2021 Design Awards Winners Gallery

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2021 EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN AWARD WINNERS

AIAPV Awards Committee Chair Scott Knudson, AIA, along with AIAPV President-Elect Scott Bowen, AIA, recognized 12 award-winning projects at this year's Excellence in Design Awards during the in-person Celebrate Design 2021 awards celebration on Thursday, October 21 at Montgomery County Planning’s new Wheaton Headquarters. Additionally, Carl Elefante, FAIA recognized the Practitioner winners from AIAPV's inaugural Emerging Professional Awards Program (EPAP). 

Celebrate Design 2021 is co-hosted by the Montgomery County Planning Department, which presented its 5th annual Design Excellence Awards at the event. This unique, combined celebration brings together urban designers, architects, landscape architects, planners, developers, builders, policymakers, elected officials, design professionals, artists and interested community members from across Montgomery County and the Potomac Valley region.

You can view an online gallery of all entries in the 2021 Design Awards competition and access a photo slideshow of the entries on this web page. Congratulations to our 2021 award recipients!

View Celebrate Design 2021 Event Photos in our Photo Gallery
Photos Courtesy of Montgomery Planning and AIAPV Member, Robert Gray, AIA

2021 AIA POTOMAC VALLEY EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN AWARDS

Click the image of each winning project below to see full project descriptions and photos.

HONOR AWARD / GOLD AWARD
Recognizing “Best in Show” – Non-Residential

HONOR / GOLD - Non-Residential ─ Institutional Architecture
PROJECT  Congregation Beth Ahabah
LOCATION  Richmond, Virginia
ARCHITECT  Shinberg.Levinas Architects
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM  Salo Levinas, Maria Gorodetskaya, Marco Vazquez
OWNER/CLIENT  Congregation Beth Ahabah
CONTRACTOR  Kjellstrom & Lee
PHOTOGRAPHER  Alan Karchmer 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Beth Ahabah Congregation consisted of five separate buildings with non-existent links between components. The new structure successfully ties together three buildings with different floor elevations and complements the historic streetscape. It incorporates religious symbolism with an unusual two-sided arch at the entrance representing Hebrew letters that spell “Life,” two tall, thin windows split into 5 parts representing the Ten Commandments, and eight smaller windows near a ninth 9th larger window representing a menorah. 

JURY
The submission included very nice drawings. The exterior of the building is very distinguished, with a great façade composition. 

This project is equally courageous and creative, thoughtfully stitching together its context and responding to cultural cues to draw attention to the exterior.

The architect resolved this very difficult cluster of issues in between other buildings. The resulting project offers a nice face to the whole compound. There are stories and cultural nods within the design—it's nicely composed with a good use of materials.

HONOR AWARD / GOLD AWARD
Recognizing “Best in Show” – Residential

HONOR / GOLD - Residential ─ Multi-Family Architecture
PROJECT  The Terrell (Short Term Family and Permanent Supportive Housing)
LOCATION  Washington, District of Columbia
ARCHITECT  Cunningham | Quill Architects
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM  Ralph Cunningham, FAIA, Ana Baker, AIA, Alex Comas, AIA, Nandor Mitrocsak, AIA, Heather Daley-Rao, AIA
OWNER/CLIENT  DC Department of Human Services
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Landscape Architecture Bureau
CONTRACTOR  GCS | SIGAL
PHOTOGRAPHER  Anice Hoachlander

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Terrell is a LEED Platinum 50-unit housing facility for families and seniors experiencing homelessness in DC. The design was largely influenced by the context of its Columbia Heights location, adjacent to a Youth Center. The angled façade of the building along 14th street creates an accessible path to the entrance of the facility and the Youth center beyond, and in turn emphasizes movement and energy across the site creating a welcoming and engaging place. 

JURY
The building has very nice individual units with great views and a simple approach to the material palette.

This is a very strong project that offers a thoughtful response to the site conditions while presenting an elegant design solution for an important community need.

The program is great and the building has a clear parti with successful amenity spaces. Intelligent choices and the thoughtful allocation of the material budget pays off. It's urbanistically strong, and I appreciate that they included views of the unit interiors!

