This really is a community bus shelter which not only serves the community, but which also included the design ideas of the community and was built by the hands of the community. This tiny project has a well-balanced design, pleasing color palette, and creative design to the frit pattern/tree design on the glass shelter walls
The community involvement to rally around an important community asset is what compelled us to highlight this project. The architect’s thoughtful approach to involve the community is evident in the final built product.
The overall approach to the shelter is about the community. The impact of the project is the service it provides and the needs it fulfills.
The bus shelter, while small, is an important piece of architecture not because it is unique or innovative, but because it is a piece of the community, designed for the community. The materials selection and resilient design approach was very appropriate for this project.
HONOR AWARD – NEW CONSTRUCTION – (Project cost greater than $5 million)
I want to go to high school there! The architecture is a pep rally in and of itself. The design response is cohesive from interior to exterior with dynamic spaces for students. The jury appreciated the thoughtful use of color. Of special note was the black ceiling with the restraint to not paint the exposed trusses black but keep them light to match the walls thus expressing the structure of the space.
This is a dynamic project and an excellent approach to the program. There is an identity of place with the overall approach to entry and the direction of the competition space both inside and outside.
The exposed structure and the use of color in this project create a sense of wonder and curiosity that are so important in a school environment.
The high school is a unique design, breaking many of the traditional expectations of what a school should be. The simple color palette, use of architectural graphics and contrasting elements make this project a success. The simplicity of the design and the use of contrasting elements, especially in the gymnasium, was appreciated.
MERIT AWARD – NEW CONSTRUCTION – (Project cost greater than $5 million)
This is a good integration of form and function. The interior and exterior design and color palettes have a timeless quality. The design proportions of the project are very pleasing and have a nice rhythm. It seems there was a missed opportunity to create landscaping or other outdoor design elements as a consideration for views from the lobby to the exterior, but overall, this is a very successful project.
The addition provides a new approach to the building. This is an excellent example of classic modern architecture. The material selection has an understated presence. The interiors reflect the approach to the exterior design.
The project excels in its mission to enhance patient experience by creating a new, more open entry space that feels genuinely welcoming and calming.
The use of materials and the progression through the space set this project apart from the others. The integration of the expansive gazing with the heavier stone-like finish provided a welcoming entry to the space.
MERIT AWARD – INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE
Project Architect
Elevatus Architecture
Project Name
Northwest Allen County Schools Administration Center – Fort Wayne, IN
The interior of this project is very successful. The bright blue metal panels on the exterior are one of the few detractors from the overall excellence of this project. I find the “dash-dot” lighting in the hallway and similar “dash-dot” wood pattern in the meeting room to be a surprising, fun and well-integrated design detail.
This is a classic example of entry passage and place.
This project creates a cohesive interior through its use of materials and program organization. The design of the space fosters new opportunities for collaboration across the different departments through its central corridor of shared amenities.
While the building was well executed, the central corridor within the structure significantly enhanced the user experience. The finishes, volume, and lighting all combined to create a well-designed, professional space. The same elements extended into other areas of the building interior creating a warm, welcoming, cohesive interior.
CITATION AWARD – PRESERVATION / ADAPTIVE REUSE / RENOVATION
The interiors are the shining stars of this preservation/ renovation project. The apartments look like a place where “movers and shakers” of the area would live, and the gathering spaces are very inviting. The muted interior color palette throughout the interior is very pleasing. If the first floor of the exterior had been restored to its 1920s aesthetic, the exterior would have been more successful. The glossy black tile on the exterior lacks the lacy lightness of the original 1920s design. The jury questions the decision to maintain the boxy glass block and heavily fortified feel of the first floor that was established in the 1940s/1950s.
A sense of memory lives on with this restoration. Maintaining the overall original architecture, materials and plan is key to the success of the project. The corridors are a node to the original building program yet provides entry to the units.
It’s clear that careful attention was paid to the existing details of the building and those same details were carried into the new interior spaces. Interior spaces add to an elevation the historic beauty of the building.
The Ben Hur restoration project is a well-executed restoration effort. Significant time and energy was spent addressing the needs of the exterior envelope to ensure the space was warm, safe and dry. The interior work, on all floors, seemed to be exceptional. While the project seemed to dot the i’s and cross the t’s, the jury questioned the missed opportunity to do more with the exterior of the first floor. The heavy, almost oppressive, exterior at the street level seemed to take away from the overall success of the rest of the building.
HONOR AWARD – INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE – (Project cost greater than $5 million)
This is an exceptional project both inside and out. It was unclear why this was submitted in the Interior Architecture category because the integration of rhythm, color, texture, and form is cohesive throughout. Rhythm plays such an important part in all forms of art and this building dances to a fascinating rhythm.
This building defines the street edge in an exciting way. The direction of the architect is as much about the street as it is about the building. The materials on the facade are subtle and the detailing provides a vocabulary that defines this building and creates a presence on the street. The interiors are also about that same approach. They say God is in the details!
The connection to music is evident in so many elements of the design of the building. Rhythm, articulation, and accents all reinforce the program of the building in a playful but controlled way.
This project was very well received by the jury. The work on both the inside and exterior provided a complete, well-coordinated building that included the use of strong and weak elements to create a rhythm appropriate to the end use. The color palette used was appropriate to the space and the materials accentuated the cohesive feel.
CITATION AWARD – INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE – (Project cost less than $5 million)
While not a novel concept, the bold decision to open the floor up as a means to help light penetrate deeper into the building is applauded. The natural light this response brings to the interior spaces integrates well with the subtle, nature-inspired color palette and the biophilic elements incorporated into the space. This looks like a great space to work and to host meetings.
The approach is about the experience. Arrival is here. The atrium spaces are well detailed and complement the overall program.
The addition of the floor opening brings a new life to the building. The natural light that is now brought through the core of the building makes the program organized around the opening. The resulting design feels collaborative and gives a new sense of connection throughout the building.
This interiors project provides a refreshing approach to what could have been a typical alteration project. The opening of the slab and the introduction of light into the main stair and perimeter offices was highly successful. The project was nicely detailed and the use of limited architectural graphics & biophilic elements provides for a complete and inviting workplace.
