UNBUILT: Honor Award

Incremental House – Hempstead
Architecture Firm: Ficca Architecture
Project Team: Thomas Chen; Franklin Zhu; Howie Lee

Incremental house is a self-initiated, design research project that re-imagines the farmhouse as the site of bio-based material construction. It attempts to answer a simple question – how might a home’s material constitution, spatial organization, and construction sequence better reflect the affordances of harvested materials. The project represents a desire to collapse the distance between material extraction and construction through the superimposition of the job site and the farm.

Using the Pennsylvania farm-scape as its context and the passing of the industrial hemp legalizing farm bill of 2018 as its instigator, the project considers how the cycle of hemp farming and processing and the performance of hempcrete wall construction yield not only a different type of house but also a different timeline of construction.

JURY COMMENTS: “This submission had a strong research component, and was also beautiful in compositional development – it was a real joy to see as a submission and was clearly a favorite of the jury early on. I think we all gravitated toward this project for its conceptual strength and strong, evocative graphics.”

SMALL: Certificate of Merit

Edgeworth Club Rotunda Repairs
Architecture Firm: AE Works
Project Team: Fred Santoro; Beverly Autore Shelby, NCIDQ; Shane Goodman; Steve Bucha; Tabitha Mix; Tori Roberts
Structural Engineer: Reliable Structural Engineers: Bob Mason
Custom Woodwork: Hoff Enterprises, Inc.: Kurt Freidhoff
Client: Edgeworth Club
Photographer: Massery Photography

The Edgeworth Club is a place of elegance, social events, and sporting activities. Following the sudden collapse of the rotunda ceiling adjacent to the main lobby, extensive debris blanketed the entrance and damaged the balcony and grand staircase. This project looks beyond simply restoring its historical details but to also bring a refreshed palette of finishes and lighting to the featured area. The resulting experience is a light-filled accessible space that will remain welcoming for years to come.

The complete restoration of the grand entry replaced the rotunda ceiling, upgraded finishes, and refurbished the grand staircase. New down lights were added to enhance lighting and provide for safe egress for the entire balcony and the upper stairway. The finishing touches of new draperies, carpet, chandelier, and two Edgeworth Club insignias in the first floor railing landing completely bring this grand entrance back to life.

JURY COMMENTS: “This was a beautifully executed restoration. It is a sensitive and thoughtful approach that will endure. They made it look easy, but it is not easy.”

SMALL: Certificate of Merit

Sewickley Tavern
Architecture Firm: Studio St. Germain
Project Team: Nathan St. Germain, AIA, CPHC, RESET® Air AP; Benjamin Nahum, Assoc. AIA, CPCH
General Contractor: Massaro Corporation
Mechanical and Plumbing Engineering: Michael Baker International Electrical Engineering: Carlins Consulting
Structural Engineering: Keystone Structural Solutions
Acoustics: vizzAcoustics
Landscape Design: E.K.Smith Landscape Design
Food Service Consultant: Food Facilities Concepts, Inc.
AV Consultant: Dobil Laboratories
Building Performance Consultant: Auros Group
Solar Panel Consultant: EIS Solar
Photographer: Massery Photography

When the owners of a 3,731 square-foot brick building in downtown Sewickley decided to renovate their space to establish a new restaurant, they were interested in developing more than just another chic neighborhood eatery. They were interested in progressive concepts such as sustainability, energy efficiency, and well-being. Designed to optimize performance while ensuring the healthiest possible environment for diners and staff alike, the Sewickley Tavern is now a small-scale model for the future of hospitality in the Covid-19 era.

In 2020, the tavern became the only restaurant in the world to achieve a RESET certification, a reflection of its commitment to social and environmental impact. Centered around real-time monitoring of air quality, energy usage, and noise, the Sewickley Tavern responds to both ecological concerns and health concerns, two issues of increasing importance globally.

JURY COMMENTS: “This project is a great example of responsible design that raises expectations for performance, particularly air quality. It is simple and straightforward, delivering on both esthetics and performance. It maximizes positive impact through thoughtful, integrated design strategies. The use of metrics suggests real potential for learning and advancing sustainability on future projects.”