HONOR AWARD / PV AWARD
Recognizing the best project exemplifying elements of the AIA’s Framework for Design Excellence

HONOR / PV Award ─ Institutional Architecture
PROJECT  Universities at Shady Grove Biomedical Sciences & Engineering Building
LOCATION  Rockville, Maryland
ARCHITECT  Cooper Carry, Inc. and Lake|Flato
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM  Cooper Carry: Brent Amos, AIA; Mark Jensen, AIA; Rick Fredlund, AIA; Oscar Perez, AIA;  Lake|Flato: David Lake, AIA; Ryan Jones, AIA; Ashley Heeren, AIA; Patrick Burnham, AIA; Sarah Dede; Heather Gayle Holdridge, EIT, Assoc. AIA; Katie Cavazos, AIA
OWNER/CLIENT  Universities at Shady Grove
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Mahan Rykiel Associates - James Sink
CONTRACTOR  Gilbane Building Company / Ted Trester, Project Executive
PHOTOGRAPHER  Feinknopf Photography / Brad Feinknopf 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The new Biomedical Sciences and Engineering Sciences building embodies the story of the Universities at Shady Grove. This six-level, 220,000-square-foot facility enhances the collaboration of nine sister institutions at USG to offer advanced degree programs in cutting-edge technology and medical science fields, as well as to share instructional facilities across disciplines. Establishing a highly accessible public space, while maintaining a “student-owned” experience, the facility is an expression of USG’s role in the community. 

JURY
This project's submission was distinguished by a clear framing relative to its sustainability and design excellence objectives. The project is nicely executed with spaces that will be very well used. There's a coherence to the overall composition of parts at the building exterior.

This is a very strong submission for an accomplished building that demonstrates a thoughtful approach to campus design and sustainability.

The building responds well to its campus context while differentiating itself at the same time. It's very skillfully done.

HONOR AWARDS

HONOR ─ Interior Architecture
PROJECT  Offices For An Investment Firm
LOCATION  Bethesda, Maryland
ARCHITECT  Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, Architect
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM  Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, Principal; Claire Andreas, Project Architect
OWNER/CLIENT  Confidential
CONTRACTOR  Bognet Construction
PHOTOGRAPHER  John Cole Photography 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
In response to its non-conventional triangular floor plate, this office space is organized around a curving hot-rolled steel plate wall that separates the public space from private offices. A diverse palette of materials and the non-orthogonal geometry are intended to provide an environment unlike a proto-typical office plan. The goal is to change perspectives, physically and psychologically of both the visitor and the daily user to create an environment that is pleasant, inspiring, and productive. 

JURY
This design successfully incorporates many private offices within a tricky space. The project has a simple and cohesive palette that is well detailed—the steel plate of the curve is very successful.

This project rises to the occasion and maximizes use of the space with an elegant design solution on a challenging floorplate.

The arc as a move compliments a tricky tenant space. The overall project has a clarity in that initial gesture and rigor to the application of materials, yielding quite a beautiful space. The project is deftly executed and clever.

HONOR ─ Institutional Architecture
PROJECT  Hyde Addison Elementary School
LOCATION  Washington, District of Columbia
ARCHITECT  Shinberg.Levinas Architects
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM  Salo Levinas, Milton Shinberg, Maria Gorodetskaya
OWNER/CLIENT  Department of General Services (DGS) and DC Public Schools
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Bradley Site Design
CONTRACTOR  MCN Build
PHOTOGRAPHER  Alan Karchmer 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Hyde-Addison Elementary School project involved a 70,000 SF renovation of existing historic facility and a 30,000 SF addition, blending perfectly into historic Georgetown, while standing out as a distinguished contemporary building. It includes a gymnasium, music room, health suite, library, cafeteria, offices and 4 new classrooms. The design reused the existing buildings and concentrates the entrance into one place. Modern terracotta rain screen and sunscreen baguette systems were installed vertically (rather than horizontally). 

JURY
This is a very striking project—I like the boldness of the color. The openness of the screen allows for views out and daylight coming to the interior. The terracotta lattice is a nice foil to the calmness in the remainder of the room.

The use of color is bold—hopefully resonating with the students and teachers as they foster a dynamic learning environment in this visually compelling building.

This is an architect's project! The project has a very strong parti, with a nice use of vertically oriented terra cotta on the rainscreen. The treatment of the existing building interiors is also quite nice.

HONOR ─ Residential Architecture
PROJECT  Franzen House
LOCATION  Bethesda, Maryland
ARCHITECT  Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, Architect
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM  Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, Principal; Nicole Dejong, Project Architect; Sarah Mailhot Solander, Project Architect
OWNER/CLIENT  Confidential
CONTRACTOR  Commonwealth Building and Design
PHOTOGRAPHER  Hoachlander Davis Photography

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This house in Mohican Hills, Maryland is constructed on a steeply sloping, wooded site with views of the Potomac River. A simple rectangular volume, the house is revealed as a two-story structure seen from the street. This extends an additional two stories at the back to take advantage of the steep grade. The project is modulated as a series of experiences that lead you away from the street and into a tranquil wooded landscape. 

