Two of the top 2005 Awards of Excellence from the AIA Tennessee went to architectural design projects in Chattanooga.
Hefferlin + Kronenberg Architects won for the Akhriev-Hefferlin Studio mixed-use project on Williams Street.
Randall Stout won for his addition to the Hunter Museum of Art.
The AIA Tennessee annual Design Awards Program seeks to salute excellence and elevate the quality of architecture in the state, officials said. During the 2005 annual meeting and convention held in Nashville, 16 architectural design awards were presented, celebrating the best of Tennessee architecture. The international jury, chaired by Brian Ambroziak, deliberated over 80 submittals and recognized the following projects for their outstanding design work.
Design Awards Jury
Salvatore Canciello, AIA, Sasaki Associates, Boston
Jon Coddington, AIA, Ball State University
Sigismund Sliwinski, Sliwinski Lenschow Architekten, Berlin, Germany
Award of Excellence
Woodson Gilchrist Residence
Woodson Gilchrist Architects, Nashville
Photo: Michael Lewis
This new residence is located in an established sidewalk neighborhood near several universities. The work deals with the issue of fitting contemporary architecture into "traditional neighborhoods." The design combines established neighborhood patterns with contemporary features that reflect the architect owners' lifestyle and history. They call it a "bungaloft," a loft with a great front porch.
Jury comments:
The jury commends the Woodson Gilchrist Residence as an excellent example of integrating a contemporary design within the historic context of an established neighborhood. The massing references the neighboring foursquare house and becomes an interpretation of it, not a stripped-down copy. Its nicely disciplined plan of well-orchestrated layers working public to private spaces results in a beautiful mixture of openness and privacy. The jury noted that the Woodson Gilchrist Residence was one of the few projects submitted that blended the interior spaces and integrated them with the landscape.
Award of Excellence
MTSU Sports Hall of Fame
Tuck Hinton Architects, Nashville
Patron: Emmett and Rose Kennon
Photo: Michael Lewis
A multi-purpose building containing sports hall of fame and exhibits to showcase athletic history and programs of a growing state university. A generous alumnus provided funding for the new facility.
Jury Comments:
The jury found it easy to imagine the spaces of the Kennon Sports Hall of Fame filled with alumni and sports enthusiasts. Within the simplicity of the overall composition there is a complexity and vibrancy in the execution of the interior spaces. The layers provide additional richness and subtlety. The architect tastefully addressed the design of the hall of fame without too much emphasis on school colors or logos, as is typically seen.
Award of Excellence
Akhriev – Hefferlin Williams Street Studio
Hefferlin + Kronenberg Architects, PLLC, Chattanooga
Photo: Tim Street Porter
The Akhriev-Hefferlin Studio is a mixed-use project that combines an Art Gallery, Painting Studio and Residence on a mid-block property in Chattanooga's reemerging Southside District. It is organized around a central courtyard and constructed with combinations of steel frame, heavy timber and conventional framing. The exterior is clad in zinc and stone. The interiors are colorful, reflecting the Artist's palette.
Jury Comments:
This is a wonderfully conceived and executed project. Working with an informed client to develop its sophisticated live/work program, the architect is able to contrast the spatial qualities of the narrow site with a design that explodes with light, resulting in a surprisingly open and welcoming solution. The project seems to fit effortlessly in a tight urban space, with emphasis on the courtyard that works beautifully with the phased program. The jury described the project as a beautiful oasis within a narrow urban infill condition that demonstrates the integration of art and architecture to create great space.
Award of Excellence
Restoration of the Historic Tennessee Theatre
McCarty Holsaple McCarty Architects, Inc., Knoxville; in association with van Dijk Westlake Reed Leskosky
Photo:
The Historic Tennessee Theatre, long a landmark structure in downtown Knoxville, was renovated, restored, and expanded to serve as a performing arts venue. The renovated Theatre has been upgraded to meet current life safety and accessibility codes, including new balcony level toilets and two elevators serving all levels. The stagehouse was expanded in depth and height to allow Broadway style shows to perform at the Theatre, and all new dressing rooms and related support spaces have been incorporated into the equally significant existing Clinch Avenue facade. In short, Knoxville’s beautiful historic Theatre has been fully restored to her original grandeur, which, in conjunction with new and upgraded systems and spaces, will allow the Historic Tennessee Theatre to survive and prosper well into the coming decades.
Jury Comments:
The design of the Historic Tennessee Theatre is a magnificent restoration that brings back the vibrancy and dignity of the original building. The theatre promises to be a great contribution to the life of downtown and the city’s main street.
Award of Excellence
Red Deluxe
archimania, Memphis
Photo: Jeffrey Jacobs
The goal of the project was to design a 4,000 SF new office space for a progressive advertising agency. The design needed to be tough, refined, subtle and yet not so subtle. The result was an interactive and engaging space that focuses on five dramatically diverse zones: 1) the conference room facing the street; 2) the "concept room;" 3) private offices; 4) semi-private workstations and 5) the "engine room." The honesty of the design coupled with creative value engineering enable this space to become what it is - Red Deluxe.