SMALL: Honor Award

Waldorf School of Pittsburgh, Heartwood Annex
Architecture Firm: Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
Construction Manager: Jendoco Construction: Christian Klehm
Civil Engineer, Site Development: Common Ground
Sustainability Consultant: BranchPattern
Client: Waldorf School of Pittsburgh
Photographer: Nic Lehoux
Photographer: Ed Massery Photography

The Waldorf School of Pittsburgh is an independent, non-profit K-8 school located on a two-acre campus in the city’s Bloomfield neighborhood, home to more than 200 students and faculty. While the majority of classrooms and administrative areas are housed in a historic Victorian-era mansion, rising student enrollment indicated the need for expanded classroom space on school grounds. The Waldorf School engaged our practice to design a standalone classroom for eighth grade students that reflected its guiding principles and commitment to sustainability, and would support a pivotal stage of student development, growth and transition. While fostering a sense of independence and separation from the main school building, we situated the 1,000 square-foot classroom as a stand-alone structure connected to the school’s cherished green space, bringing plentiful natural light into the interior and creating a strong connection to the outdoors.

JURY COMMENTS: “The project has some idiosyncrasies, but the form, materiality and program work really well together, and the idiosyncrasies become important to the overall composition and educational environment – it has just the right amount of playfulness.”

“What’s compelling about this project is the clarity of a well executed agenda. It has a meaningful sustainability story that aligns nicely with the program and client.”

MEDIUM: Certificate of Merit

Collaborative Design Studio
Architecture Firm: Perkins Eastman
Project Team: Jeff Young, AIA; Jennifer Askey, AIA, LEED AP; Bethany Yoder, AIA, LEED AP, WELL AP; Jane Hallinan, IIDA, NCIDQ, LEED GA
MEP Engineer: CJL Engineering
Structural Engineer: Taylor Structural Engineering
Construction Manager: Turner Construction Company
Lighting Design: LAM Partners
Commissioning: Z Tech
Client: Perkins Eastman
Photographer: Andrew Rugge

Guided by research and feedback gathered through roundtables and staff surveys throughout the spring and early summer of 2020, this open workspace features a wide variety of free address seating, collaboration, and focus areas that capitalize on daylight from windows along the perimeter to support purpose-driven work.

Bold but restrained materials and furnishings punctuate the space and were selected for their flexibility, health, and durability. These simple but carefully tailored choices resulted in an embodied carbon reduction of over 34% compared to a similarly-sized workplace and LEED Gold-certification; a model for companies exploring a hybrid, work-from-anywhere approach.

JURY COMMENTS: “This design feels so bright and airy, but also disciplined in its execution. It presents an ongoing conversation of what the future workplace would be and what that means for our carbon footprint and energy usage. Nicely done!”

 

MEDIUM: Honor Award

Pusadee’s Garden Restaurant
Architecture Firm: mossArchitects
Project Team: Andrew Moss, AIA; Anna Foster; Rebecca Murden, AIA; Gina Konopack
General Contractor: MM Marra Construction Inc.: Marty Marra

 

 

Landscape Architect: Ground Stories Landscape Architecture: Julie Kachniasz
Civil & Structural Engineering: Gateway Engineers: John Schneider, P.E. &
Michael Albright, P.E.
MEP Engineering: WNA Engineering: Chris DiCianna, Michelle Yanefski, Mark Ellis
Kitchen Consultant: Curran Taylor: David Curran
Lighting Consultant: Clear Story Creative: Rob Long
Landscape Designer and Styling: Toadflax: Jeff Pierce & Tom Bedger
Custom Metal Fabrication: Temper & Grit: Nicholas Volpe
Client: Pusadee’s Garden
Photographer: Massery Photography

The design challenge for the new Pusadee’s Garden was to expand their current restaurant and create a garden oasis within the dense urban fabric of the city, while utilizing two existing 100-year-old rowhouses. The design enclosed the space between the existing historic buildings with two new connecting additions and an expansive hidden garden courtyard became the figurative and literal heart and focal point of the entire restaurant. An atmosphere of natural daylighting, airy openness, and expansive views of the garden courtyard, as well as a sensitivity to acoustics, created an intimate and one-of-a-kind guest experience.

JURY COMMENTS: “What a delightful project. It has many parts that hold together with the coherence of a tapestry. This is a project that should be lauded for landscape and interior design as well. The whole thing is really elegant and inviting.”

“Each space builds on the other as a cinematic experience. This is architecture. It is also an urban intervention. It creates a highly inviting in-between zone.”

