AIA Grand Valley honored the best regional architecture of 2006 at its annual awards ceremony March 11 by conferring nine awards for excellence in design and professional achievement by chapter members from the Michigan component. The jury members, who hailed from AIA Minneapolis, were: Chair Tom Hysell, AIA; Christine Albertsson, AIA; Thomas DeAngelo, FAIA; Mamie Harvey, AIA; and Joan Soranno, AIA.

Building Awards

Family Recreation Building, undisclosed location, by AMDG Architects Inc.
The building’s siting takes advantage of expansive views to the open field and skating pond to the south, while nestling into a secluded spot at the edge of the existing woods. The building draws inspiration from surrounding historic barns. Merging agricultural character with the programmatic functions yields a design in which a gym and pool occupy distinct barn-like structures. A connective infill piece negotiates the negative space between the large masses and offers entertaining space and supporting functions. An exterior patio to the south and west maximizes sun exposure. The barn’s expression and detailing are distilled to simple geometry of both form and detail by means of board–and-batten siding, restrained exterior trims, a galvanized standing-seam roof, half-round gutters, simple light fixtures, and a massive sliding barn door. A natural stone base transitions between the porch and the green space by means of gracious, spreading stairs.

DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, Mich., by Progressive AE/Ellerbe Becket, for the Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention Arena Authority
This project is built on a 13-acre urban site with severe subsurface geological conditions. It is bordered by existing buildings, primary streets, and a major river. It included an existing performance hall in the center of the site that had to be incorporated into the complex and kept in operation throughout the project. In addition, Art Deco elements of an auditorium building on site also had to be preserved and restored. Inspired by the river and its rapids, the curving roof covering the exhibit hall ends in a cascading glass form over an interior pedestrian street known as the Grand Gallery. That skylighted public lobby space plays a key role in linking the 165,000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall, meeting rooms, and ballroom at all levels. It also links the convention center to a new lobby at the performance hall at both street and skywalk levels. The skywalk connects south through downtown hotels, offices, and arena.

Cyril & Methodius Catholic Parish, Kalamazoo, Mich., by Schemata Inc., for the SS Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church and Diocese
The architects relocated this much-loved existing, little, rural, white church. This effort proved not only to be economical, but it also satisfied the emotional attachment that many had with their “little white church in the pines.” The new position and design of the complex allowed for development of the master plan, which calls for a social hall, additional meeting room, classrooms, and worship area expansion. The renovation creates an appropriately sized narthex/fellowship gathering space and other support areas: accessible toilet rooms, coffee kitchenette, and meeting room/cry room(s). At the entry to the worship space, the existing font is incorporated into a new baptistry. The font welcomes the baptized congregation into the church in the same way it welcomes new Christians into the parish community and connects the newly baptized with the parish members whose baptisms took place in this old font. The design also includes roof dormers for natural light, maple architectural panels and liturgical art, burnished concrete masonry units, and salvaged stained glass.

Hurwitz Residence, (undisclosed location), by Integrated Architecture, for Daniel and Stephanie Hurwitz
This house’s seamless transition from outdoor to indoor and between living segments is accomplished with space and form rather than walls and doors. A series of three living environments in the 4,500-square-foot home responds directly to the site’s undulating ridge, the surrounding private woods, and the family’s requirement that the house be barrier-free for their son, who has muscular dystrophy. The design features natural materials, including wood beams, slate and hardwood floors, and stone and glass. The circulation spine, a lower-scale gallery space, showcases the children’s art while creating a privacy wall between the living segment and the out-of-doors. It also captures light with an east-facing clerestory. The living segment is the central element of the home. The public segment includes a private guest suite and terrace. Bedrooms, baths, and office areas top out the third living environment. The home office, accessed by a bridge, is both physically and emotionally separate from the living space. Here, too, abundant natural light and magnificent views support creative thought. A fourth segment with the garage, laundry, and storage spaces extends essentially perpendicular from the others.

Interior Award

West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology, Grand Rapids, Mich., by Progressive AE, for the West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology
The concept for this reclaimed space is at the heart of the design: People rise to the expectations of their environment. The gallery serves as the gateway into the center, promoting the students’ creativity and supporting the role of art as a tool to mentoring. The polished-plaster art gallery walls become a canvas that elevates the status of the artwork. Social areas or “chill-out zones,” grace the circulation paths to encourage students to collaborate and engage with studio instructors, while the central gathering space is designed to strengthen the sense of community among the students. Studio walls are folded or angled away from the orthogonal grid to represent the complexity of learning, capture views, and present artwork. Finishes, like bamboo, reflect both the desire to use natural and sustainable materials and to engage and appeal to at-risk teens and adults.

Sustainable Design Award

Sherwood Lodge at Girl Scouts Camp Anna Behrens, Greenville, Mich., by Progressive AE, for Girl Scouts of Michigan Trails
The architect’s conversations with campers resulted in the creation of a sustainable and water-efficient 360-seat dining/assembly hall, kitchen, and support spaces, plus a multipurpose loft. The architects reused the existing trees—more than 5,000 linear feet of red pine—originally planted by the Civilian Conservation Corps and logged from the site for the dining hall. A carpooling program, bicycle storage, and shower/changing facilities are provided for kitchen staff. All trees surrounding the hall were preserved, shading more than 90 percent of the building and decks. The site’s native vegetation site needs no irrigation, and a simple cobblestone surround at the roof dripline prevents trenching and compacting of soils, thus maintaining full infiltration from roof runoff. Site lighting is minimal, adhering to the camp’s dark-sky policy for stargazing and lightning bug enjoyment. The architects also used materials and resource strategies to divert waste from landfills and cut transportation costs. Construction and pre-occupancy management included low VOC adhesives, sealants, stains, and paint. A venturi chimney provides natural ventilation.

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