2024 Design Awards Announced

Posted on by cguske

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.

Award of Merit

Canal Window (Washington, D.C.)

Image courtesy of Cunningham Quill Architects.

Architecture Firm: Cunningham Quill Architects
Owner: Hingham Savings Institution
Contractor: AllenBuilt Inc.
Photographer: Anice Hoachlander Photography, LLC

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.

Architecture Firm: Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners
Owner: Loudoun County Public Schools
Contractor: Gilbane Building Company
Photographer: 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.

Architecture Firm: Bonstra | Haresign ARCHITECTS
Owner: Hedden Residential Property Trust
Contractor: Harbor Builders
Photographer: 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.

Architecture Firm: Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, Architect
Contractor: Washington Landmark Construction
Photographer: 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.

Architecture Firm: Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, Architect
Contractor: Ruben Cabrerra
Photographer: 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.

Architecture Firm: David Jameson Architect, Inc.
Contractor: Ally DC, LLC
Photographer: 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.

Meet the 2024 Design Awards Jury

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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.

2024 Design Awards Jury Chair

Posted on by cguske

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.

Make sure you submit your projects by June 28th>>

Mark Cavagnero 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.

Call for Entries: 2024 Design Awards

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Entries to the 2024 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. (Note on the form itself – make sure all of your entry text is visible from the PDF before uploading.)

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, 2017. Enter online.

The Design Awards program is sponsored by:

Gold
Bamforth Engineers + Surveyors
Silver
Epic Metals

Awards Categories include:

  • Architecture;
  • Design for Context;
  • Unbuilt Architecture;
  • Extended Use;
    • Historic Preservation
    • Adaptive or Continued Use
  • Interiors;
  • Residential; and
  • Small Projects
    • Up to $150K in construction cost
    • Up to $500K in construction cost
    • Under 5,000 square feet

Check out the complete descriptions of each award category, and review the regulations, eligibility requirements, and frequently asked questions for more information.

Entries are due by 5 p.m. on June 28, 2024. Note: You should be prepared to submit your concealed ID and project submission upon entry.

Entry fees

AIA Virginia Members:
$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

Not an AIA Virginia member? Apply for unassigned membership.

About the Framework for Design Excellence

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.

2023 Design Awards Announced

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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.)

Images courtesy of ZGF Architects. Photos by Connie Zhou and Halkin Mason Photography.

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.)

Images courtesy of Wolf Ackerman. Photos by Alan Karchmer.

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.)

Images courtesy of Quinn Evans. Photos by Ansel Olsen.

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.)

Images courtesy of VMDO Architects. Photos by Alan Karchmer.

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.)

Images courtesy of 3North. Photos by Gordon Gregory.

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

Images courtesy of PMA Architecture. Photos by Yuzhu Zheng and Dave Chance Photography.

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.)

Images courtesy of OLI Architecture PLLC. Photos by Susuan Stripling.

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)

Images courtesy of Gehrung Graham LLC. Photos by Virginia Hamrick.

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.)

Images courtesy of Fuller/Overby Architecture. Photos by Paul Warchol.

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)

Photos by Hanbury.

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)

Images courtesy of Cunningham Quill Architects. Photos by Allen Russ Photography, LLC.

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)

Images courtesy of After Architecture, LLC. Photos by After Architecture, LLC.

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)

Images courtesy of Page Southerland Page, Inc. Photos by Amber Renee Design and Kevin Scott.

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)

Images courtesy of Tomas Eliaeson.

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.

Visions for Architecture

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 starting at 6:30 p.m.

Visions is now a more casual cocktail party with passed food instead of a seated dinner. Tickets can be purchased with or without your Architecture Exchange Registration here>> and are $125 each.

To support this event by becoming a sponsor, contact Jody Cranford at jcranford@aiava.org (800) 818-0289.

Visions for Architecture is sponsored by:

AIA Virginia Announces 2023 Design Awards Jury 

Posted on by cguske

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 awards recognize 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 is 5 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.

Call for Entries: 2023 Design Awards

Posted on by cguske

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.

The Design Awards program is sponsored by:

Bronze
Bamforth Engineers + Surveyors

Awards Categories include:

  • Architecture;
  • Design for Context;
  • Unbuilt Architecture
  • Extended Use;
    • Historic Preservation
    • Adaptive or Continued Use
  • Interiors;
  • Residential; and
  • Small Projects
    • Up to $150K in construction cost
    • Up to $500K in construction cost
    • Under 5,000 square feet

Check out the complete descriptions of each of the awards categories, and review the regulations, eligibility requirements, and frequently asked questions for more information.

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 Virginia Members:
$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

Not an AIA Virginia member? Apply for unassigned membership.

About the Framework for Design Excellence

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.

2022 Design Awards Announced

Posted on by cguske

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.

About the Jury
The jury was chaired by Anne Marie Duvall-Decker, FAIA principal of the Jackson, Mississippi-based firm Duvall Decker. She was joined by Paul Mankins, FAIA founder of Substance Architecture and Cody Farris, AIA, Studio Design Director with Duvall Decker.

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

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.

Capitol One Hall (Tysons, Va.)

Image courtesy of HGA. Capital One Hall – © Alan Karchmer / OTTO

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.

VCU Health, Adult Outpatient Pavilion (Richmond, Va.)

Images courtesy of HDR. Photos by Dan Schwalm.

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.