MEDIUM: Honor Award

Ohringer Arts
Architecture Firm: Rothschild Doyno Collaborative
Project Team:Robert Tuñon, AIA, NOMA, EcoDistricts AP; Geoff Campbell, AIA, LEED AP; Ken Doyno, AIA, LEED AP; Walt Haim, Associate AIA; Nickie Cheung, Associate AIA, NOMA; Kim Rullo; Janet Longnecker, RA; Tara Earnest, AIA, LEED AP BD+C; Daniel Tse; Melanie Buzgan Dower, AIA, LEED AP
General Contractor: Sota Construction Services, Inc.: Ernie Sota Structural Engineer: Keystone Structural Solutions: Mark Sipos, PE MEP Engineer: Iams Consulting, LLC: Jonathan Iams, PE
Civil Engineer: Common Ground: Bernard Lamm, PE
LIHTC Consultant: Diamond & Associates: Roy Diamond
Director: Monmade: Katie Schaible
Historic Consultant: Heritage Consulting Group: Lee Riccetti
Senior Technical Services Representative: PA Housing Finance Agency: Duane Davis
Client: Ohringer Arts of Braddock, L.P.
Photographer: Robert Ketchum; Massery Photography

The Ohringer, Braddock’s iconic eight-story furniture store from 1941, has re-emerged as an Arts Incubator and affordable Artist Housing. The design was challenged as the project followed several attempts to re-inhabit the long-vacant building with arts-based interventions. The project’s design goal was to reactive this icon and connect two areas of main street redevelopment, build upon the maker culture of Braddock, and continuously illuminate the heart of community through arts.

The Ohringer’s reconfigured interior layouts provide unique spaces for artists to live and work as well as public places for interaction between resident artists and community members. Resident Artists are provided affordable apartments, a community of artist collaborators, free art and performance studios, and a flexible artist gallery. Additional social spaces such as the Artist Café, Patio, and Roof Deck offer additional space to engage with one another, meet with clients, and host community events.

JURY COMMENTS:“This is a very strong adaptive reuse that is held together holistically. It was an elegant building when built, and it is elegant again. It anchors a key corner and makes an affirming statement for the community, especially as its use is so much about the community.”

MEDIUM: Honor Award

525 William Penn Place Lobby and Amenity Spaces
Architecture Firm: Perkins Eastman
Project Team: Jeff Young, AIA; Nicholas Leahy, AIA, LEED AP; Jennifer Askey, AIA, LEED AP; Bethany Yoder, AIA, LEED AP, WELL AP; Giaa Park, AIA, LEED AP; Chelsea Maille
MEP Engineer: H.F. Lenz: Craig Trabold
Structural Engineer: The Harman Group: Malcolm Bland
Civil Engineer: Langan Engineering: Scott Rowland
Construction Manager: Turner Construction Company: Andrew Kerr Lighting: Lam Partners: Steve Iski
AV/IT Consulting: BrightTree Studios: David Vargo
Graphics and Signage: GHD Partners: J. Graham Hanson
Client: Pearson Partners
Photographer: Andrew Rugge

Despite its prominent height and central downtown location, the 525 William Penn Place tower was an anonymous presence on a long-avoided street block for decades. A redesign of the ground floor public spaces, opened to daylight and views via a new monumental glass curtainwall and entry pavilion, has re-energized the tower, transforming it into a leading business address for downtown Pittsburgh.

JURY COMMENTS: “This project and submission were equally well conceived and executed. It’s a wonderful and taut transformation that creates beautiful engagement with the street and has a positive impact on its urban context. Overall great submission.”

 

LARGE: Certificate of Merit

TCS Hall
Architecture Firm: Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
Project Team: Greg Mottola, FAIA; Kent Suhbier, AIA; Greg LaForest, AIA; Natalie Gentile, AIA; Jason Brody, AIA; Drew Balzer, RA; Caitlin Delach, AIA; Carolina Tamayo; Eric Leathers
General Contractor: Mascaro Construction Company, LP
Structural Engineer: Atlantic Engineering Services, LLC
MEP and Fire Protection Engineer: Buro Happold Engineering
Civil Engineer: Langan Engineering
Landscape Architect: Merritt Chase Landscape
AV/IT/Security Consultant: BrightTree Studios
Acoustics Consultant: Babich Acoustics, LLC
Lighting Design Consultant: Lam Partners, Inc.
Client: Carnegie Mellon University
Photographer: Nic Lehoux

As part of its master plan, Carnegie Mellon University wanted to create a new academic building along Forbes Avenue at the western edge of its campus. Part of a phased development, the project needed to accommodate future site expansion while creating connections between campus and the surrounding neighborhood. Planned for both private and university tenants, it was important to create programmatic flexibility for future use, as well as opportunities for collaboration, while maintaining necessary privacy. The LEED Gold TCS Hall was realized in partnership with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), an international technology and business solutions company. The 88,000 square-foot project links campus with surrounding context, and academic research and innovation with professional pathways by providing a home for the Institute for Software Research (ISR), Master of Science in Computational Finance program, and Center for Business Engagement, as well as the TCS Pace Port research collaboration center.

