AIArchitect, Dec. 9, 2002 - Miller/Hull Partnership Receives 2003 AIA Architecture Firm Award

Honors and Awards

Miller/Hull Partnership Receives 2003 AIA Architecture Firm Award

The AIA Board of Directors on December 6 named the Miller/Hull Partnership (Miller/Hull), Seattle, as recipient of the 2003 AIA Architecture Firm Award.

“Thank you very much, that's just so great,” said Miller/Hull principal and founding partner Robert E. Hull, FAIA, when notified by President Gordon Chong, FAIA, that his firm had been selected for the award. “We have the whole office gathered here around the phone, and we are very happy.”

Environmentally conscious "green architecture" strategies were used in site planning and building design of Miller/Hull's Olympic College Shelton., a satellite campus in southern Mason County. The result is the beginning of a campus that is ecologically sound and which derives its character from the existing naturally wooded setting. Working from their Pacific Northwest base, Miller/Hull’s designs have been identified as representing the next generation of regional Modernism, also known as the “Northwest Style,” and are characterized by a woodsy or natural theme, sharp lines, and classic boxy shapes. It is applied to homes and commercial spaces through use of exposed timber, large windows, and other materials inspired by the region’s rugged landscape and evergreen colors.

In nominating the firm, Northwest and Pacific Region Board Member and 2003 Secretary of the Board Bruce Blackmer, AIA, commented, “Their exquisitely designed buildings respond to the unique environment within which they are located like few others. Their innovative approach has created a body of work of substance and authenticity without falling into stylistic trappings.” Blackmer also noted that Miller/Hull has been committed to excellence in design and environmental responsibility since their inception. They’ve set precedence for architecture influenced by local climate, materials, and culture, and have demonstrated the applicability of these ideas for any region. “In an era when buildings look the same worldwide,” says Blackmer, “Miller/Hull has defined Pacific Northwest Regional Modernism in a way that inspires architects around the globe to respond to the unique characteristics of their own regions.”

Miller/Hull's designs have been identified as representing the next generation of regional Modernism, also known as the "Northwest Style," and are characterized by a woodsy or natural theme, sharp lines, and classic boxy shapes, like the Roddy Bale residence, pictured here. Earth-friendly architecture
Founded in 1977, Miller/Hull is led today by 4 partners, 3 principals, and 38 associates. The firm’s primary goal is to inspire diverse communities through creative, inventive, and enriching architecture. These ideals are personified in public projects such as Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center, the Point Roberts Port of Entry, and Bainbridge Island City Hall. Miller/Hull’s attention to environmental responsibility and sustainable design is what characterizes its work. This awareness extends to design features that range from integration of storm water and site drainage with landscaping to use of earth-friendly building materials.

Miller/Hull’s diverse client base includes national and local government agencies, academic institutions, private developers, corporations, and residential owners. The design philosophy of the firm centers on creating significant places within context that are environmentally sensitive.

Miller/Hull's 10,000-square-foot cafeteria in the midst of the Boeing Company's industrial campus plays with sunlight to conserve energy and offer employees a welcoming respite from work. In the 24 years since its inception, the firm has won 120 awards, including two national AIA Honor Awards. Other recent awards include the Seattle Design Commission Commendation Award (2002), AIA Seattle Merit Award (2001), AIA Seattle Housing NW Merit Award (2002), and Federal Design Achievement Award (1999).

Miller/Hull’s work can be seen in suburban communities (Roddy/Bale Residence, Bellevue, Wash.); urban environments (1310 East Union, Seattle); waterfront developments (Seattle Community College—Marine Tech. Facility); civic centers (City Hall, Bainbridge, Wash.); and rural sites (Campbell Orchard House, Decatur Island, Wash., and Novontry Cabin. Tieton, Wash.).

Reference

The AIA Architecture Firm Award is the highest honor the AIA bestows on an architecture firm and is given annually to recognize a practice that has consistently produced distinguished architecture for at least 10 years. The award will be presented at the American Architectural Foundation Accent on Architecture Gala, March 8, 2003, at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. Previous recipients include Cesar Pelli & Associates, Skidmore Owings and Merrill, Herbert Lewis Kruse Blunck, and 2002 recipient Thompson Ventulett Stainback & Associates.