NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans area architecture firms swept the annual Design Awards competition of the American Institute of Architects – Louisiana affiliate (AIA LA).
The awards were given at the AIA LA Design Conference Luncheon, held Friday, September 11, 2015, in Baton Rouge.
The firms of Trahan Architects and Eskew+Dumez+Ripple, both of New Orleans, won Honor Awards. Firms receiving an Award of Merit included Waggonner and Ball Architects, Lee Ledbetter & Associates, John T. Campo & Associates, Inc., and Gould Evans, all of New Orleans. The Members’ Choice Award went to Holly and Smith Architects APAC, of Hammond.
Trahan Architects won Honor Awards for two projects – the Louisiana State Museum and Sports Hall of Fame in Natchitoches, Louisiana (Interiors Category); and the Owensboro-Daviess County Convention Center in Owensboro, Kentucky.
The LA State Museum is inspired by the riverfront setting of the Cane River and the 17th century bousillage found in the region. The exterior includes pleated copper panels and cast stone; and the interior space slows through exhibits winding upward, culminating at a veranda overlooking the river. Judges noted, “the surprising use of glass fiber reinforced concrete to shape the interior with integrated lights achieves a substantial public feel for the foyer.”
The 170,000 square feet Owensboro-Daviess County Convention Center is organized on two levels, and acts as a beacon on the Ohio River. It features views to the river, while the lobbies overlook historic downtown. Judges noted that the large barn roof and the deck off ballrooms offer compelling design, extension and view of the river; and required design skill and discipline.
Eskew+Dumez+Ripple won an Honor Award for the St. Pius Chapel and Prayer Garden in New Orleans. The new chapel’s steep, angular roofline reflects the modernist character of the adjacent church. Glazing elements create distinct changes in natural light throughout the day. The judges praised the design, which resulted in the new chapel and existing church seeming to belong together.
Awards of Merit winners and their projects are:
Waggonner & Ball Architects with Architecture Research Office for the Barbara Greenbaum House at Tulane University. The dormitory features a courtyard with multi-level bridge, outward facing brick facades and reference to the historic buildings. The judges noted the contrast between the well-detailed brick exterior façade that fits the campus and the open courtyard reinforces a social structured plan.
Gould Evans and associate architect Lee Ledbetter & Associates, both of New Orleans, for the Tulane University Yulman Stadium. The new football stadium uses a modern architectural vocabulary that marries old and new, providing an ambience to its presence. The judges noted the breathability of the building, its translucency and the dynamic way it is shaped and detailed.
Gould Evans also won an Award of Merit for the NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center in La Jolla, California. Inspired by the topography of the ocean and culture of southern California, the building includes an open architectural environment and courtyards, and a unique multi-story 528,000 gallon ocean technology development tank. The judges noted the multiple architectural strategies that are employed to make the building more sustainable and harvest environmental qualities.
John T. Campo & Associates, Inc. of New Orleans for the AC Hotel Bourbon/Cotton Exchange in New Orleans. The project includes rehabilitation of two historic buildings as a hotel, featuring an aesthetic concept from European boutique hotels. The judges noted the historic preservation work and design strategies to smoothly knit the two buildings together.
Holly and Smith Architects, APAC of Hammond were selected for the Member’s Choice Award for The Pond House at Ten Oaks Farm in Hammond. The three-story structure sits over the edge of the pond and juts out over the pond, and the angle of the roof is carried through the house to create contrast. Design strategies also minimize energy consumption.
A total of 58 design projects by architects throughout Louisiana were entered in the prestigious Design Competition. The jury of judges awarded three Honor Awards and four Merit Awards.
Since 1857, the AIA has represented the professional interests of America’s architects. As AIA members, nearly 80,000 licensed architects, emerging professionals, and allied partners express their commitment to excellence in design and livability in our nation’s buildings and communities. Members adhere to a code of ethics and professional conduct to assure the client, the public, and colleagues of an AIA-member architect’s dedication to the highest standards in professional practice.
