Spirit in Architecture

The 2008 AIA Western Mountain Region Design Awards

BY DEBORAH PADDISON

Members of the American Institute of Architects Western Mountain Region gathered in the fall in the City Different for their annual conference, where presentations explored the theme "Spirit in Architecture." AIA New Mexico hosted the conference at the new, environmentally sustainable Santa Fe Convention Center. National AIA President Marshall E. Purnell, FAIA, spoke on "Advancing Architecture Through American Spirit," while the "Spirit of Place" was another topic. And if this year's award-winning projects are any indication, the spirit of innovation is also alive and well in the West.

Honor Awards

Social Condenser

Blank Studio, Inc., Phoenix, Arizona

Envisioned as a "public house" that assembles diverse social groups in pursuit of various activities, this bi-level restaurant and lounge project in Superior, Arizona is "...the living room of the community; a place to congregate, socialize, view work of artists and enjoy breathtaking landscape vistas." The project parcel abuts an open landscaped parcel to be developed into outdoor dining and a music pavilion. Building materials include aluminum panel sheathing, gray-tinted glass and engineered wood planking made from recycled wood and plastic.

Arabian Branch Library

Richärd+Bauer Architecture, Phoenix, Arizona

Northern Arizona's famed desert slot canyons provided the inspiration for the design of the 21,000-square-foot Arabian Branch Library in Scottsdale, Arizona. It balances the compressed feeling of a slot canyon's narrow stone walls with the experience of eventual release to the blue sky above. Patrons enter through a "slot canyon" of steel and glass, with the feeling of compression and release echoed throughout the space in angular forms.

Desert House

Circle West Architects, Scottsdale, Arizona

An existing single-family residence on a one-acre parcel was refashioned to strike a dramatic pose amid its Sonoran Desert surroundings. The original concrete and stucco structure was given a new circulation plan and opened up to capture views of the surrounding mountains and desert sky. Strategically placed openings and overhangs, high-recycled-content materials (such as zinc metal siding and concrete flooring), native plantings, rainwater collection and high-efficiency HVAC underscore the small ecological footprint.

Photograph by Rick Brazil, Brazil Design Group, LLC.

Merit Awards

Roy P. Drachman Hall

SmithGroup, Phoenix, Arizona

The assignment: Design a building that will 1) fit into a restrictive campus plan, 2) complement existing buildings, and 3) provide individual identities for two separate academic programs. SmithGroup passed the test with Roy P. Drachman Hall at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Using red brick, pre-cast concrete, plate steel and aluminum for shading, the building consists of two masonry volumes resting on stilts. A glass bridge connects the two programs and subtly encourages sharing of common conferencing space.

Photograph by Bill Timmerman.

indigoMODERN

Rob Paulus Architect, Ltd., Tucson, Arizona

Revitalizing an underused infill property in Tucson, Arizona, indigoMODERN is a 22-unit loft project making efficient use of indoor and outdoor space. The modern structure separates car and pedestrian areas while creating public and private paths and courtyards. Two rows of residences are separated by a central walkway that culminates in a communal pool area. Units feature custom cabinetry, steel stairs and windows open to private courtyard space, while balconies provide views of the Santa Catalina Mountains.

Photograph by Ross Cooperthwaite.

Betty H. Fairfax High School

DLR Group, Phoenix, Arizona

When Phoenix Union High School District needed a new high school to accommodate 2,500 students in Laveen, Arizona, it turned to DLR Group for a design that eschews static, open quads in favor of dynamic, "small learning community" classroom clusters. At Betty H. Fairfax High School, each self-contained "school" houses media resources, administration, counseling and computer labs. Students work primarily in small groups, taking ownership in their education. Fresh air, daylighting and energy-saving measures are incorporated throughout.

Photograph by Mark Boisclair.

Papago Gateway Center

SmithGroup, Phoenix, Arizona

Balancing its corporate tenants' needs with the reality of the Sonoran Desert, the 267,000-square-foot, six-story Papago Gateway Center in Tempe, Arizona incorporates sustainable-design innovations on its face. The building's orientation and long, narrow footprint minimize solar exposure. The north and south façades are clad in glazing, while deceptively heavy stone façades on the east and west cleverly "peel away" at the entries. On the prominent southern façade, operable aluminum louvers are suspended in front of the glazing.

Photograph by Ross Cooperthwaite.

Laurence S. Rockefeller Preserve

Carney Architects, Jackson, Wyoming

The 1,100-acre Laurence S. Rockefeller Preserve is on the site of the former JY Ranch, recently donated to the National Park Service by the Rockefeller family. Nestled in Grand Teton National Park, the preserve includes an interpretive center, restroom buildings and a trail network. Environmental stewardship and responsibility were paramount: sustainable materials and methods pervade the structures and all the furnishings (also designed by Carney Architects). This is the first LEED Platinum-certified building in the National Park Service and in Wyoming.

Photograph by Paul Warchol.

Queens Lane Wine Silo

Carney Architects, Jackson, Wyoming

When you live in a floodplain, a traditional wine cellar is not a good idea. Hence this 300-square-foot "wine silo," an unusual structure built on a large compound on a former ranch in Teton County, Wyoming. Clad in oxidized steel plates, the silo will gracefully weather to blend with the existing buildings and landscape. The interior, inspired by a wine cask, features reclaimed-fir woodwork and a spiral staircase for access to the wine bottles around the perimeter.

University of Arizona College of Architecture + Landscape Architecture

Jones Studio, Inc., Phoenix, Arizona

In merging its colleges of architecture and landscape architecture, the University of Arizona wanted a building that reflects the relationship between the two disciplines. The new University of Arizona College of Architecture + Landscape Architecture includes expanded studios, faculty and administration offices, a lecture hall, gallery and an indoor-outdoor metal, wood, concrete, glass and digital fabrication lab. Natural light is maximized, water harvesting feeds the landscaping and the entire roof serves as a lab for solar, wind and roof garden experiments.

Photograph by Robert Reck.

Balboa Theatre

Westlake Reed Leskosky, Phoenix, Arizona

It took 22 years and $26.5 million, but the curtain rises again on the historic Balboa Theatre in San Diego, California. The vaudeville-era theatre, which blends Mediterranean Classicism with Moorish and Spanish Revival styles, has been restored to its original 1924 splendor, including the decorative ceiling and walls, original chandeliers and working waterfalls. Enhanced public amenities and state-of-the-art mechanical, electrical and performance systems were installed. The 1,339-seat structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Photograph by Nels Akerlund.

McDowell Mountain Ranch

Park & Aquatic Center

Weddle Gilmore Architects, Tempe, Arizona

The McDowell Mountain Ranch Park & Aquatic Center derives its exterior forms from the angular McDowell Mountains that blend the structure into its desert site. Located within the 24,000-square-foot complex are a community room, fitness center, dance and aerobics studio, three outdoor pools and a skate park. Natural daylighting highlights the facility's indoor/outdoor connectivity, and a translucent art wall by Seattle artist Norie Sato creates playful effects with light and color.