JURY
I love the fence! They've successfully demarcated their front yard. This is really nicely detailed—the taut box, glazing and siding. It's successful also in the extrusion of the single footprint. The balconies and stair introduce just enough dynamism. The interior feels spacious and homey all at once.

This is just a really cool house, one that boldly engages material and its context in nature.

The dramatic space is done really well. The house has material restraint and addresses the topography well with a simple form.

MERIT AWARDS

MERIT ─ Interior Architecture
PROJECT  National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA)
LOCATION  Alexandria, Virginia
ARCHITECT  Winstanley Architects & Planners
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM  Yves Springuel, AIA; Leejung Hong, LEED AP; Kevin Fuller, Andi Dong
OWNER/CLIENT  National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA)
CONTRACTOR  McCloud Builders
PHOTOGRAPHER  Jessica Marcotte Photography / Jessica Marcotte

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Our approach was to create an interior that could be immediately identifiable with NRCMA. Instead of an open layout, we embraced the concept of a dramatic concrete space by reducing the glazing to the office doors and applying an architectural wall-coating with concrete detailing. This set the tone for the entire space. The details are based on expressing concrete inspired elements such as the suspended rebar ceiling, concrete looking carpet-tile, coffered ceiling at the Lobby. 

JURY
I love the rebar ceiling! It demonstrates an effective and innovative use of the material to create the ceiling plane. In general, it’s great to see concrete being utilized in diverse ways.

The architect uses concrete in successful and innovative ways—they are "all in" on this material! The narrative of this project is well integrated and helps to distinguish the design.

The rebar ceiling is very successful. The architect has taken the DNA of this association and imprinted it within the design.

MERIT ─ Multi-Family Architecture
PROJECT  Modera Reynoldstown
LOCATION  Atlanta, Georgia
ARCHITECT  SK+I Architecture
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM  Sami Kirkdil, FAIA; Toygun Mar, AIA; Lisa Newsome, AIA; Ben Zoghbi; Marius Radulescu, AIA
OWNER/CLIENT  Mill Creek Residential
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Parker Rodriguez
CONTRACTOR  Mill Creek Residential
PHOTOGRAPHER  David Crawford

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Modera Reynoldstown—a 5-story, mixed-use development featuring 320 units and 18,500 SF of retail—takes its inspiration from the neighborhood’s historic, industrial roots and its existing, eclectic style. Pedestrian and vehicular circulation were considered with an internal, tree-lined, road that bisects the building and leads to the rest of the site and the above-grade parking deck. Among other amenities, the community consists of electric charging stations, a hidden speakeasy, co-working spaces, and individual rooftop terraces! 

JURY
This building offers a solid response to a topographical challenge on a dynamic street, nicely completing a corner and creating what appears to be a successful residential experience.

This building is nice urbanistically—it negotiates the corner well and has a successful interior street that a number of units face, creating a nice place to live.

MERIT ─ Residential Architecture
PROJECT  LeVelle 9119
LOCATION  Chevy Chase, Maryland
ARCHITECT  Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, Architect
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM  Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, Principal; Sarah Mailhot Solander, Project Architect
OWNER/CLIENT  Confidential
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Campion Hruby Landscape Architecture
CONTRACTOR  Peterson and Collins, Inc.
PHOTOGRAPHER  Hoachlander Davis Photography

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Fabricated on the foundations of a house and carport originally constructed in 1948, this geometry is informed by the pre-existing relationship of the house and carport. The tension between the two volumes, initially established with the existing geometry is magnified by a dichotomy of materials employed; one with white stucco and the other with dark ground faced block. Interior spaces are open, and light filled. Outdoor spaces are terraced and engage topography with mature trees. 

JURY
This has nice massing and a really successful plan, utilizing the gap well relative to the site.

This inventive home has a great parti, offering an elegant solution to the program and site.

