Recipients of 2006 AIA/HUD Awards

Washington, DC, May 17, 2006--The American Institute of Architects (AIA) announces the recipients of the 2006 AIA/HUD Secretary's Housing and Community Design Awards. The 2006 AIA/HUD Secretary’s Awards honor three projects for excellence in housing, community design, and accessibility. The joint program, created by the AIA Center for Communities by Design and the AIA Housing Committee in partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), reflects the ongoing collaboration between the AIA and federal government agencies to highlight the best in affordable residential design and call attention to the importance of architecture in cities and communities nationwide. This year’s jury recognized projects in the categories of Mixed-Use/Mixed-Income Development, Community Building by Design, and Alan J. Rothman Housing Accessibility. Mixed-Use/Mixed-Income Development Esther Short Commons Vancouver, Washington William Wilson Architects PC for Vancouver Housing Authority The architect takes advantage of the urban location of this mixed-use project by incorporating a regional farmers market along side of standard retail shops in 20,000 square feet of designated commercial space; 140,777 square feet of living space rests above. The structure contributes to the neighborhood’s vibrant street life as overhead doors connect the farmers market to a public market and a park. The pedestrian traffic created by the commercial and residential space increases neighborhood safety as there are more “eyes on the street.” Esther Short Commons provides affordable downtown living options, with 139 of the 160 units reserved for residents earning at or below 60 percent of the area’s median income; the other 21 are market rate. The jury especially appreciated that the architect accomplished so much within a budget of $78 per square foot and commented that he did a “great job assimilating low income residents into their community.” Community Building by Design Blake Street Flats Denver Humphries Poli Architects, PC An earlier phase of this infill project failed to satisfy the historic community’s expectations, causing trust to be relatively low prior to the start of this phase. To regain needed support, the architect conducted bimonthly meetings with a Design Advisory Committee and involved community stake holders and former residents of the area’s previously failed public housing projects. The resulting project adopts the neighborhood’s palette of exposed concrete frames, corrugated steel, and humble historic images and combines them into innovative and inviting homes. Brightly colored corrugated metal boxes float above a continuous first floor porch with expansive windows in each unit opening onto the street and to the abundant Colorado daylight. The jury enjoyed the “cheerful colors” of the project and observed that the “stoops ‘take back’ and energize the neighborhood by having street access to the units.” Housing Accessibility: Alan J. Rothman Award Waterloo Heights Apartments Los Angeles Koning Eizenberg Architecture The hub for social interaction in this project, constructed for disabled veterans, senior citizens, and individuals living with HIV, is a Craftsman era-inspired courtyard. “When mobility and ability to get out and around town is impaired, informal opportunities to socialize become very important,” the architect said in the project description. This goal is met by placement of the community room, laundry room, manager’s office, and many front doors around the perimeter of the courtyard, providing opportunities for chance encounters. Though some portions of the project’s design are utilitarian, such as unit stacking for utility economies and simple metal railings, measures are taken to emphasize residential quality; exterior spaces are carefully lit with shielded light sources and tree up-lights and metal railings are accented with wood boards.

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