JURY COMMENTS: “This is a solid example of a thoughtful, complex project that represents a well-integrated design approach. It showcases a strong sustainability story and responds to the demands of an urban site. In particular it highlights the value of well-designed daylighting, even in a large building.”

Social Impact in Design Award

Ohringer Arts
Architecture Firm: Rothschild Doyno Collaborative
Project Team:Robert Tuñon, AIA, NOMA, EcoDistricts AP; Geoff Campbell, AIA, LEED AP; Ken Doyno, AIA, LEED AP; Walt Haim, Associate AIA; Nickie Cheung, Associate AIA, NOMA; Kim Rullo; Janet Longnecker, RA; Tara Earnest, AIA, LEED AP BD+C; Daniel Tse; Melanie Buzgan Dower, AIA, LEED AP
General Contractor: Sota Construction Services, Inc.: Ernie Sota Structural Engineer: Keystone Structural Solutions: Mark Sipos, PE MEP Engineer: Iams Consulting, LLC: Jonathan Iams, PE
Civil Engineer: Common Ground: Bernard Lamm, PE
LIHTC Consultant: Diamond & Associates: Roy Diamond
Director: Monmade: Katie Schaible
Historic Consultant: Heritage Consulting Group: Lee Riccetti
Senior Technical Services Representative: PA Housing Finance Agency: Duane Davis
Client: Ohringer Arts of Braddock, L.P.
Photographer: Robert Ketchum; Massery Photography

The Ohringer, Braddock’s iconic eight-story furniture store from 1941, has re-emerged as an Arts Incubator and affordable Artist Housing. The design was challenged as the project followed several attempts to re-inhabit the long-vacant building with arts-based interventions. The project’s design goal was to reactive this icon and connect two areas of main street redevelopment, build upon the maker culture of Braddock, and continuously illuminate the heart of community through arts.

The Ohringer’s reconfigured interior layouts provide unique spaces for artists to live and work as well as public places for interaction between resident artists and community members. Resident Artists are provided affordable apartments, a community of artist collaborators, free art and performance studios, and a flexible artist gallery. Additional social spaces such as the Artist Café, Patio, and Roof Deck offer additional space to engage with one another, meet with clients, and host community events.

JURY COMMENTS: “We all saw the merits of this project. It has conceptual strength with a maximized level of execution to create a project that helps restore the historic neighborhood fabric. It simultaneously reimagines and honors the structure, being both familiar and forward-looking for the community.”

Social Impact in Design Award

The Perennial Project: Breathing New Life into an Impoverished Rust Belt Community
Architecture Firm: Case Technologies, Inc.
Project Team: Mark Dietrick, Assoc. AIA
Landscape Design, Master Planning, Artist: Exquisite Design: Laura Patterson, Kristin Jeannin
Grant Writing: Redstone Technology Integration: John McCune-Technology Consultant
Videography, PR, Communications Local Productions: Brianne Mitchell, Kelly Tunney
Client: The Perennial Project

Brownsville PA is an impoverished rust belt Community that was hit particularly hard by the collapse of the American Steel Industry in the 1980s. The Perennial Project has blossomed into an organization catalyzing a wide-range of project areas and orchestrating an unprecedented collaboration between various government entities, design professionals, technologists, academic institutions, community organizations and city residents in support of bringing new life to Brownsville. The Perennial Project is realizing the important mission of creating a positive community impact through art, education, and innovative ways of connecting the community to each other and to the larger world.

JURY COMMENTS: “This is a wonderful example of dynamic architectural thinking and issue-awareness that the profession can bring to our communities. It addresses future and past simultaneously and acts a catalysts for collaboration and visioning with the goal of enriching the community.”

Social Impact in Design Award

The Corner
Architecture Firm: DeNinno Architects, LLC
Project Team: Jeffrey DeNinno, AIA; Sarah Kang
General Contractor: Shelton Design Build, Bob Shelton
Structural Engineer: Gateway Engineers, John Schneider
Electrical Engineer: Iams Consultants, Jonathan Iams
Civil Engineer: Ethos Collaborative, Damon Weiss
Graphic Designer: Brett Yasko
Artist: Njaimeh Njie
Client: Friendship Community Church

The Corner is an outreach mission of Friendship Community Church and serving West Oakland. With the proposed renovations and additions the goal is to create a bold exterior presence and welcoming, comfortable interiors. Bright colors will enliven a historic neighborhood landmark in a busy and dynamic location. The Café and Community event spaces will be inviting and lively places for people to gather.

JURY COMMENTS: “The precision of the intervention shows how simple design solutions can change the character and impact of a building on a street corner. The proposal also shows a lot of respect and relevance to the site area.”

