AIA Georgia's Design Awards program helps promote public awareness and appreciation of the diversity, quality, and scope of the state's architecture. The jury (Lewis Goetz, AIA; Stephen A. Kliment, FAIA; Carl F. Krebs, AIA; Jefferson B. Riley, FAIA; and Coren Sharples) evaluated more than 100 submissions, basing its selections on the success with which the project met its own requirements. The component provided the jurors' comments and project descriptions, which are excepted below.

AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE (All firms are in Atlanta)

Architectural Excellence
Rural Residence, by Robert M. Cain, AIA
The house, which sits on a 35-acre rural site, acknowledges the southern vernacular and expresses the almost minimalist requirements of the owners. The design shows an artful use of readily available industrial components, and wood is used in a restrained but warm manner. All this was done on a tight budget. The jurors especially liked the subtle yet confident handling of the form and details in this 2,010-square-foot house.

(Stephen A. Kliment, FAIA)

Architectural Excellence
Private Residence, Seattle, by Surber Barber Choate & Hertlein Architects, Inc.
The clients wanted something modern and primitive. It was beautifully executed and designed consistent in all aspects, from landscaping to the molding to the interior. Wonderful use of materials (concrete, stone, and wood) both decoratively and structurally.

(Lewis Goetz, AIA)

Architectural Excellence
Georgia Public Health Laboratory, by Lord Aeck & Sargent
The jury was initially struck by the bold impression of the building's dramatic lobby and entry façade. But upon further examination, it was the sophisticated planning and design of the laboratories and offices that the jury found truly exceptional. Working with a strict budget, the architects created a remarkable building suffused with natural light and a sense of openness. In addition, the jury was impressed by the building's sensitivity to sustainable design: its careful setting, the treatment of windows and solar exposure, and the imaginative selection of durable and attractive recycled materials.

(Carl Krebs, AIA)

Architectural Excellence
Lipson Alport Glass & Associates Office Building, by Cooper Carry, Inc.
The design deftly exploits the long narrow proportion of the site, as well as the significant slope of more than 20 feet from one end to the other. This simple, clean, and refined design is sensitive to the scale of the street and its context and offers the workers an interior environment of light, views, and open space.

(Carl Krebs, AIA)

Architectural Excellence
Tulane University Dormitories, by Mack Scogin Merrill Elam Architects
This project responded with great skill to the challenge of making an on-campus residence with the feel of a neighborhood community. The units themselves are well thought out and beautifully detailed, with the promise of deepening character as they age.

(Coren D. Sharples)

Architectural Excellence
Agnes Scott College, McCain Library Renovation & Expansion, by TVS & Associates
This skillful melding of new to old elevates the existing Collegiate Gothic building. The interiors are exceptionally intimate, airy, and modern yet with a sense of heritage. The reestablishment of the courtyard provides a meaningful and well-used amenity.

(Jefferson Riley, FAIA)

Interior Architecture
Earthlink-Atlanta, by ASD, Inc.
A sophisticated abstract rendition of sky, mountain, tree, and earth is appropriate for a company that "strives to link technology with the earth."

(Jefferson Riley, FAIA)

Interior Architecture
Merial North American Headquarters, by idea/span
A global, high-tech, science-based company wanted a workplace that refocused its vision and unified its culture when it moved from New Jersey to Georgia. It features a flexible and open work environment that is comfortable and restrained. It almost has a residential and collaborative quality.

(Lewis Goetz, AIA)

MERIT AWARDS (All firms are in Atlanta)

Architectural Excellence
Ebenezer Baptist Church New Horizon Sanctuary, by Stanley, Love-Stanley, P.C.
This church is a significant symbol of and monument to African-American culture. The references made to forms such as thatched huts, earth mounds, and decorative patterns are combined with a liturgically guided arrangement of chancel choir and congregation that make this a spectacular homage to Martin Luther King Jr. and the people whose aspirations he represented.

(Stephen A. Kliment, FAIA)

Architectural Excellence
Florida Hospital-Heartland Medical Center, by Perkins & Will
This 101-bed, replacement acute-care hospital includes a dining facility, wellness center, and conference center. It's a different project type that we felt compelled to recognize. It was well executed by breaking down the scale of the building into smaller, identifiable parts.

(Lewis Goetz, AIA)

Historic Preservation
Jekyll Island Club: Crane & Cherokee Cottages, by Smith Dalia Architects, LLC
The jurors were impressed by the significant efforts behind this renovation, which resulted in a simple, elegant solution that retained the character and qualities of the original historic residences. In particular, the research materials and the reworking of historic fixtures reflect the architect's commitment to maintaining the integrity of the original design. The result is a serene and comfortable inn that retains the grandeur and period craftsmanship of the original summer "cottages."

(Carl Krebs, AIA)

Adaptive Re-use
Lumberyard Lofts, by Brock Green Architects and Planners
This project, for the re-use of an 80,000-square-foot former warehouse building, used the simple but effective strategy of removing a portion of the existing roof, leaving the bar joists intact to break down the size of the footprint while creating an internal circulation space. The colorful yet restrained palette of light industrial materials used for new infill balances the straightforward, somewhat pedestrian character of the existing concrete floor and red brick perimeter wall.

(Coren D. Sharples)

Architectural Excellence
15 Waddell Street Lofts, by Brock Green Architects and Planners
The architects used tilt-up construction as a cost-effective structural system for these low-rise residential condominiums. Economical materials, such as stucco, glass block, and natural wood siding are handled with skill and given a sense of refinement through their composition and detailing. The floor plans are generous and sensible. The project has one notable drawback—an elevation facing the parking lot was unfortunately not given the same attention as the rest of the building.

(Coren D. Sharples)

Copyright 2001 The American Institute of Architects. All rights reserved.