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 – Additions/Renovations/Restoration: greater than $5M
University of Kentucky College of Design – Lexington, KY
Architect of Record: K. Norman Berry Associates Architects, PLLC with Jeanne Gang + Studio Gang Architects
Owner: University of Kentucky
Jury Comments:
“This project displays the skill of a mature design team which chose clarity of concept as the key to articulation. The historic building is restored to a useful and pleasant open interior rendered in white with operable windows and an unobtrusive mechanical system. Interventions within and outside of the building are indicated both in deep grey color and through graceful curves culminating at a heroic ‘Maker Marquee’ canopy.”
HONOR AWARD – New Construction: greater than $25M
Echo Trail Middle School – Louisville, KY
Architect of Record: JRA Architects
Owner: Jefferson County Public Schools
Jury Comments:
“Clever allegorical whimsy brings this composition to life through a reinterpretation of ‘rural vernacular.’ Stable forms built of robust materials and set quietly in the clearing allows the playful articulation to unfold as we approach.”
HONOR AWARD – New Construction: greater than $10M and less than $25M
Lexington Public Library Marksbury Family Branch – Lexington, KY
Architect of Record: Champlin | EOP Architects
Owner: Lexington Public Library Foundation
Jury Comments:
“Exuberant and engaging, this is a public library that beckons the public to enter. Playful forms, bright lights and vibrant colors make this a building for an active community. The plan supports the forms through open approachable spaces easily navigated for a variety of uses by a wide audience. This is a modern building speaking to the relevance of a public library in our communities.”
MERIT AWARD – New Construction: less than $10M
Nami – Louisville, KY
Architect: WorK Architecture + Design
Owner: Winebrenner Capital Management
Jury Comments:
“Nami is interior architecture at its most inviting. The volumes, textures, colors, and one can imagine aroma, draw the guest ever inward. Describing the spaces in section is most instructive. Guests enter from the sidewalk into a tall greeting space which intrigues the public with activity and sets a minimalist container which appreciates the cast concrete frame of the building above. Moving deeper into the interior brings the visitor into ever more intimately scaled spaces as the details and textures become richer. The artistry and craftsmanship of the central stair is an engaging encounter along the way.”
MERIT AWARD – Additions/Renovations/Restoration: greater than $5M
Angel’s Envy Distillery and Visitor Center – Louisville, KY
Architect: Joseph and Joseph Architects
Owner: Louisville Distilling Company, Angel’s Envy Distillery
Jury Comments:
“This remarkable tour de force spanning almost a decade displays a commitment to this significant historical landmark and houses a thriving retail engine for the community. This is a structure of significant scale with multiple uses built over time, but the enduring materials are utilized in a harmonious fluid composition.”
MERIT AWARD – Additions/Renov./Restorations: less than $5M and New Construction: less than $10M
University of Kentucky Cooper House – Lexington, KY
Architect: Lord Aeck Sargent Planning & Design
James Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits – Lexington, KY
Architect: Joseph and Joseph Architects
Owner: University of Kentucky
Jury Comments:
“The composition of these buildings creates a setting greater than the sum of the parts.
The Cooper House is a beautifully detailed 1880’s building carefully restored to serve as a welcoming visitor center. The building received ‘just the right amount’ of renovation and reinterpretation. A restored historic stair is featured along with broad jambs and base boards. The notable expansion of a modern meeting and event space on the north side sets the stage for the other buildings in the composition.
The James Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits places two complimentary structures in the composition. Rendered in metal and stone, these buildings express permanence and a relationship to each other in this grouping of buildings. Through tall glass panels we get a glimpse inside of each to see the core of their purpose and invite us to venture in.
The arrival sequence, flow of parking, and use of pavers all help to hold this group of buildings together and elevate the whole.”
CITATION – Additions/Renovations/Restoration: greater than $5M
Louisville Water Tower and Museum Restoration – Louisville, KY
Architect: K. Norman Berry Associates Architects
Owner: Louisville Water Company
Jury Comments:
“Clearly a landmark worth saving. The Louisville Water Tower and Museum speak of a time when public works were truly celebrated, and the restoration of these features was lovingly carried through. The adaptive use of the space as a museum draws visitors to engage in the honorable mission of this facility and revel in the engaging historic details.”
CITATION – Additions/Renovations/Restoration: greater than $5M
North by Hotel Covington – Covington, KY
Architect: WorK Architecture + Design
Owner: VR Group
Jury Comments:
“This is a substantial undertaking in scale and complexity. Faithfully restored, these significant buildings will serve the community as landmarks for many more years. The structures knit together functionally and aesthetically around a magical central atrium. The penthouse level sets respectfully back from the historic façade and creates a modern rooftop place to enjoy the vista.”
CITATION – Small Project Award: less than $2M
Logan Street Market – Louisville, KY
Architect: Foxworth Architecture, PLLC
Owner: Logan Street Market
Jury Comments:
“Playfulness and delight elevate this modest building into a cheerful and colorful community builder. We’re drawn into the market and one can immediately imagine the sounds and smells of this vibrant social space. The clever addition of the mezzanine offers additional sidewalk direct venue space and an internal vantage point to enjoy the energy within.”
