The American Institute of Architects' (AIA) Committee on Architecture for Education (CAE) is recognizing ten projects with its Education Facility Design Awards for state-of-the-art designs of schools and learning centers.
This year’s jury selected eight facilities for its Awards of Excellence and two projects for its Awards of Merit.
In order to be eligible for the Awards of Excellence, the architect must demonstrate exemplary practice and the design must meet a host of criteria, including enhancing learning in classrooms; balancing function with aesthetics; establishing a connection with the environment; being respectful of the surrounding community; demonstrating high-level planning in the design process; and integrating sustainability in a holistic fashion. Awards of Excellence were bestowed upon the following:
— Chatham University Eden Hall Campus; Richland Township, Pennsylvania | Mithun
— Haverford College Visual Culture, Arts, and Media Building; Haverford, Pennsylvania | MSR Design
— Kawartha Trades and Technology Centre (KTTC); Peterborough, Ontario, Canada | Perkins+Will Canada Inc.
— Memphis Teacher Residency (MTR); Memphis, Tennessee | archimania
— Pagliuca Harvard Life Lab; Allston, Massachusetts | Shepley Bulfinch
— The Frick Environmental Center; Pittsburgh | Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
— Tsinghua Ocean Center; Shenzhen, China | Open Architecture
— University of Iowa Voxman Music Building; Iowa City | LMN Architects
Projects selected for the Awards of Merit are recognized for being of superior quality. This year’s recipients include:
— Arlington Elementary School; Tacoma, Washington | Mahlum
— Ballet Memphis, Memphis | archimania
The CAE honored each of the recipients at its Building Community Through Education Conference in Baltimore on Friday, April 13.
Related Stories
| Feb 24, 2014
First look: UC San Diego opens net-zero biological research lab
The facility is intended to be "the most sustainable laboratory in the world," and incorporates natural ventilation, passive cooling, high-efficiency plumbing, and sustainably harvested wood.
| Feb 14, 2014
Must see: Developer stacks shipping containers atop grain silos to create student housing tower
Mill Junction will house up to 370 students and is supported by 50-year-old grain silos.
| Feb 14, 2014
Crowdsourced Placemaking: How people will help shape architecture
The rise of mobile devices and social media, coupled with the use of advanced survey tools and interactive mapping apps, has created a powerful conduit through which Building Teams can capture real-time data on the public. For the first time, the masses can have a real say in how the built environment around them is formed—that is, if Building Teams are willing to listen.
| Feb 13, 2014
University officials sound off on net zero energy buildings
As part of its ongoing ZNE buildings research project, Sasaki Associates, in collaboration with Buro Happold, surveyed some 500 campus designers and representatives on the top challenges and opportunities for achieving net-zero energy performance on university and college campuses.
| Feb 5, 2014
Extreme conversion: Atlanta turns high-rise office building into high school
Formerly occupied by IBM, the 11-story Lakeside building is the new home for North Atlanta High School.
| Feb 4, 2014
World's fifth 'living building' certified at Smith College [slideshow]
The Bechtel Environmental Classroom utilizes solar power, composting toilets, and an energy recovery system, among other sustainable strategies, to meet the rigorous performance requirements of the Living Building Challenge.
| Jan 31, 2014
6 considerations for rehabbing student union buildings
Most colleges and universities feel pressure to offer the latest amenities in order to attract and retain the best and brightest students. While hauling in the bulldozer to create modern facilities is attractive in some regards, deciding to renovate can be just as effective and, in some cases, even preferable to new construction.
| Jan 30, 2014
How reverse engineering nature can spur design innovation
It’s not enough to copy nature. Today’s designers need a deeper understanding of environmental nuance, from the biome in.
| Jan 29, 2014
Notre Dame to expand football stadium in largest project in school history
The $400 million Campus Crossroads Project will add more than 750,000 sf of academic, student life, and athletic space in three new buildings attached to the school's iconic football stadium.
| Jan 28, 2014
White Paper: How metal buildings deliver long-term value to schools
A new white paper from Star Building Systems outlines the benefits of metal buildings for public and private school building projects.