AIA East Bay Rewards Adaptive Reuse and Renovation

AIA East Bay Rewards Adaptive Reuse and Renovation

AIA East Bay found 11 projects to honor this year, many of which re-invested in the East Bay’s existing building stock and breathed new life (and new programs) into foundering and neglected buildings. Throughout, jurors honored projects that performed this feat with restrained formal interventions and meticulous restorations. Honor Award: The East Bay Center for the Performing Arts in Richmond, Calif., designed by Mark Cavagnero Associates. Image courtesy of Tim Griffith. Jury comments: Gutsy. This shows a tour de force ability to take on the [project’s] circumstances and have such an elegant result. We applaud the architect for the building’s grace, like how it harkens back to the tough, industrial local shipbuilding history.

Honor Award: UC Berkeley Law School South Addition in Berkeley, Calif., designed by Ratcliff. Image courtesy of Tim Griffith. Jury comments: This is a masterful use of design. We found the street presence to be transformational. The borrowing of daylight via the skylights is clever and clean.

Honor Award: UC Berkeley Durant Hall in Berkeley, Calif., designed by Mark Cavagnero Associates. Image courtesy of David Wakely Photography. Jury comments: The architecture brought a dismal building back to life with an elegance that really strengthened it. It’s fresh, light, and luminous.

Merit Award: Tea Houses in Silicon Valley, Calif., designed by Swatt Miers Architects. Image courtesy of Tim Griffith. Jury comments: The simplicity is perfectly rendered. The Tea Houses have an extreme lightness about them, and are elegantly detailed. Pure beauty. The glass detailing results in an ethereal quality.

Merit Award: The Historic Old Administration Building in Fresno, Calif., designed by ELS Architecture and Urban Design. Image courtesy of David Wakely Photography. Jury comments: This is obviously a very patient, thoughtful renovation. [We] love the careful maintenance of the brickwork.

Citation: Oakland Museum of California Renovation and Expansion in Oakland, designed by Mark Cavagnero Associates. Image courtesy of Tim Griffith. Jury comments: We appreciate how this addition and renovation captures what was important about the original museum by Kevin Roche, FAIA. This puts a fresh stamp on the existing museum. The restraint is noteworthy.

Citation: The California Shakespeare Theater in Orinda, Calif., designed by Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects. Image courtesy of Bruce Damonte Photography. Jury comments: The challenge was to capture the outdoor theater experience without overdoing it. The programming for this upgrade certainly accomplished that, creating a friendly, fun environment.

Citation: Yountville Town Center in Yountville, Calif., designed by Siegel & Strain Architects. Image courtesy of David Wakely Photography. Jury comments: The magic of this project sneaks up on you. [It was] deftly done with simple means. [We were] impressed with the measure to make it sustainable and energy efficient.

Citation: The Ed Robert Campus in Berkeley, Calif., designed by Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects. Image courtesy of Tim Griffith. Jury comments: This makes it look easy to design a building to be extremely accessible to all. It deftly solved the issues surrounding good design and accessibility, [and it] preserves human dignity through its design and aesthetic. A great city addition.

Citation: Richard C. Blum Hall in Berkeley, Calif., designed by Gensler. Image courtesy of Takata Photography. Jury comments: An exemplary infill project. [It features] great integration and use of materials. There is a translucency to the building that makes it feel open and light.

Citation: Studio One Art Center in Oakland, designed by Shah Kawasaki Architects. Image courtesy of Russell Abraham Photography. Jury comments: [This project was] boiled down to its essence--no fluff. [We] appreciate the nice, straightforward quality.

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