A diverse group of projects have been recognized for Excellence in Architectural Design by the Kentucky Society of Architects (AIA Kentucky), a chapter of The American Institute of Architects. Awards presented and their recipients are:
HONOR AWARD – New Construction: greater than $10M and less than $25M
JCTC Advanced Manufacturing & Information Technology Center – Louisville, KY
Architect of Record: Omni Architects
Owner: Commonwealth of Kentucky Division of Engineering & Contract Administration
Jury Comments:
“The building is a thoughtfully composed project where the diagram reinforces the architectural solution. The scale of the building fits nicely into its context, and it is not over-designed. There is a strong relationship between the exterior and interior spaces, and the simplicity and selective use of color in the interior spaces makes the project stronger. We appreciate the idea of exposing training spaces to the exterior spaces toward the street. The use of a high-performing envelope and on-site energy generation add to a wonderful community story.”
HONOR AWARD – New Construction: greater than $25M
Fred B. Noe Distillery – Clermont, KY
Architect of Record: Joseph and Joseph Architects
Owner: Beam Suntory
Jury Comments:
“We really like this project a lot. The building and its siting fit so nicely into the existing context. It is understated, yet strong and bold. There is a simplicity, elegance and quietness to the building that allows the landscape and distilling processes to come forward in the user experience. There is a timeless quality to it, and the building and landscape should age well together. It is not overly formal, allowing one to feel relaxed and comfortable to hangout. The educational component partnering with the university is interesting as well.”
MERIT AWARD – Additions/Renovations/Restoration: greater than $5M
Central Bank Center and Rupp Arena– Lexington, KY
Architect of Record: NBBJ
Other Architect: EOP Architects
Owner: Lexington Center Corporation
Jury Comments:
“We appreciate the design team is taking existing large volume spaces and adding a ribbon of visual richness and excitement along the pedestrian and automotive paths. They are doing some interesting things with light. Bringing in pleasant, filtered light into the common, active environments, and in turn using artificial light to bring visual interest to the ribbon and common spaces during the nighttime. Further into the building, the more interior spaces allow one to leave the complexity of the ribbon and active public space behind and proceed to subdued, beautiful spaces where you can focus on the event that you are attending.”
MERIT – New Construction: greater than $10M and less than $25M
Bullitt County Public Library – Shepherdsville, KY
Architect: Omni Architects
Owner: Bullitt County Public Library Central Branch
Jury Comments:
“Just an overall strong project. There are several nice gestures nodding toward sustainability coupled with civic fun. It is a clear, legible solution that many would feel comfortable navigating through and experiencing.”
CITATION – Small Project Award: less than $2M
Locust Grove Event Pavilion – Louisville, KY
Architect: de Leon & Primmer Architecture Workshop
Owner: Locust Grove
Jury Comments:
“The pavilion is a beautiful project. We valued the notion of taking a familiar item and elevating it to a level of delight. As one would approach the pavilion, the layers of articulation unfold and present degrees of richness leading to surprise. Keeping the ‘woven’ nature of the ceiling clean and free from lighting and conduit, to be just wood, allows what could have been predictable event become remarkable.”
CITATION – Unbuilt Work
530 W. Main Street – Louisville, KY
Architect: Luckett & Farley
Owner: Winebrenner Capital Management LLC
Jury Comments:
“The reference in form to the adjacent building fabric helps a much larger building connect within its context. There is a relationship of the interior spaces to the exterior windows, which adds to the clarity to the ideas. It would be wonderful to allow this project to progress from a conceptual intent to a rigorous design solution and see how it would mature and strengthen.”
People’s Choice Award – New Construction: greater than $25M
Fred B. Noe Distillery
Architect: Joseph and Joseph Architects
Program Statement:
“A hub for both small batch whisky production and innovative bourbon research, the new Fred B. Noe Distillery features grain handling and yeast spaces, cookers, fermenters, still towers, and a barrel fill room, along with a visitor area, tasting bar, educational classroom, and a state-of-the-art sensory/blending lab. With a focus on sustainability, the distillery was designed to operate on renewable energy and seamlessly blend built and natural environments. “
THE JURY
The Baltimore-based jurors met via Zoom on June 16 and reviewed the 39 entries received for this year's program. The jury members were:
Kevin Johnson, AIA, LEED AP (Jury Chair)
Kevin is a Design Principal at Ayers Saint Gross. He has more than 35 years of broad project experience ranging from academic and research science buildings, healthcare, residential, commercial, and planning projects. As the lead designer on his projects, he has a collaborative process that is guided by clear intent and decision-making. He is a firm believer that effective communication is grounded in detailed visuals in all forms of media – blocking / stacking / massing diagrams, sketches, computer models, and physical models. Kevin has both architecture and landscape architecture degrees, and he is adept at working at varying scales ranging from high-level planning projects to landscape, and from buildings to finer-grain building details. He has designed award winning projects for many university and institutional clients including the University of Maryland, University of Virginia, Duke University, Washington University in St. Louis, Johns Hopkins Hospital, National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Smithsonian Institution.
Janet Bloomberg, FAIA
Janet Bloomberg is a partner and founder of KUBE architecture in Washington DC, a modern architecture studio that challenges the norms of daily life and attempts to reinterpret ways of working and living in the built environment. Janet is a native of the Washington area, and attended the University of Virginia for her Bachelor of Science degree and Columbia University for her Master of Architecture. While a student at Columbia, she was awarded the SOM Traveling Fellowship, with which she traveled to India and Nepal for research on ritual space.
Janet also received the McKim Prize, the top design award for her graduating class. Janet’s work has received numerous local, regional, and national design awards, including more than 40 AIA awards, and her projects have been extensively published in national and international books and publications. She has taught architectural design at various universities, including University of Virginia, and she has served on numerous AIA design awards juries around the country. Janet served as President of the Washington Architectural Foundation Board for two years, where she started several new programs for DC youth in architecture. In 2016 she received AIA|DC’s prestigious John Wiebenson “Wieb” Award, the highest local architectural honor recognizing service to the profession and to the community. In 2020 Janet was elevated to Fellowship in the American Institute of Architects. Presently she serves as the AIA National Small Firm Exchange Mid-Atlantic Chair, and she is also a member of the University of Virginia Dean’s Advisory Board.
Carl F. Knutson, AIA
