Summary: Seven projects celebrating the best of Tennessee architecture were feted at AIA Tennessee’s annual awards gala in Nashville. A jury composed of nationally recognized architects deliberated for nine hours and awarded three awards of excellence and three merit awards. The jury evaluated more than 80 submittals in three categories: new construction, renovation/restoration, and architectural interior design. The award winners represent all facets of design work—from a courthouse renovation to a traveling museum exhibit to some stunning renovation/restoration work.

Awards of Excellence

Project: The 415
Location: Memphis
Architect: Blackledge Architecture
The jury liked how the architect of this project took a banal warehouse and created a “brilliant transformation into contemporary urban lofts.” The project’s clean lines create a powerful urban edge to the city. This project was a hit from outside to the inside, as jury members praised its “strong courtyards” and “taut interiors.”
Photo © Jeffrey Jacobs.

Project: James Park House
Location: Knoxville
Architect: Brewer Ingram Fuller Architects Inc.
Termed a “quiet proposal that works—fascinating,” this restoration project presents the architect’s intentions clearly and excellently. It truly reads like a composition, and the jury found the architect’s decisions about what to excise and what to keep were masterful. They loved the exuberant interior of this simple, elegant building. “This is a phenomenal example of architectural subservience,” the jury members agreed.
Photo © Robert Batey Photography.

Project: Siskind Susser Bland Immigration Lawyers Offices
Location: Memphis
Architect: Blackledge Architecture
This reuse project is a found object transformed, and the jury praised the architect for seeing an opportunity that most people would have passed by. “The detail is very, very nice in the making of the rain screen,” the jury said. “We love the wall—it creates asymmetry.” Although the jury found this project “brilliant and extremely utilitarian,” they also said it “does a nice job of surprising inside and out.”
Photo © Jeffrey Jacobs.

Merit Awards

Project: Nashville Public Square
Location: Nashville
Architect: Tuck-Hinton Architects
This project shows off a cogent sense of place in which subtle movement attracts attention and invites impromptu gathering. “The architect has taken a pit-bull program and made a boulevard statement,” the jury declared. “It is an obvious solution very well done, in which history tells the story.” They particularly liked the towers, which they said are made masterful when viewed from within.
Photo © Bob Shatz.

Project: The Art of the Motorcycle Exhibit
Location: (Travels)
Architect: Hnedak Bobo Group
“The play with ribbon effect creates interesting juxtaposition,” the jury said. “It’s surprisingly serene when you look at the frenetic plan.” This exhibit expresses the freedom of a motorcycle in a way that allows each display to emerge as an entity on its own. Its metallic veil gives it a distinct look and feel. “Red is pretty dominant, but it almost acts as black, it’s that skillfully done,” the jury said.
Photo © 2007 Rick Bostick.

Project: Restoration of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County Courthouse
Location: Nashville
Architect: Barge Waggoner Sumner & Cannon Inc.
The jury felt that this was a very strong preservation project, particularly in that it was able to maintain the feel of the original building. “This is an extremely challenging project to bring to current standards the security, ADA needs, fire protection, etc., while keeping historical design elements—it’s richly done,” the jury noted. They noted in particular that the security elements are nicely masked.
Photo © Anita Blake.

Project: Palm In-Line Store
Location: (Prototype)
Architect: Askew Nixon Ferguson Architects
“This project takes defining space and product display to a new level,” the jury said. “And it enlarges the scope of what architecture does.” They noted that it does an exceptional job of projecting its program into the street to engage passersby. Its very clear and strong product display approach—consistent from store to store—and its skillful use of lighting, color, and graphics also were favored by the jury.
Photo © Paul Rivera.