by Russell Boniface
Associate Editor

Summary: AIA Iowa has honored five Iowa buildings and three Iowa architecture firms with the 2008 AIA Iowa Excellence in Design Awards, emphasizing the importance of design excellence in the community and the profession. The component also named three Iowa buildings and three Iowa architecture firms winners of the 2008 AIA Iowa Excellence in Sustainable Design Awards.

AIA Iowa Excellence in Design Awards
Merit Awards

The OPN Architects Offices located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, designed by AIA Iowa firm member OPN Architects, Inc., of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received a Merit Award. Jury member Christopher Gray of Philadelphia-based Ballinger commented: “The pallet of materials that were used on the interior were really compelling.”

The Kohout Residence located in Dakota Dunes, S.D., designed by AIA Iowa firm member moreHLKB Architecture of Des Moines received a Merit Award. Jury Member Christopher Gray commented: “The success of the project was the quality of light and simplicity of the materials.”

AIA Iowa Excellence in Design Awards
honor Awards

The McLeod Center located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, designed by AIA Iowa firm member HLKB Architecture of Des Moines received an Honor Award. Jury Member David Riz, AIA, of KieranTimberlake Associates in Philadelphia commented: “There is a clear definition between the skin and the structure and an enormous amount of day lighting, which you often do not see in sports facilities.”

The Melrose Avenue Parking Expansion for the University of Iowa, located in Iowa City and designed by AIA Iowa firm member HLKB Architecture of Des Moines received an Honor Award. Jury Member Frank Jurman, with Bolden Jackson Architects in Philadelphia, commented: This building did a very nice job of making a meaningful pedestrian experience for people as they come down from their cars, [this project] gives them a great connection with out-of-doors and with the campus.”

The Design West Studio for Iowa State University, located in Sioux City, Iowa and designed by AIA Iowa firm member M+ Architects of Sioux City, Iowa, received an Honor Award. Jury Member Witold Rybczynski, professor at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, commented: “With a few simple, modest additions they turned this old [building] into a really quite wonderful space and a place where you could really image going to learn and work as a student.”

AIA Iowa Excellence in Sustainable Design Awards
“Long-Life, Loose-Fit” Honorable Mention

The MC Ginsburg project located in Clive, Iowa, and designed by AIA Iowa Firm Member HLKB Architecture of Des Moines, received an Honorable Mention, “Long-Life, Loose-Fit” Award. Jury Member Douglas Stockman, principal of el dorado inc in Kansas City, Mo., commented: “It seems to be achieving the one thing that we [architects] continually struggle with, which is do we make a building last 100, 150 years or do we make it completely disposable and recyclable?”

Merit Awards

The Substance Studio project located in Downtown Des Moines and designed by AIA Iowa firm member Substance of Des Moines received a Merit Award. Jury Member Vladimir Krstic, professor in the Department of Architecture at Kansas State University, commented that this project “stretches and interprets in their own way—sustainability.”

The Ames Transit Authority–CyRide project located in Ames, Iowa, and designed by AIA Iowa Firm Member ASK Studio of Des Moines, received a Merit Award. Jury Member Dominique Davison, AIA, LEED-AP, principal of Davison Architecture + Urban Design LLC in Kansas City, Mo., commented that the images of this project “make you want to be there.” Additionally, Krstic commented: “I find this more original than many other buildings we’ve seen.”