Jury comments:
The interior project Red Deluxe shows an inventive use of metaphor and the reinterpretation of program that makes it a compelling project. It offers clear spatial relationships that are complemented by a rich material pallet and integrated lighting. The interior deals with space and form, not just surface and color.
Award of Excellence
Hunter Museum of American Art
Randall Stout Architecture, Inc., Los Angeles; and Derthick, Henley & Wilkerson Architects, Chattanooga
Photo:
Jury Comments:
The Hunter Museum of American Art achieves a contextual response to the site. It is seen as a logical progression of the architecture of the existing structures, adding to the city’s repertoire of spatial typologies. The floating roof planes accentuate the natural rock outcropping, grounding the building, and organizing the public spaces with exploding views down the river.
Award of Excellence
Shelby Street Bridge Lighting
Frederic Schwartz Architects, New York; and Barge Waggoner Sumner & Cannon, Inc., Nashville
Domingo Gonzalez Associates, Lighting Consultant
Mark M. Schimmenti, Past Director, Nashville Civic Design Center
Photo: Dave Anderson
The preservation of the historic Shelby Street Bridge provides a new and vital link in Nashville. As one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world, it is an important revitalized recreational transit corridor and a popular destination. Its dramatic new lighting enhances the structure of the bridge and has created an instant icon for the City and a beloved place for an evening stroll and weekend events. The design is a collaborative effort between the City of Nashville, the Nashville Civic Design Center and a team of architects, urban designers, lighting designers and engineers.
The lighting design reinforces the renewed sense of vitality and optimism in the Shelby Street Bridge as the most visible and new pedestrian link in Nashville. The implementation of this design literally brings to light the positive results of place-making in the city and the celebration of historic urban infrastructure.
The Shelby Street Bridge, built 1907-1909, is on the National Register of Historic Places for its significance as one of Nashville's best examples of modern technology and engineering at the turn of the century. Almost one hundred years later, in poor condition, the bridge faced an uncertain future. Public sentiment to preserve its place in Nashville history, its valuable connection between East Nashville and downtown, and the spectacular skyline views inspired a new use both day and night.
Jury Comments:
The important renovation of the Shelby Street Bridge makes a significant contribution to the city. The bridge reinvigorates the river experience, emphasizing the pedestrian nature of the city and its interest in creating neighborhood linkages. The stunning lighting design highlights the structural elements and many connections that make up the old riveted style bridge, celebrating its unique historic character.
Merit Award
Germantown Court
Dryden Abernathy I Architecture Design, LLC, Nashville
Photo: Dean Dixon
The common green space is central to the lifestyle of each resident of the 8 cottages. It encourages public interaction in an unusually tight configuration. Residents organize gatherings, sports activities and spontaneous happenings, supporting communal habitation.
Jury Comments:
As an urban design exercise, the Germantown Court successfully creates a prototypical solution for community living while still retaining the positive aspects of detached housing. The project promises to be a capable addition to the problem of neighborhood infill housing that offers individual ownership of discreet houses while achieving density. The design is family oriented, accommodating multi-generations and providing protected places for children to play.
Merit Award
Ensworth High School
Hastings Architecture Associates, LLC, Nashville
GUND PARTNERSHIP, INC.
Photo: Jeff Goldberg/ Esto Photographics
A contemporary expression, grounded in the traditional roots of
collegiate architecture, gives Ensworth a striking sense of permanence
and community. The 127 acre historic site, with significant natural
features and historic structures was carefully preserved, including
10,000 year old artifacts found on the site. This new independent High
School is designed to accommodate 450 students, grades 9-12, with
Academics, Arts, and Athletics organized around an open-sided,
quadrangle courtyard which serves as an informal gathering place for
students throughout the day.
Jury comments:
The Ensworth High School is a nice collage of forms that create convincing spaces. The scale of the building and the constraints of the vocabulary, as well as how the large volume buildings of the sports facilities nestled into the topography, were executed with restraint and clarity. The architects were able to achieve a sense of history and context within a campus tradition without the mimicry of historical elements. .
Merit Award
Point: Counterpoint – a Conversation with Haviland
Tricia Stuth and Ted Shelton, Knoxville
Photo:
Jury Comments
Point: Counterpoint is a strong installation piece that subverts and brings a fuller understanding to the original design of the Philadelphia Penitentiary. The project demonstrates a clear critique of the original sight-line concept of the prison and reverses it. The space is emotionally transformed to reveal a sense of the isolation that the original design forces upon its unfortunate inhabitants. The jury selected the project for merit because it demonstrates the application of a fundamental architectural language. The architects capitalize on the underlying aspects of design, using axis, center, and lines of sight to create a critical commentary on the space.
Merit Award
Restoration and Additions to Sacred Heart Cathedral
Williamson Pounders Architects, PC , Memphis
Photo: Tim Wilkes Photography, Rochester, NY
The project brings the 75-year-old Gothic Revival cathedral into full conformance with contemporary Roman Catholic liturgical standards and provides major new spaces for social gatherings, meetings, and administration.
