Washington, D.C. – The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Committee on Architecture for Education (CAE) has selected five educational and cultural facilities for this year’s CAE Educational Facility Design Awards. The CAE Design Excellence Award honors educational facilities that the jury believes should serve as an example of a superb place in which to learn, furthering the client's mission, goals and educational program while demonstrating excellence in architectural design. These projects exemplify innovation through the client's educational goals through responsive and responsible programming, planning and design. Function and surrounding regional and community context are valued as part of the planning and design process.
California State University, Northridge Student Recreation Center; Northridge, California
LPA, Incorporated
The Student Recreation Center strategically creates a strong bookend to the east end of the campus, providing a dynamic, energetic approach to recreation. The design concept is clearly executed with a judicious use of colors and finishes. Upon entering the building natural lighting and material choices raise excitement and motivate movement. As an athletic building, it captures the energy and impetus of the various sporting activities inside. Strong transparency and interconnections between spaces inside the building are appealing, inviting and conducive to exercising. Compositionally it is assured and confident. Its community connection is highly apparent. Rainwater collection, natural ventilation, and day lighting are strong sustainable design features that are nicely integrated into the design. It was evident to the jury that students were involved in the conceptualization process and planning.
Sandy High School; Sandy, Oregon
Dull Olson Weekes – IBI Group Architects
Breathtakingly detailed as a public school, Sandy High School sets very high standards in terms of materials, finishes and aesthetics. Sitting lightly on the land, the building allows nature to penetrate the campus. It takes advantage of the hillside and creates panoramic views while nestling comfortably on the contours. Visible green roofs below adjacent classrooms add to hillside views while remaining roof areas are opportunities for power generation. Transparency between classrooms and common areas is executed boldly, with floor to ceiling glass suggesting a confidence with the user groups. Single loaded corridors were used to great effect by allowing natural light into both sides of learning spaces. Exterior treatments reflect the region in a wonderful and indigenous way and incorporate pleasant verandas with deep overhangs. The usable space per student and color combinations contribute to and promote student development.
Hinds Community College Jobie L. Martin Classroom Building; Jackson, Mississippi
Duvall Decker Architects
This simple and honest building with strong forms and an elegant façade shows that a few simple gestures can render a sense of identity to an otherwise nondescript campus. The rigorous use of materials, straightforward detailing, and clarity of concept elevates the modest program to a new level. The jury admired the light airy classrooms that combined the translucent, transparent, fixed, and operable glazing.
Mesa Community College Health Wellness Building; Mesa, Arizona
SmithGroupJJR
The transformation of this postindustrial concrete building into a light filled, translucent learning environment is exceptional. This project sets a high standard for reuse and repurposing of an existing building and demonstrates how constraints can benefit and strengthen a project. The conversion of leftover space between buildings creates dynamic and interactive circulation opportunities. The exterior is striking in its bold gestures, especially at night.
Cranbrook Kingswood Girls’ Middle School; Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Lake|Flato Architects
This design integrates form and function in ways reminiscent of the Crow Island School. The building is indicative of an independent language that fits well within the campus context. Cranbrook Kingswood Girls' Middle School is beautifully detailed, appropriately contextual in a place where expectations are very high, modest in scale, yet intimate. The variety of shared common learning spaces connects directly to the exterior while providing opportunities to integrate imaginative ideas into the educational environment. The scale of the interstitial spaces and classrooms give a very secure feeling to the learning environment. This school builds on great traditions but creates a quality and life of its own.
Jury
The 2013 CAE Educational Facility Design Awards jury includes: Steven M. Shiver, AIA, Chair, NAC Architecture; John R. Dale, FAIA, Harley Ellis Devereaux; Linda Nelson Keane, AIA; Victor Sidy, AIA, Taliesin School of Architecture and C. Kenneth Tanner, University of Georgia.
About the Committee on Architecture for Education (CAE)
The CAE is a large and active group of architects and allied professionals concerned with the quality and design of all types of educational, cultural, and recreational facilities. While a large portion of CAE members practice in the K-12 and post-secondary education markets, they look to serve the needs of those in the entire pre-K to 99 markets. CAE identifies national educational facility issues critical to architects and works to strengthen relationships with allied organizations, client groups, and the public.
About The American Institute of Architects
Founded in 1857, members of the American Institute of Architects consistently work to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings, neighborhoods, and communities. Through nearly 300 state and local chapters, the AIA advocates for public policies that promote economic vitality and public well being. Members adhere to a code of ethics and conduct to ensure the highest professional standards. The AIA provides members with tools and resources to assist them in their careers and business as well as engaging civic and government leaders, and the public to find solutions to pressing issues facing our communities, institutions, nation and world. Visit www.aia.org.
Related Stories
| May 22, 2014
Senate kills bipartisan energy efficiency bill over Keystone pipeline amendment
The legislation focused on energy efficiency standards such as water heaters with smart meters and cheaper heating and cooling systems for office buildings.
| May 22, 2014
IKEA to convert original store into company museum
Due to open next year, the museum is expected to attract 200,000 people annually to rural Älmhult, Sweden, home of the first ever IKEA store.
| May 21, 2014
Evidence-based design practices for the palliative care environment
Palliative care strives to make patients comfortable as they are receiving treatment for a severe illness. As hospitals seek to avoid Affordable Care Act penalties for poor patient satisfaction, many expect this field to grow quickly.
| May 21, 2014
Gehry unveils plan for renovation, expansion of Philadelphia Museum of Art [slideshow]
Gehry's final design reorganizes and expands the building, adding more than 169,000 sf of space, much of it below the iconic structure.
| May 21, 2014
Check out Pandora's posh NYC offices [slideshow]
The new East Coast office for the Internet radio provider is housed on two interconnected floors of the classic 125 Park Avenue building, and features multiple spaces for music performances, large gatherings, and “all hands” meetings.
| May 21, 2014
Architecture Billings Index in the negative for second consecutive month
The March ABI score was 49.6, up slightly from a mark of 48.8 in March, but still below the growth threshold of 50.
| May 20, 2014
Kinetic Architecture: New book explores innovations in active façades
The book, co-authored by Arup's Russell Fortmeyer, illustrates the various ways architects, consultants, and engineers approach energy and comfort by manipulating air, water, and light through the layers of passive and active building envelope systems.
| May 20, 2014
Gensler envisions 'law firm of the future' with pop-up office project
Called "The Legal Office of the Future," the pop-up demonstration project made its debut this week at the annual conference for the Association of Legal Administrators in Toronto.
| May 20, 2014
Using fire-rated glass in exterior applications
Fire-rated glazing and framing assemblies are just as beneficial on building exteriors as they are on the inside. But knowing how to select the correct fire-rated glass for exterior applications can be confusing. SPONSORED CONTENT
| May 20, 2014
World's best new skyscrapers: Renzo Piano's The Shard, China's 'doughnut hotel' voted to Emporis list
Eight other high-rise projects were named Emporis Skyscraper Award winners, including DC Tower 1 by Dominique Perrault Architecture and Tour Carpe Diem by Robert A.M. Stern.
