2012 Design Awards Winners

The 2012 winners were published in 2nd annual AIA Central Pennsylvania Design Awards Publication! The Central Penn Business Journal distributes to over 10,000 business leaders in Central Pennsylvania. This is a great opportunity for the community to see the great impact Central PA Architects have on our community. All submissions are listed in the publication (not just the winners)! To view this special publication, click here.


Citation Award

Project: Midd-West High School
Architect: Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates
Client: Midd-West School District

Jury Comments:

— A smart and thoughtful project. The layout of the “main street” corridors helps integrate the larger “black box” spaces and creates a sense of community. The relationship of the “main street” and the “black box” spaces and the primary entries reinforces the campus as a community building. The purposeful roof shapes create hierarchy and scale the larger volumes of the “black box” spaces while also providing natural daylight to interior communal spaces: main street, cafeteria, library and gym/theater pre-function. The sustainability performance was also quite impressive.

— On a modest budget, with a complex site, this predominantly new high school structure did much. The organization of the site plan to relate all the campus buildings, and within the high school around learning communities, was highly effective. Student streets, naturally lit commons, and largely opaque public elements such as the gymnasium and performance hall embedded within the plan, were a good, efficient response. The new architecture is handsome and crisp.

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Citation Award

Project: First & Franklin Street Presbyterian Church: Interior Sanctuary Restoration
Architect: Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects
Client: First & Franklin Street Presbyterian Church

Jury Comments:

— We appreciated the care with which the interior of this church was restored. Execution became an exercise in respect and restraint, which always looks simpler in final realization than the steps required to get there. New building MEP and lighting systems were deftly integrated while paint colors were painstakingly matched to make complementary palettes.

— The architects demonstrated an admirable level of sensitivity and restraint with this beautiful historic structure. The attention to the original details and colors is first rate while the integration of new lighting and presumably audio equipment is masterful.

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Citation Award

Project: Marketview Arts
Architect: Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects
Client: York County Industrial Development Authority

Jury Comments:

— Solved a very complicated interior equation relative to the many levels and the solution did it in a way that strengthened the building. Sensitive renovation of the larger spaces that simplified and accentuated the natural materials.

— Economically innovative combination of art studio/living/event space and education related activities designed to maximize use of this historic building. We appreciated the preservation/ modernization of the existing historical features, in particular, the Gallery Hall which renders the historical elements in a clean, refreshing manner. While the new entry provides a visual element from the side and solves the circulation, stronger detailing of the street facade and perhaps using the side yard as an “entry courtyard” to move through towards the entrance, would give the entry sequence more definition.

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Citation Award

Project: Black Diamond Jet Team
Architect: TONO Architects, LLC
Client: Jared Isaacman & JDI Holdings

Jury Comments:

— The jurors termed this the ultimate “Man Cave”. While we originally questioned the lack of views to the exterior airfield, as a structured, inwardly focused project with a “mission impossible” time frame, this is an exciting use of aviation/naval references and common industrial, exterior construction materials rendered to accentuate a high tech feel. The great view into the hanger and choice of slick, streamlined interior materials seem to reinforce the imagery that the name, Black Diamond Jet Team, evokes.

— We really liked the interior focus of this project and the simple diagram of focusing on aeronautical imagery, the jets, and the experience of flying them. The space opens to views of the various jets the team flies, an appropriate response given the beauty of their machinery. The space itself becomes another object within the hangar, well composed and its interior is a simple, cool, slightly testosteroned gathering spot evocative of a cockpit.

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Merit Award

Project: POUR Wine Bar
Architect: MM Architects, Inc.
Client: Bryan Kepner

Jury Comments:

— Economically innovative combination of art studio/living/event space and education related activities designed to maximize use of this historic building. We appreciated the preservation/ modernization of the existing historical features, in particular, the Gallery Hall which renders the historical elements in a clean, refreshing manner. While the new entry provides a visual element from the side and solves the circulation, stronger detailing of the street facade and perhaps using the side yard as an “entry courtyard” to move through towards the entrance, would give the entry sequence more definition.

— Wonderful use of materials that complement the existing structure. Interesting and creative details from the wine racks to the top lit panels behind the bar. Appropriate restraint of design that did not compete with the existing structure.

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