Jury Comments:
The design of the Sacred Heart Cathedral is an elegant renovation with a sensitive narthex addition that enhances and improves the composition of the overall design. The language of the addition honors and celebrates the existing structure. The jury felt that the attention to light, craft, and detail in the project was remarkable.
Merit Award
University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture – Biotechnology Research Center
Bullock, Smith & Partners, Inc., Knoxville; and Barber McMurry Architects, Knoxville
Photo: Eric Oxendorf
The Biotechnology Research Center, completed in 2003 on the Knoxville Campus of the University of Tennessee, constitutes 143,000 SF and cost $22.5 million.
A requirement for internal modular labs flanking mechanical chases set the order of the building, but additional labs and other program spaces were disposed in a deliberately picturesque composition, rather than attempting to express the rigor of the mechanical issues.
Jury Comments:
Two major challenges identified for the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture-Biotechnology Research Center were the site and budget. The jury believes the architects handled these matters very well to create a well-composed design that works into the campus setting in a convincing way. The jury recognized that the architects were asked to design a complicated and expensive building type on a relatively restrained budget, and believe their response to be very competently executed with maximum value from the design.
Merit Award
Camp Fish Lips
Johnson Architecture, Inc., Knoxville
Photographer: Peter Montanti, Mountain Photographics, Inc.
This new retreat home for a family of four was conceived in the concept of a summer "fishing camp". Located on a rock bluff overlooking Norris Lake in Tennessee, the complex consists of a "main house" connected to separate "bunk houses" with a covered deck.
Jury Comments:
The jury members were especially drawn to the design for Camp Fish Lips because of what they described as its “beautiful and consistent use of materials and craft” and its nostalgic reference to the vernacular fishing retreat. Its simple, clear dogtrot typology is kept fresh through its blending of interior and exterior spaces. The architect has demonstrated a wonderfully sensitive approach to the scale of the elements, their material, texture, and lighting that will enhance the experience of the visitor’s stay.
Merit Award
Scott Avenue Townhomes
Everton Oglesby Architects
Photographer: Tom Gatlin Photography
Scott Avenue Townhomes is a small scale mixed use development nestled in the heart of East Nashville. The project consists of 10 two-story, single family units and a 1,800 sf corner commercial building. An L-shaped site plan not only creates a consistent street edge with the development's existing neighbors, but it also adds privacy and secure parking for the residents.
Jury comments:
The design for the Scott Avenue Townhomes is an excellent response to its surroundings, giving an observer a good sense of context and precedent without copying. The overall composition offers a good variety of types, including a commercial building at the corner, that together create a nice sense of community. The architect’s recognition of the end condition, the strong plan organization, the exterior slots of spaces, and the townhomes’ engagement with the street, work toward an overall composition of the urban block that transcends the prototypical response of repetition of a single type.
Merit Award
Knoxville Convention Center
McCarty Holsaple McCarty Architects, Inc., Knoxville; and Thompson Ventulett & Stainback & Assoc., Atlanta
Photo:
The new center city Convention Center for Knoxville was sited to overlook the redesigned World's Fair Park, to take advantage of the existing area's rich landscape and topographic form, and to establish a new gateway into the Park. Unlike most large footprint convention centers which require access on at least one side, the Knoxville Convention Center has four separate positive facades, each addressing a different view to its surroundings. The new Convention Center was the successful synthesis of the surrounding downtown area's historic vocabulary of architectural details and materials, and the need for an updated design aesthete which reflects the City's forward vision and need for a more architecturally striking public facility.
Jury Comments:
The Knoxville Convention Center gives a sensitive illustration of how a large-scale design can enhance the visitor’s understanding of its urban context. The jury felt that it should be considered for an award because of its innovative organization, scale, proportion, and integration with site topography and visual axes. It demonstrates a strong, inventive solution that allows conventioneers to be exposed to the city and its major park.
Merit Award
Civil Rights Collection, Nashville Public Library
Tuck Hinton Architects, Nashville
Patron: Bill & Robin King
Photo: Gary Layda
A corner space in a large city library is altered to become the location of materials on The Civil Rights Movement. The centerpiece of the space is a table symbolic of downtown lunch counters, the primary target of the sit-ins. A comprehensive timeline on this radial, egalitarian element contrasts local and national events. Ten “rules of nonviolent conduct” carried by the young demonstrators are engraved on the glass surface, and visitors are invited to read the timeline and recite the compelling guidelines. Words etched on an adjacent new translucent wall were spoken after Martin Luther King witnessed the impact of the successful demonstrations.
Jury comments:
The Civil Rights Collection of the Nashville Public Library is a simple yet elegant design that brings a powerful moment in Nashville’s history back into the public realm. The architect’s solution integrates the display in a way that meaningfully represents aspects of the civil rights struggle while making itself a useful part of the programmatic use of the existing library building, engaging the casual and intentional observer in a clever way.