AIA New Hampshire Design Awards

Hillsborough County Superior Court North, in Manchester, New Hampshire, designed by Lavallee Brensinger Architects. Photo: Joseph St. Pierre

The two recipients of honor awards from the AIA New Hampshire chapter are a city public works building and a county superior-court building, both designed by Manchester, New Hampshire-based Lavallee Brensinger Architects. Five additional buildings received merit awards, while an additional three projects were awarded commendations. A mix of project types are represented in this group, including single-family and multifamily housing, higher education, and a suite of new beach facility buildings for the city of Hampton Beach, New Hampshire.

Honor Awards

Photo: Joseph St. Pierre


City of Manchester Department of Public Works Administration Building
Designer: Lavallee Brensinger Architects, Manchester, New Hampshire
Construction Manager: Harvey Construction Corporation

Jury Comments: "This building is a wonderful addition to a previously disenfranchised urban district. The architects successfully transformed a utilitarian building type into an elegant civic statement using a high level industrial aesthetic. The building placement creates a strong street edge and expresses the transformational potential of design in the public domain. The jury universally applauded the quality of the interior spaces and the simple, but effective, use of natural light. Quite simply, this building elevates the functional to the extraordinary." 

Photo: Joseph St. Pierre

Hillsborough County Superior Court North, Manchester, New Hampshire
Designer: Lavallee Brensinger Architects, Manchester, New Hampshire
Construction Manager: TLT Construction Corp.

Jury Comments: "The jury enjoyed this simple, but elegant, addition and rehabilitation of what can only be described as a functional but spiritless mid-century courthouse. The interiors are simple, but well detailed, and the new public lobby serves to center and organize the plan. The restrained and elegant glass addition succeeds in transforming this "background" building into a truly civic structure that befits its function as a courthouse."

Merit Awards

Photo: Chuck Choi


Keene State College TDS Center, Keene, New Hampshire
Designer: Architerra, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts
Contractor: Engelberth Construction, Inc.
Landscape Architect: Brown Sardina, Inc.

Jury Comments: "The TDS Center struck the jury  as an exceptionally sophisticated teaching environment that highlights sustainable building technology. Aside from the laudable achievement of LEED Platinum, the building's long term potential for approaching net zero operability is commendable and is a reflection of the institution's ethos as a whole. Equally important, the TDS Center succeeds by knitting together a complex program of very specific study areas with an open and more flexible set of spaces. This program overlay provides both conventional classroom environments along with student centered spaces that allow for spontaneous and casual learning environments."

Photo: Joseph St. Pierre


Hampton Beach Design & Development Project, Hampton Beach, New Hampshire 
Designer: Samyn-D'Elia Architects, P.A., Ashland, New Hampshire
Design/Builder: Harvey Construction Corporation
Landscape Architect: ORW Landscape Architects and Planners

Jury Comments: "This ambitious civic contribution to Hampton Beach reminded the jury of grand public facilities in the tradition of Robert Moses. The architecture ambitiously wraps its arms around the throngs of individuals that come to this beach every year and engages them in a truly civic manner. The recognition and expression of collective engagement and shared experience is what gives this project value. The master plan reflects the precedent of successful public beach and park amenities found throughout New England while the architecture, though simple, is reasonably detailed and uses regionally appropriate material patterns. The jury was unanimous that this was an astounding accomplishment for Hampton Beach given the economic and political challenges associated with a public project of this scale."

Photo: Warren Patterson


Phillips Hall, Phillips Exeter Academy
Designer: ARC (Architectural Resources Cambridge), Cambridge, Massachusetts

Jury Comments: "Phillips Hall is a wonderful example of how we, as architects, can bring the absolute highest systems thinking to bear as a way of preserving architectural and cultural heritage for generations to come. We commend the client, as well as the architect, for their commitment to this elegant 1930's academic building.  The architects demonstrated wonderful attention to detail both in the renovation of the existing structure and in the integration of a sophisticated new mechanical system. The choice of a geothermal heating and cooling system limited interior disturbances to the building and eliminated unsightly mechanical systems that would otherwise have been required on rooftops or around the building at grade. The jury felt strongly that this project exemplifies sustainability in practice. The renovation's technical sophistication demonstrates how historic buildings can be repurposed to meet the technological and functional needs of today's campuses."

