DESIGN AWARD JURY COMMENTS: The jury felt the team successfully executed their design intent “to promote vibrant activation of place and cultivate a true sense of community.” In this tight space, careful material selections and the push-n-pull of volumes contribute to bring an otherwise massive structure to the human scale. Green spaces and sky gardens maximize the visual connection to nature and promote a sense of connection to the larger community. This successful “transit – oriented hub” is targeting LEED Gold and is deserving of the Honor Award.
2022 Merit Award
ARCHITECT: Architecture, Incorporated
OWNER: Atlantic Realty Companies
CATEGORY: Commercial Interiors
YEAR COMPLETED: 2021
PHOTOGRAPHER: Copyright Paul Burk
SUPERVISOR DISTRICT: Providence
DESIGN AWARD JURY COMMENTS: The 8150 Leesburg Pike Amenities provide an “Inglenook experience”, comfortable and residential in scale, reminiscent of a cozy lodge. The theme was carried throughout by careful selection of materials and lighting to create a warm and inviting space even though there are no windows or natural light. The before and after photos were extremely helpful in understanding the problems they were tasked with solving. The jury awarded a Merit Award for showing what can be done with such a challenging, windowless space.
ARCHITECT: FGM Architects, Inc.
OWNER: Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services
CATEGORY: Institutional
YEAR COMPLETED: 2022
PHOTOGRAPHER: Iris 22
SUPERVISOR DISTRICT: Hunter Mill
DESIGN AWARD JURY COMMENTS: Utilizing the existing site, this big program project was both sustainable and low impact “echoing design cues from the adjacent commercial development.” The incorporation of warm tones into the palette of the building added familiarity to this, an attractive fire station. Working within the municipalities budget, they managed to fit a lot onto the small existing site. The jury agreed that this project is deserving of a Merit Award.
ARCHITECT: Robert E. Beach Architects, LLC
OWNER: NOVA Parks
CATEGORY: Institutional
YEAR COMPLETED: 2021
PHOTOGRAPHER: Immortal Images Howard Doughty
SUPERVISOR DISTRICT: Mount Vernon
DESIGN AWARD JURY COMMENTS: One juror so aptly said, this is a “very beautiful memorial & contemplative garden for today’s & future generations. Landscaping will only continue to enhance the beauty as it grows over the years.” The strong design concept is carried throughout while encouraging the visitor to have their own experience. “To honor, educate, inspire and empower” this memorial “celebrates the women of the Suffragist Movement” powerfully, well done! The jury was pleased to award this project a Merit Award.
ARCHITECT: Maginniss + del Ninno Architects
OWNER: Fairfax County Public Schools
CATEGORY: Institutional
YEAR COMPLETED: 2020
PHOTOGRAPHER: Judy Davis
SUPERVISOR DISTRICT: Mount Vernon
DESIGN AWARD JURY COMMENTS: The jury appreciated inclusion of the timeline and history of the school building’s transformation. The new additions also are responsive to current student needs while preserving existing mature trees and stormwater reduction through permeable paving. The jury appreciated the designer’s sensitivity to earlier design aesthetics, giving nod yet creating well blended new. For the successfully integrated additions and significant interior modifications, the jury agreed that this project deserved a Merit Award.
2022 Honorable Mention
ARCHITECT: GRADIENT DESIGN LLC
OWNER: William Roberts
CATEGORY: Residential, Single-Family
YEAR COMPLETED: 2020
PHOTOGRAPHER: SHAREEF YOUNIS/GRADIENT DESIGN
SUPERVISOR DISTRICT: Mason
DESIGN AWARD JURY COMMENTS: The Art Gallery project team clearly performed exceptional engineering and site design for a very challenging, pie-shaped, and steep lot. The site design and construction were successful in minimizing site and vegetation impacts during and following construction. A high level of skill was exhibited by the restraint and discipline of site planning and construction of this home. The jury agreed that the extreme challenges of the lot earned this creative site solution an Honorable Mention.
ARCHITECT: Gensler
OWNER: Name withheld by request
CATEGORY: Commercial Interiors
YEAR COMPLETED: 2021
PHOTOGRAPHER: Garrett Rowland
SUPERVISOR DISTRICT: Providence
DESIGN AWARD JURY COMMENTS: The jury enjoyed the whimsical, sometimes quirky, risks that were taken to make this boutique hotel a memorable guest experience. Beautiful images and a mix of materials create a warm and inviting space that makes you want to stop and stay for a while. Pleased with such a fine example of how to reuse existing space and make it look new, the jury awarded The Watermark Hotel an Honorable Mention.