The Brick Industry Association’s 2012 Brick in Architecture Awards put the spotlight on new projects that make creative use of one of humankind’s oldest and most beloved building materials. On these pages are several of the “Best in Class Winners” from this year’s BIA competition.
Wylie Civic Complex
The Wylie (Texas) Civic Complex weaves three public uses—city hall, recreation center, and public library—within a single tight design concept. The 137,000-sf complex, best in the municipal/government/civic category, attained LEED Silver certification. Architect: Holzman Moss Bottino Architecture, in association with Architexas. Mason contractor: DMG Masonry Ltd.
Bud Clark Commons
In the multifamily category, the award goes to Bud Clark Commons, which is described as a “centerpiece of the Portland’s plan to end homelessness.” The LEED Platinum apartment complex provides housing and comprehensive social services to the Oregon city’s homeless population. Architect: Holst Architecture. Mason contractor: J&S Masonry.
VIP Community Services, Men’s Residences
Honors in healthcare facilities go to the Men’s Residences facility in the East Tremont section of the Bronx, N.Y., a project of the Bronx-based nonprofit housing group VIP Community Services. This five-story, 30,000-sf facility provides housing, dining facilitiies, vocational training, and therapy for 80 men in addiction recovery. Architect/landscape architect: WASA/Studio A. Mason contractor: Procida Construction.
DuPage A.M.E. Chapel and Administrative Wing
The DuPage A.M.E. Chapel, the winner among houses of worship, provides a second chapel for this fast-growing congregation in Lisle, Ill., as well as a children’s church, classrooms, administrative offices, and a fellowship room. Architect: Harding Partners. Contractor: Moreton Construction. Mason contractor: J and E Duff.
Ogden International School of Chicago
Located on the site of an aging and overcrowded Chicago Public Schools building, the 110,000-sf K-8 school varies in design from the CPS prototype to reflect the uniqueness of Ogden’s international baccalaureate program. Architect: Nagle Hartray Architecture. Associate architect: Schroeder Murchie Niemiec Gazda-Auskalnis. Landscape architect: Terry Guen Design Associates. Contractor: Turner Construction Co. Mason contractor: Illinois Masonry Corp. +
Related Stories
Affordable Housing | May 17, 2023
Affordable housing advocates push for community-owned homes over investment properties
Panelists participating in a recent webinar hosted by the Urban Institute discussed various actions that could help alleviate the nation’s affordable housing crisis. Among the possible remedies: inclusionary zoning policies, various reforms to increase local affordable housing stock, and fees on new development to offset the impact on public infrastructure.
University Buildings | May 17, 2023
New UC Irvine health sciences building supports aim to become national model for integrative health
The new College of Health Sciences Building and Nursing & Health Sciences Hall at the University of California Irvine supports the institution’s goal of becoming a national model for integrative health. The new 211,660-sf facility houses nursing, medical doctorate, pharmacy, philosophy, and public health programs in a single building.
Sponsored | Building Enclosure Systems | May 16, 2023
4 steps to a better building enclosure
Dividing the outside environment from the interior, the building enclosure is one of the most important parts of the structure. The enclosure not only defines the building’s aesthetic, but also protects occupants from the elements and facilitates a comfortable, controlled climate. With dozens of components comprising the exterior assemblies, from foundation to cladding to roof, figuring out which concerns to address first can be daunting.
Multifamily Housing | May 16, 2023
Legislators aim to make office-to-housing conversions easier
Lawmakers around the country are looking for ways to spur conversions of office space to residential use.cSuch projects come with challenges such as inadequate plumbing, not enough exterior-facing windows, and footprints that don’t easily lend themselves to residential use. These conditions raise the cost for developers.
Headquarters | May 16, 2023
Workplace HQ for party clothing company Shinesty celebrates its bold, whimsical products
The new Denver headquarters for Shinesty, a party clothing company, was designed to match the brand’s fun image with an iconic array of colors, textures, and prints curated by the design agency, Maximalist. Shinesty’s mission, to challenge the world to live more freely and “take itself less seriously,” is embodied throughout the office interior.
Office Buildings | May 15, 2023
Sixteen-story office tower will use 40% less energy than an average NYC office building
This month marks the completion of a new 16-story office tower that is being promoted as New York City’s most sustainable office structure. That boast is backed by an innovative HVAC system that features geothermal wells, dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) units, radiant heating and cooling, and a sophisticated control system to ensure that the elements work optimally together.
Life of an Architect Podcast | May 15, 2023
Life of an Architect Podcast Ep. 125: What Makes a Great Employee?
How do you define a great employee? The answer is most likely dependent on who is attempting to respond: the employee or the employer. Life of an Architect's Bob Borson, FAIA, and Andrew Hawkins, AIA, talk about the traits and characteristics of great employees.
K-12 Schools | May 12, 2023
In Virginia, a new high school building helps reimagine the experience for 1,600 students
In Virginia, the City of Alexandria recently celebrated the topping out of a new building for Alexandria City High School. When complete in 2025, the high-performance structure will accommodate 1,600 students.
University Buildings | May 11, 2023
New ‘bold and twisting’ building consolidates School of Continuing Studies at York University
The design of a new building that consolidates York University’s School of Continuing Studies into one location is a new architectural landmark at the Toronto school’s Keele Campus. “The design is emblematic of the school’s identity and culture, which is centered around accelerated professional growth in the face of a continuously evolving labor market,” according to a news release from Perkins&Will.
Sustainability | May 11, 2023
Let's build toward a circular economy
Eric Corey Freed, Director of Sustainability, CannonDesign, discusses the values of well-designed, regenerative buildings.