People’s Choice Award – Additions/Renovations/Restoration: less than $5M
Bardstown Bourbon Company Louisville Experience – Louisville, KY
Architect: Joseph and Joseph Architects
Program Statement:
“The Bardstown Bourbon Company (BBC) Louisville Experience offers a multi-functional destination, featuring retail, a bar, a bottle shop, and an educational classroom. The open and spacious floor plan, featuring movable retail displays, allows for flexible furniture arrangements and a variety of event types. This adaptable and engaging space, located in the heart of downtown's second-busiest area, offers a truly immersive brand journey. The BBC Experience promises to educate, entertain, and leave a lasting impression. This captivating space not only showcases the Bardstown brand but also serves as a bridge to Kentucky's rich bourbon history, inspiring visitors to embark on a future adventure to Bardstown itself.”
THE JURY
The Wisconsin-based jurors met via Zoom on June 16 and reviewed the 28 entries received for this year's program. The jury members were:
David Black, AIA (Jury Chair)
David is a Design Principal and Partner with Flad Architects. Founded in Madison, Wisconsin. With ten offices across the country the firm boasts a highly successful Academic group which began with David’s arrival over thirty years ago. His contributions to college campuses across the country exemplify his talent for creating buildings which respect the history and tradition of the institution, while providing spaces for cutting-edge research and scholarship. David has received numerous awards including more than 15 AIA design awards. He has served as chairman and juror for AIA design awards in a variety of regions.
Michael P. Eberle, AIA
Mike is a founding partner of Madison, Wisconsin based Aro Eberle Architects. He has over 30 years of experience on a broad spectrum of projects. Aro Eberle is an office of generalist architects that look for the challenge and opportunity to provide value in each project. Mike serves his clients in the role that they need him to play. Some projects need a principal-in-charge, some a project manager, and some a strategic thinker to solve a complex phasing or logistics driven project. He lives and thrives in the design-bid-build world of public projects whether for local municipalities, academic institutions, or state agencies. Mike’s project work has been recognized by AIA chapters in Connecticut, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. As a dedicated AIA Member, Mike has served as president of his local AIA Section as well as president of AIA Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Architects Foundation. His service to the profession was recognized early in his career with an AIA National Young Architects Award and in 2019, he was awarded the AIA Wisconsin Golden Award, the highest honor that AIA Wisconsin can bestow upon a member architect.
Jeffrey Charles Raasch, AIA
Raasch's 38-year career has produced an impressive portfolio of award-winning work, comprising over ten million square feet of constructed projects across nine countries. His extensive experience spans a diverse range of building types, with a particular emphasis on corporate, residential, healthcare, and research facilities. The completed projects, both nationally and internationally, reflect a deep understanding of the clients' needs and a commitment to developing unique, integrated modern architectural solutions. As a member of the Taliesin Preservation Board, an adjunct university instructor, and a practicing professional, Raasch's work demonstrates a deep knowledge of architectural history and theory, coupled with a keen eye for emerging trends in the field.
James W. Shields, FAIA
James is a Design Principal at HGA Architects & Engineers, as well as an Associate Professor of Architecture at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Jim has over 40 years of experience designing a broad range of
building types including museums, art facilities, academic buildings, commercial buildings, multi-family residential and worship spaces. Jim’s work has been honored with local, regional, and national awards, including over 25 AIA design awards. Recently he received a lifetime achievement award from the Museum of Wisconsin Art for his service to the arts in Wisconsin designing, renovation and adding to a variety of buildings supportive of the arts. In 2010 Jim was elevated to Fellowship in the AIA for excellence in building design. In his teaching, Jim has been running both the Comprehensive Building Design Studio, and the Building Construction course at UW-Milwaukee.
The jury was directed to consider how each project addressed the measures of AIA’s Framework for Design Excellence. Each was weighed individually, not in comparison with one another, and the jury was free to select as many or as few projects as it determined to be worthy of recognition. Projects selected were deemed to have successfully met the scope of challenges with which the architect was presented.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kelly E. Ives, AIA, CAE, Executive Vice President for AIA Kentucky, at (859) 223-8201 or Email Contact.
High quality DIGITAL COLOR PHOTOGRAPHS of winning projects available upon request.
FIRM CONTACTS:
Champlin | EOP Architects—Kevin Gough, AIA, (859) 231-7538, Email Contact
Foxworth Architecture, PLLC-- Mark J. Foxworth, AIA, (502) 418-6270, Email Contact
Joseph and Joseph Architects—Cash M Motor IV, AIA, (502) 583-8888, Email Contact
JRA Architects—D. Robert Deal, AIA, (859) 252-6781, Email Contact
- Norman Berry Associates Architects—Bob Haffermann, AIA, (502) 582-2500, Email Contact
Lord Aeck Sargent Planning & Design—Elisabeth Hunt, AIA, (877) 929-1400, Email Contact
WorK Architecture + Design—Mitchell E. Kersting, AIA, (502) 632-3232, Email Contact