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>>> who's doing what, where in the design industry

Teresa Rosano and Luis Ibarra, principals of Ibarra Rosano Design Architects in Tucson, Arizona, were presented with the 2006 National Concrete Masonry Association Award of Excellence during the association's February convention in Orlando, Florida. Rosano and Ibarra won in the residential category for their design of a desert hillside residence in Tucson, which they did in conjunction with Repp Design + Construction and the Young Block Company, both also of Tucson. The team won the 2005 Award of Excellence in the same category for another Tucson residence. Winning a 2006 Award of Honor in NCMA's commercial category was Antoine Predock Architect PC of Albuquerque, New Mexico, for the design of Pima Community College's Green Valley Performing Arts and Learning Center in Green Valley, Arizona. That project, done in association with Burns Wald-Hopkins Architects of Tucson, was also honored with a 2006 award from the Arizona Masonry Guild; see the article in this issue.

Ibarra Rosano Design Architect's Tucson residence.

Allen + Philp Architects' The Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain resort and spa in Paradise Valley, Arizona has been named "Best by Design" by readers of Condé Nast Traveler in the magazine's 13th annual "Gold List." The magazine compiles the list by surveying some 20,000 readers. The Scottsdale, Arizona–based architectural firm remodeled a 1950s mountainside tennis resort into an upscale destination. The firm's recent projects include the restoration and renovation of the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale.

Allen + Philp's The Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain.

Tucson-based Goebel's Forecaster Interior Design has completed two recent projects. 58 Degrees & Holding Co., with two locations in Tucson and one in Sacramento, California, is a wine bar, retail shop and state-of-the-art wine-storage facility. The design firm worked with a rustic Italian scheme for the bar and facility, using cherry millwork, stained concrete flooring, Venetian plaster walls and ceilings, and glass mosaic wainscoting in the restrooms. Level Lounge in Tucson is a 6,500-square-foot nightclub that features three distinct environments: a main bar and dance floor, a VIP section and an outdoor patio. Highlights of the design include a 22-karat gold dome and a wall of backlit curtains in the entry, amber-colored panels on the main bar and a 75-foot banquette upholstered in quilted suede that snakes through the VIP section.

58 Degrees & Holding Co. by Goebel's Forecaster.

Level Lounge by Goebel's Forecaster.

Construction has commenced on Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's new Chris and Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Library, designed by DLR Group of Phoenix, Arizona. The library at the Prescott, Arizona university connects to the Academics 1 Building, also designed by DLR Group, and features a design inspired by the metaphor of flight, including a cantilevered second story. General contractor on the project, which is expected to be completed in early 2008, is BartonMalow Companies of Phoenix.

DLR Group's Embry-Riddle library.

Construction has been completed on the 71,000-square-foot National Renewable Energy Laboratory's Science and Technology facility in Golden, Colorado. The LEED Gold-Certified building was designed by SmithGroup Phoenix, which also handled interiors, lab planning, and mechanical and electrical engineering services. The new structure houses offices and laboratories for researching and advancing solar, hydrogen and other promising clean-energy technologies. Mortensen Construction of Denver, Colorado was the general contractor.

SmithGroup's National Renewable Energy Laboratory project.

In other SmithGroup news, the firm has been chosen to create design templates for new Banner Health hospitals, additions and renovation projects. The design templates will create specific standards for room- and department-level design and planning guides with an overall goal of repeating proven design concepts in all future projects. Banner Health, based in Phoenix, has 20 hospitals and other facilities in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Wyoming and other states.

The Capitol Mall Committee of the Phoenix Community Alliance recently presented a new proposal and concept plans for redeveloping Arizona's state capitol complex, located near downtown Phoenix. In 2005, the alliance contracted with Arizona State University's College of Design to conduct student studios to study the capitol mall district and make recommendations for improvement. The proposal, presented by Wellington Reiter, dean of ASU's College of Design, and Darren Petrucci, director of ASU's School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, includes a series of sustainable, connective infrastructures that make public spaces and services more accessible. Three concepts for a new legislative building were also presented.

Phoenix architectural firm DFD CornoyerHedrick has acquired Paul MacDonald Architects, PLLC, of Boise, Idaho. Owner Paul MacDonald once worked under DFD CEO and director of design Michael Davis, AIA. MacDonald will serve as principal and managing director of the acquired firm, now known as DFD Northwest.

In other DFD CornoyerHedrick news, Geoff Appleyard has been appointed chief operating officer. Appleyard was previously chief financial officer of Brown Family Communities. He also spent 18 years with SunCor Development.

Geoff Appleyard

Esther Rodriguez-Isosaki

Lighting designer Esther Rodriguez-Isosaki of Aterra Lighting Design & Controls in Scottsdale has become the first woman in metro Phoenix to receive an LC (Lighting Certified) appellation from the National Council on Qualifications for the Lighting Professions (NCQLP). Rodriguez-Isosaki has worked in the lighting field since 1988, training with other Phoenix lighting designers. Her projects have included Main Street for the Verrado development in Buckeye, Arizona and the Arizona Science Center's planetarium. The LC designation is achieved by passing an examination administered by the NCQLP, an independent, nonprofit credentialing body.

Phoenix architect Will Bruder has announced a new partnership, Will Bruder + Partners, that includes Rob Gaspard, Richard Jensen and Ben Nesbeitt as vice presidents. The architectural firm, with projects that include TAXI, a mixed-use development in Denver; the Nevada Museum of Art in Reno; and the Dial/Henkel headquarters in Scottsdale, has also relocated to a 6,100-square-foot studio at 2524 N. 24th St., Phoenix.

Slaterpaull Architects of Denver has promoted Jennifer Cordes, AIA to senior associate and Kara Aylesworth, AIA; Gwen Gilley, AIA, LEED-AP, and Melanie Short, AIA, LEED-AP to associates. The architectural firm, founded 35 years ago, specializes in educational, religious, civic and historic work.

Fawzia Ahmedali and Dev Pawar, architects with Architectural Resource Team in Phoenix, have received their LEED accreditation. The architectural firm, founded by Patrick C. Rehse, FAIA, is presently designing an office/maintenance building project for the City of Chandler, Arizona's Tumbleweed Park.

Joanna Ruble has joined Langdon Wilson in Phoenix as a space planner and interior designer. The architecture, planning and interiors firm, founded in 1951, also has offices in Los Angeles and Irvine, California.

Soroptimist International of Phoenix recently honored Kathy Moore with the 2007 Women Making a Difference Award. Moore retired earlier this year from the Orcutt/Winslow Partnership after serving as partner and business manager. She joined the Phoenix architectural firm in 1974 as a receptionist.

Two new showrooms have opened at the 68th Street Design Center in Scottsdale. Marianne Mulhall has opened Design Surfaces, LLC, featuring products for walls, floors and ceilings as well as custom area rugs. Mulhall was formerly with Interior Surfaces Guild. Charlotte Roper and Erin Roper have opened the MN Collection, carrying contemporary European furniture from COR, Catherine Memmi, Julian Chichester and Point/Fine Line Importers, plus lighting, accessories and artwork.

Concrete Habitat, known for its lines of counters, vanities, fireplace surrounds, tables and other concrete elements, has opened a Spokane, Washington office. The firm is based in Denver.