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD WINNER

North Allegheny School District Franklin Elementary School Additions & Alterations
Architecture Firm: VEBH Architects
Project Team: Chris Brown, AIA, LEED AP BD+C; Amy George-LEED AP; Cassandra Renninger, AIA; Daniel Engen, AIA; Alena Yevdokimova; Victoria Hampton; Art Flores; John Carroll; Rob Gaertner
General Contractor: RA Glancy: Rob Glancy
Mechanical Contractor: East West Manufacturing & Supply Co.: Gary Gerst
Electrical Contractor: A-1 Electric, Inc.: Scott Davitt
Plumbing Contractor: Vrabel Plumbing Company, Inc.: Artie Maynard
Construction Manager: Massaro CM Services, LLC: Dan Kiefer
MEP Engineer: Tower Engineering: Jim Kosinksi
Structural Engineer: Barber & Hoffman, Inc.: Jim Pospisil
Food Service Facility Design: McFarland & Kistler & Associates, Inc.: Ken Kistler
Civil Engineer: Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc.: John Frydrych – MBA Member Builder
Landscape Architect: Pashek + MTR: Nancy Roman
Client: North Allegheny School District
Photographer: Massery Photography

The design for Franklin Elementary School was intended to evoke imagination and to create a learning environment that kids would look forward to each day. The design team selected a bright color palette that was utilized to accent important greeting, gathering, and circulation spaces. The blue, yellow and green pallette was used for wayfinding to identify grade levels and to be helpful and ease the transition to a building that was doubling in size.

The project provided a sustainable solution for the School District by extending the life of a building that was considered for replacement with an all-new facility.

Received 464 votes out of 3,447 online votes.

YOUNG ARCHITECTS STUDIO COMPETITION AWARD

The STEP
Architect: Anthony Kosec, Associate AIA

View the project summary here.

Jury Comments: “After the challenges of undertaking the building’s historic nomination, it was heartening to see the vision and creativity represented in this diverse set of proposals. These four impressive submissions run the gamut of design possibilities, presenting an intriguing spectrum of size, format and typology.

“The Step” stood apart from the rest as the most comprehensive and rigorous, both in graphic and verbal presentation, while remaining creatively exuberant. This project reimagines the existing structure and key East Liberty intersection as community hub. Existing building elements combine with innovative formal approaches and place-making, paired with a comprehensive programmatic strategy. Attention was also paid to exterior site areas. Well done, YAF!”

 

The Design Pittsburgh Award Ceremony will be held on September 30, 2021 at Nova Place.

About Design Pittsburgh

Presented by AIA Pittsburgh, Design Pittsburgh is a celebration of architecture and design, and honors those who create it. A signature program of AIA Pittsburgh, Design Pittsburgh highlights outstanding architecture and design in the Pittsburgh region. Held annually, Design Pittsburgh features an architectural design exhibition, a juried Design Awards competition, & public voting opportunity for the coveted People’s Choice Award.

Design Pittsburgh raises the profile of architects as critical resources and industry experts in the Pittsburgh region. Through collaboration, this program provides excellent exposure of architects’ and industry professional work to a wide variety of audiences – including potential customers. It highlights the importance of good design in our region – and how our members, sponsors, partners, and the public support and promote the value of architecture and design in the places that we work, live, and play.

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Design Pittsburgh Featured Events:

• Design Exhibition
• People’s Choice Award
• PechaKucha Night Pittsburgh (On Hold in 2021)
• Design Awards Ceremony
• Young Architects Studio Competition

Design Exhibition & Awards

Each year, AIA Pittsburgh hosts the Design Awards – a juried design competition open to AIA members and firms whose principal(s) are members of AIA Pittsburgh. Additionally, any member of any AIA chapter across the country who has a project in the 11 county area represented by AIA Pittsburgh can be included in the design competition in a variety of award categories, including the People’s Choice Award, which is chosen by popular vote. All projects must have at least one AIA Pittsburgh architect on the project team. All submissions for the AIA Pittsburgh Design Awards Competition can only be submitted by an AIA Pittsburgh architect. The mission of the awards is to recognize and honor architects and designers, and promote excellence, innovation, and achievement in the craft of architecture. All Design Award submissions are available online for viewing and voting.

Design Pittsburgh 2021 Award Categories:

• Architecture Small (< 5,000 SF)
• Architecture Medium (5,000 – 50,000 SF)
• Architecture Large (> 50,000 SF)
• Architecture / Unbuilt (ex: Theoretical projects, projects with no expected build date, etc.)

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