The house sits well on the site, and shows just enough restraint.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARDS

SPECIAL RECOGNITION ─ Small Projects
     For Breathing New Life Into Existing Structure
PROJECT  Rowhouse Reconceived
LOCATION  Washington, District of Columbia
ARCHITECT  Hill & Hurtt Architects
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM  Joshua O. Hill, AIA - Principal; Eric B. Hurtt, AIA - Principal
OWNER/CLIENT  Confidential
CONTRACTOR  Wall to Wall Construction, Inc. / Angel J. Tuesta
PHOTOGRAPHER  Joshua O. Hill

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The enclosed rear porch of this 1890's Victorian DC rowhouse had fallen into a sad state of disrepair. The renovation transformed the enclosed porch and landlocked kitchen into a light-filled useful living area, providing connection between the house and outdoors, and relating the rear façade to the existing Victorian structure reestablishing the connection to the exterior. 

JURY
This design is transformative within the constraints of the project. They've created really nice spaces to live in.

This is a very nice project and a great renovation story. I like that in lieu of demolition, the owner and architect opted to work with the existing historic structure, breathing new life into it.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION ─ Institutional Architecture
     For Community Impact and Adaptive Reuse
PROJECT  Art Works Now
LOCATION  Hyattsville, Maryland
ARCHITECT  McInturff Architects
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM  Mark McInturff FAIA, Colleen Gove Healey AIA
OWNER/CLIENT  Art Works Now / Barbara Johnson, Executive Director
CONTRACTOR  Added Dimensions / Alan Kanner
PHOTOGRAPHER  Julia Heine - Photography Julia Heine 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Art Works Now is a nonprofit committed to community, social justice and reducing economic barriers to participation in visual arts. AWN brings creative opportunities to students, from toddlers to elders, regardless of ability to pay, in a diverse developing neighborhood. (new paragraph) A derelict 1950s roadside store/flower shop structure immediately adjacent to the Hyattsville Arts District was transformed into studio classrooms, gallery, and small offices. A colorful stairhall — entry, gallery, gathering space — energizes everything around it. 

JURY
I love the building section—it summarizes the ambition of the project.

The project boldly transforms the existing building into a set of spaces that appear to foster great community impact, emphasizing the power of art.

This is an interesting story—an example of great alignments in a project between design, owner and other partners. This is a community-centered project that successfully repurposes an existing building.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION ─ Commercial Architecture
     For Relationship to Historic Site
PROJECT  Old Dominion Boat Club (ODBC)
LOCATION  Alexandria, Virginia
ARCHITECT  Winstanley Architects & Planners
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM  Michael Winstanley, AIA AICP; George Eisenberger AIA, LEED AP; Leejung Hong, LEED AP; Roshni Mahtani
OWNER/CLIENT  Old Dominion Boat Club
CONTRACTOR  Forrester Construction
PHOTOGRAPHER  Jessica Marcotte Photography / Jessica Marcotte 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
ODBC is a boat club on the Potomac River that has been a part of the waterfront of Alexandria since the 1880. Using materials and design aesthetics that rendered a building that looks like a boat and has interior elements that mimic shipboard interior construction components, the Old Dominion Boat Club now enjoys a brand new multi-story club (like ships have multiple decks) which looks and "feels" like a boat. 

JURY
The building exterior has very successful layering, with refined detailing and a strong use of materials.

The project successfully incorporates historical research to address its context through the design, creating a vibrant new space to meet the needs of today.

This project shows a thorough and rigorous attempt to relate to its historical context, demonstrating a strong degree of proficiency and craft.

The AIA Potomac Valley Excellence in Design Awards Competition is designed to encourage and recognize distinguished architectural achievement; to honor the architectural team, their clients and consultants who work together to improve the built environment; to demonstrate the breadth of services architects provide; and to raise public consciousness of the Architect’s role in shaping the quality of life through design excellence. The awards program recognizes excellence in design and planning. Consequently, the awards program honors the full range of quality work completed or designed by eligible members of the AIA Potomac Valley Chapter and AIA Members from other chapters for work located in AIAPV's region.

AIA Potomac Valley provides leadership, communication, education, and advocacy in support of architects and their constituencies in the Potomac Valley region. We empower members to advance their roles in service to society; act as a collective voice to help cultivate the future of the architectural profession; foster innovation and sustainability in design; and are a knowledge resource to members and the public, raising awareness of the value of the architecture profession. The chapter serves roughly 600 members in Allegany, Charles, Frederick, Garrett, Montgomery, Prince George’s and Washington counties in Maryland.

Our charitable arm, the Potomac Valley Architecture Foundation, promotes architectural education, training and research, and public awareness of the field of architecture.