With an awards ceremony announcing the state’s most impressive building designs and captivating panels and keynote lectures from industry leaders, the New Jersey chapter of the American Institute of Architect’s (AIA-NJ) Design Day conference – the largest architectural gathering in the state – focused on the industry’s top issues and professionals at the annual event in Somerset, New Jersey.
Held at the Palace at Somerset Park, the event celebrated architecture in the Garden State, and featured the public display of more than 100 design entries submitted by 51 firms. The event was capped by the Design Awards reception, where a panel of prestigious judges announced the winning entries.
In recognition of the 250th anniversary of Rutgers University, 2016 Design Day focused on the school’s architecture, including a keynote lecture on the physical development of the New Brunswick campus. The event also included a tour of the school’s College Avenue Campus, highlighting some of Rutgers’ original buildings as well as newly-built structures that match the original design motif. The tour also fostered a discussion about how some of the school’s oldest buildings are being repurposed.
“We are in the midst of an extremely productive year for AIA-NJ, and honoring our members for their impressive projects is an important part of encouraging excellence in architectural design,” said Justin Mihalik, president of AIA-NJ. “In addition to the design awards reception, the informative speeches and fascinating campus tour contributed toward making this year’s Design Day a major success.”
The conference was highlighted by seminars and keynote lectures: The morning portion of the program included several illuminating panels, focused respectively on increasing diversity within the architectural profession and emerging technologies for architects. Keynotes included Stephen Chrisman of Ferguson & Shahimian Architects’ “New Traditional Architecture,” discussing a wide range of contemporary luxury residential projects across the country; and Rick Joy of Rick Joy Architects’ “Taking the Time,” a discussion about his contemporary architecture style.
The winners of the Design Awards announced at the conference included:
- HDR, based in Lawrenceville,received three accolades: a merit award in the Unbuilt category for their work on the Brendan Iribe Center for Computer Science & Innovation at the University of Maryland; a merit award in the Built Open category for their design of the Institute for Animal Health; and an honor award in the Built Open category for their work on the Zayed Building for Personalized Cancer Care
- Stonewater Architecture, based in Colonia, received a merit award in the Unbuilt category for the Village Housedesign
- Ikon.5 Architects, based in Princeton, received two accolades: a merit award in the Unbuilt category for their design of the Unitarian Church Expansionin Summit; and a merit award in the Unbuilt category for their work on Olympic Archery Park
- Solid & Void, based in Somerville, received a merit award in the Interior category for the Guerilla Fitness design
- Francis Cauffman, based in New York City, received a merit award in the Built Open category for their work on the Biotrial North American Headquarters
- CTS Group Architecture/Planning, based in Chatham, received two accolades: a merit award in the Historic Preservation category for their design of 93 Reade Street; and an honor award in the Historic Preservation category for the Porcelanosa Exterior Façade Restoration
- Erdy McHenry Architecture, based in Philadelphia, received a merit award in the Residential category for their design of theRowan University Holly Pointe Commons
- Joseph Hobart Weiss Architecture, Planning and Design, based in Princeton, received a merit award in the Residential category for their work on the Prospect Ave. Residence
- Ballinger, based in Philadelphia, received an honor award in the Built Open category for theNew Jersey Institute for Food | Nutrition + Health
About AIA and AIA New Jersey
Founded in 1857, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) is the professional organization that helps architects serve the public’s needs and builds awareness of the role of architects and architecture in American society. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., its 300 plus local chapters represent 86,000 licensed architects and allied professionals. The organization’s local chapter, AIA New Jersey, has served as the voice of the architecture profession in the Garden State since 1900. Based in Trenton, AIA New Jersey has 2,000 members in six local sections. For more information, please visit www.aia-nj.org.