Photo: Joseph St. Pierre


Nubanusit Lakehouse, Hancock, New Hampshire 
Designer: Sheldon Pennoyer Architects, Concord, New Hampshire
Builder: James C. Moore Builders

Jury Comments: "The jury enjoyed how this house grappled with the topography and found opportunities to take advantage of the steeply sloping site to provide outdoor living spaces and amenities for the home. The simple, covered connector between the two primary volumes addresses a functional need while framing the uphill edge of an outdoor room that brings together the entire composition. The jury found the materials and forms well suited to the site and local building traditions. The home is modest in scale but entirely livable. Through thoughtful detailing and engineering, the house achieved remarkable energy efficiency, being heated by a single air-to-air heat pump. In its elegant balance of scale and amenity, this residence is a refreshing take on the traditionally grandiose lakeside home."

Photo: Joseph St. Pierre


Harriman Hill Housing Coalition, Wolfeboro, New Hampshire 
Designer: Warrenstreet Architects, Inc., Concord, New Hampshire
Construction Manager: Gary Chicoine Construction

Jury Comments: "The Harriman Hill project demonstrated a thoughtful approach to workforce housing that the jury found refreshing. The site plan organized the buildings around a common green space and sequestered the parking to yield a greater focus on pedestrian and community interaction. The jury felt that the architectural language was appropriate for the rural context and was executed at a level that is commendable given the likely economic constraints of the project. The aesthetics were complemented by an attention to energy efficiency, with specifications for highly insulated walls and roofs and heat recovery ventilation in each unit. The architects tackled a challenging social and economic building type and delivered architecture that is attractive, livable and energy efficient – what more could we ask?"

Commendation

Photo: Harriet Wise

Mount Wachusett House, Princeton, Massachusetts 
Designer: Daniel V. Scully/Architects, Keene, New Hampshire
Contractor: Grzyb Builders, Inc.

Jury Comments: "The Mt. Wachusett house offers a simple and well-detailed solution for expanding an original 1920's house. The new addition is connected to the existing house in a creative way that does not overpower the original structure. The modern linkage is successful in providing both a new entrance and much needed living space while remaining visually complementary to the original building and respecting a very reasonable budget. This project received a commendation for using a small intervention to make a big difference in quality of living space."

Photo: Trent Bell Photography

Regeneration Park, Portsmouth, New Hampshire 
Designer: TMS Architects, Portsmouth, New Hampshire
General Contractor: T.R. Russell Builders Landscape Architect: Toomey Landscape

Jury Comments: "The jury unanimously appreciated the bold re-use of an often-demolished building type. The simple act of re-casting a car dealership into a complex containing a restaurant and offices took vision and skill. From a sustainability perspective, we applaud the act of creatively re-using this kind of space rather than relegating a reasonably young structure to the landfill. The jury enjoyed details including the re-use of found objects and original dealership components (like the glass panels) and we universally admired the fun and funky design of the office spaces. We commend both the owner and architect for giving consideration to what is normally a forgotten building type. This project received a commendation for sustainably repurposing a building type that most people consider a throwaway."

The winning projects were selected from among 39 submissions and were recognized at an awards banquet on January 11, at the Bedford Village Inn.

The 2013 AIA New Hampshire jury comprised representatives from the Rhode Island architecture community. They were Derek Bradford AIA, Bradford Associates, Providence, RI; Megan Moynihan AIA, Oyster Works, Charlestown, RI; Douglas Kallfelz AIA and Stephanie Zurek AIA, Union Studio Architects, Providence.