A light-filled community asset in the heart of Dupont Circle, by architecture student Lauren McNamara, won Baltimore AIA’s Future Architects Resources (FAR) Award in the undergraduate category at this year’s AIA Baltimore Design Awards. “Beacon Library” was singled out by the jury as a “beautiful oasis for learning amidst a buzzing street junction,” taking top prize among undergraduate submissions from area architecture programs. The virtual ceremony, which recognizes design excellence by students and professionals in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. region, was held October 22, 2020.
“It is a thrill to see our students recognized again for their creativity and hard work,” said Interim Dean Donald Linebaugh. “The project quality speaks to the challenging projects tackled in studio, close faculty guidance and organic collaboration between our students; I’m pleased to see that hasn’t diminished even though the pandemic has kept us apart.”
Created in 2013, the Future Architects Resources (FAR) Award is an annual scholarship open to students in their final year of graduate, undergraduate and community college programs in Maryland. Winning projects demonstrate innovation, social responsibility, environmental stewardship and critical thinking.
Undergraduate Shane Piltz was awarded a FAR honorable mention for “The Village: A new School of the Built Environment.” The project, an inventive reimagination of UMD’s School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, was recognized by the jury for its balance of modern feel and traditional campus character.
Several alumni were also recognized this year for design excellence in residential, institutional, commercial and community-based projects. David Gavin (M.Arch ’12), of Quinn Evans, won the Social Equity Award for the firm’s project, “Restoration Gardens 2” in Baltimore, Md. The Social Equity Award is a special recognition award created in 2018 in conjunction with the Neighborhood Design Center to recognize community-driven projects that promote social equity, sustainability, social justice and true character of place, in honor of Whitney M. Young and his 1968 speech at the AIA National Convention. Other design awards recognized work by alums Glenn Neighbors (B.ARCH ’82), Silvia (Carroll) Hasty (B.S. Architecture ’04), Allison Wilson (B.S. Architecture ’09, M.ARCH ’11) and Daniel Lucenti (B.S. Architecture ’09)—all of Ayers Saint Gross.
Each year, AIA Maryland’s four chapters recognize design excellence through their chapter design awards. This year, they will collaborate on a digital gallery of award winners from all four chapters to highlight winning projects. The gallery will be available to view later this year.