Congratulations to AIASD Member Firms, SVA Architects, Inc., Studio E Architects, Carrier Johnson + Culture, H2 Hawkins + Hawkins, De Bartolo Rimanic Design Studio, & FoundationForForm Architecture & Development for winning awards in the 53rd Annual Gold Nugget Awards. Read the original article from The San Diego Union Tribune here, or please see below.
Local Infill Projects Win Gold Nuggets
Once lauded for its innovative suburban housing projects, San Diego won top kudos this week for three unique infill developments.
The 53rd annual Gold Nugget Awards, handed out at the Pacific Coast Builders Conference in San Francisco on Thursday, also brought top honors to Point Loma Nazarene University's science center.
San Diego County won four grand awards and 14 merit awards in a field of 645 entries in 48 design categories for projects, most built or planned in California. But there were winners by California developers and architects doing work in Dubai, China, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and other countries. The program is thought to be the oldest of its kind in the U.S.
The most prominent project locally was Celadon at 9th & Broadway, a 17-story, 250-unit affordable apartment project in downtown San Diego. It won a grand award in the sustainable residential community category.
"Designing with a social conscience can, and should, include designing with an environmental one as well," said the six-juror panel of building industry veterans.
They called it a "shining example of how sustainable housing can be integrated into the urban fabric." Items include photovoltaic cells, arranged in an artistic pattern on the south facade; a rooftop solar hot water system; an "eco-roof" with drought-tolerant plantings; and gardens.
Bridge Housing was the developer; SVA Architects and Studio E Architects, the designers; Chameleon Design, the interior designer; and Turner Construction, the contractor.
Point Loma Nazarene's science center with 13 labs and classrooms won a grand award for best educational project. Designed by Carrier Johnson + Culture and built by Rudolf and Sletten contractors, the project is wrapped by a laser-cut metal screen at the entrance that turns into a "textured beacon at night," the jurors noted.
"But that screen is more than just a showpiece," they said. "The perforations create a lovely, dappled indoor-outdoor space that begins to define a series of outdoor paths that give access to the 13 cleanly designed new classrooms and lab spaces. "
Greenstone Row Homes won a grand award for multifamily housing at 18 to 30 units per acre. The 10 units, designed by H2 Hawkins + Hawkins and De Bartolo + Rimanic Design Studio and developed by HV Cos., are on a third of an acre in Bankers Hill.
They range in size from 1,500 to 1,900 square feet and include private outdoor terraces, rooftop decks and direct access to two-car garages. The contractor was Richard & Richard Construction.
The jurors said they were "impressed by the artful creation" of the development and its "good quality detailing."
"In the modern days of redevelopment and higher density, this project serves as an excellent reminder that newer high density cannot only fit within the existing community, it can make a truly positive contribution to the neighborhood," the jurors said.
The fourth grand award for mixed use went to a reused 1951 post office in North Park, where Foundation for Form Architecture and Development added 39 apartments and 6,000 square feet of commercial space. The jurors called it a "little gem."
"The central courtyard gathering space takes advantage of all of these design details to become the heart of this community," the jurors said. "Even the cantilever deck pays homage to the site's postal heritage, which might have been kitsch but is instead thoughtful design."
roger.showley@sduniontribune.com
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@rogershowley
