by Russell Boniface
Associate Editor

Summary: AIA Indiana recently honored four Indianapolis architecture firms at its annual design awards ceremony during the 2009 AIA Ohio Valley Region Convention. CSO Architects received an honor award for the Bartlett Reflection Center on the campus of DePauw University in Greencastle, BSA LifeStructures won a merit award for an addition and renovation of Second Presbyterian Church, Ratio Architects received a citation award for Indianapolis International Airport Operations Center, and Axis Architecture + Interiors received a citation award for the design of an Indianapolis downtown home.

Honor Awards
Project: Bartlett Reflection Center
Architect: CSO Architects
Project Location: DePauw University, Greencastle, Ind.
The 2,400-square-foot Reflection Center is part of DePauw University’s Nature Park for faculty, staff, and students. The project is located on a wooded hillside of a former limestone quarry and designed to have minimal impact on the environment. The design includes natural materials (limestone), locally harvested hardwoods, recycled materials, and high-efficiency systems. The landscaping includes a rainwater treatment pond and native plants. The Reflection Center received a LEED™ Gold certification, only the third building in the state to receive this designation.

Jury comments: “This project was at one with its site and did a great job of sitting softly on the earth in a sensitive and challenging site. The materials, detailing, and scale were thoughtful and very appropriate in support of the mission and use of the building.”
Photograph by Susan Fleck Photography.

Merit Award
Project: Second Presbyterian Church
Architect: BSA LifeStructures
Project Location: Indianapolis
A classic Gothic-style building that has been an Indianapolis landmark since 1949, BSA LifeStructures designed a new main entry for the church; renovated classrooms and meeting spaces; and added a music area, youth area, and gathering space. The design draws on the historic architecture, including the exterior of the addition, which is clad in limestone and clay tile with lead and copper detailing, all consistent with the church’s original design.

Jury comments: “The design solution does well to solve the program requirements while connecting the existing structures physically and spatially to create an integrated whole. The new work blends well with the style of the existing church.”
Photograph by Karen Vance Photography.

Citation Award
Project: Indianapolis International Airport Operations Center
Architect: Ratio Architects, Inc.
Project Location: Indianapolis
Midfield Terminal’s Operations/Emergency Center is a high-tech, high-security environment. Located just south of the Air Traffic Control Tower, the Operations Center spans 15,000 square feet and was designed to be compatible with the terminal. Still, architectural features—such as the glass and pre-cast panels on the exterior and a cantilevered roof that mimics airplane wings—create its own identity.

Jury comments: “We liked the clean, simple clarity of diagram and expression in the form and massing of the building. The confident massing and restrained material palette overcame the awkward entry. The expression of the exterior materials, the fenestration, and the literal roof form reinforce the linear parti to create a dynamic solution.”
Photograph by Susan Fleck Photography.

Citation Award
Project: UD1, Private Residence
Architect: Axis Architecture + Interiors
Project Location: Indianapolis
UD1, built by Ursula David, was originally planned for the Herron-Morton neighborhood as a spec house. But she fell in love with the design and decided to make it her personal residence. The Modern home has a continuous space on the main level that combines the dining room, kitchen, and great room. An oak-clad stair floats along the wall, provides a separation from the study, and leads to a second level that overlooks the two-story great room. The home was selected to be on the AIA Indianapolis Home Tour in 2008.

Jury comments: “This project did a lot with a tight site and program on an infill site in an existing neighborhood. The interior spaces have strong order as well as nice variety in volume and movement. A strong plan and careful detailing make this a worthy project. The window arrangements create a good balance of interior light; a result that is simple to achieve but often overlooked.”
Photograph by DesignVox.