The two volumes are carefully and well-sited in the surrounding landscape.
Vapor House (Bethesda, Md.)
Architecture Firm: David Jameson Architect Owner: withheld Contractor: Ally DC Photographer: Paul Warchol Photography Jury Comments: There is a nice contrast between that textured, reflective quality of the cladding and the flat matte panels that define the programmatic volumes. This play between the surfaces helps to breakdown the massing.
Duvall Court (Washington, D.C.)
Architecture Firm: KUBE architecture PC Owner: ANND LLC Contractor: OPAL CUSTOM HOMES and RENOVATIONS LLC Photographer: Greg Powers Photography Jury Comments: A very clever project with clean lines. It’s a great model for the development of alley lots.
Alley Armor (Washington, D.C.)
Architecture Firm: KUBE architecture PC Owner: Dean Storer & Lamar Whitman Contractor: Milloy Carpentry Photographer: Paul Burk Photography Steel Fabricator: Metal Specialties Jury Comments: This adaptive reuse really works within an existing urban fabric. The small outdoor space is magical. Natural light and perforated and angled-metal and wood slats create privacy and atmosphere – all above a mundane garage.
Renovation 1662 (Washington, D.C.)
Architecture Firm: Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, Architect Project Architect: Claire Andreas Owner: withheld Contractor: Washington Landmark Construction Photographer: Anice Hoachlander Landscape Design: Campion Hruby Landscape Architecture Structural Engineer: United Structural Engineers, Inc. Jury Comments: A bright, clean, and lofty addition to what would be a typical dark and cramped row house.
All entries must be the work of architects who have an office in Virginia or are members of AIA Virginia. The location of projects is not restricted, but any built work submitted must have been completed after January 1, 2012. Un-built work was also considered, as long as it was commissioned by a client as opposed to hypothetical work completed in the mode of research or academic training.
Gardner takes a serious interest in the nexus of architecture and art — one of long-standing importance to both his professional practice and his writings. He is committed to practicing architecture as a socially beneficial art form.
Jaklitsch / Gardner Architects is an award-winning design practice with an international reputation for design excellence, material research, and its exacting commitment to craft. The firm has won an AIA National Honor Award and numerous AIANY, NOMA, and Architizer design awards. The practice is currently working with a non-profit partner on a Honey Bee Study Center in Dodoma, Tanzania.
Gardner is the Assistant Professor of Architectural Practice and Society at the School of the Constructed Environments, Parsons the New School. He’s on the Board of Overseers for the University of Pennsylvania Weitzman School Of Design, where he is helping the school study issues of diversity and inclusion. He also currently serves on the board of the Youth Design Center (YDC), a nonprofit on a mission to reduce the number of disconnected youth in Brownsville, Brooklyn by lowering their barriers to entry to the STEAM professions and increasing their relevant experience in the innovation economy.
He is Past President and former Advocacy Chair for nycobaNOMA, the New York Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects. He is a member of the AIANY Exhibition Committee and Past Co-Chair and current member of the AIANY Diversity & Inclusion Committee. He is Vanguard Member of the Van Alen Institute’s Board of Trustees and a Fellow of the Urban Design Forum.
About the Design Awards
AIA Virginia’s Awards for Excellence in Architecture recognize outstanding design, built and unbuilt, from the past eight years. The location of projects is not restricted, but any built works submitted for consideration must have been completed after January 1, 2012.
There are five categories in the Awards for Excellence: Architecture; Historic Preservation; Interiors; Contextual Design; and Residential Design.
Each entry will be judged on how successful the project is in meeting its individual requirements, with particular emphasis on design excellence. In each category, consideration is given to aesthetics, social impact, innovation, context, performance, and stewardship of the natural environment.
AIA Virginia’s Awards for Excellence in Architecture recognize outstanding design, built and unbuilt, from the past eight years. Also known as the Design Awards, the program is juried by a team of esteemed practitioners. 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 after January 1, 2012. Enter online.
There are five categories in the Awards for Excellence: Architecture Historic Preservation Interiors Contextual Design; and Residential Design.
Each entry will be judged on how successful the project is in meeting its individual requirements, with particular emphasis on design excellence.
In each category, consideration is given to aesthetics, social impact, innovation, context, performance, and stewardship of the natural environment.
Entries are due by 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 16, 2020.Note: You should be prepared to submit your concealed ID and project submission upon entry.
Entry fees AIA Virginia members: $190 for first project; $160 for additional projects AIA Virginia Associate members: $85 for each project Non-member w/ office in Virginia: $245 for first project; $220 for additional projects
Note that you must be a member or associate member of the AIA Virginia to receive a member discount. Only members of AIA Virginia are eligible for the discounted member rate, regardless of your national AIA member status.
