Pugh + Scarpa Architects to Receive 2010 AIA Architecture Firm Award

Pugh + Scarpa Architects to Receive 2010 AIA Architecture Firm Award

On this project, Pugh+Scarpa helped USGBC develop the standards and methodology for LEED certification of multi-family housing, which did not exist at the time this project was designed. The project generates more than 90% of its own energy, and has been the recipient of numerous community awards such as World Habitat Award given by United Nations and Rudy Bruner Prize for Urban Excellence.

WASHINGTON, DC.- The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Board of Directors (BOD) voted today for Pugh + Scarpa Architects to receive the 2010 AIA Architecture Firm Award. The distinction is based on its 35 years of consistent excellent work, including its seamless blending of architecture, art, and craft; community involvement; attention to sustainable design; and nurturing of in-house talent. The AIA Architecture Firm Award, given annually, is the highest honor the AIA bestows on an architecture firm and recognizes a practice that consistently has produced distinguished architecture for at least 10 years. Founding partners Gwynne Pugh, AIA, and Lawrence Scarpa, AIA, and Angela Brooks, AIA, who became a partner in 2001, are known for forging a broad, inclusive, experimental approach to socially and environmentally sensitive urban planning and design. “We’re thrilled,” said Lawrence Scarpa, AIA, after being notified. “It was a surprise just to be nominated. It’s just stunning to win.” “Pugh + Scarpa’s practice is known for both design and its commitment to running a socially and environmentally responsive practice,” writes Thom Mayne, FAIA, in support of the nomination. “Comfortable with aesthetic, practical, political, and functional issues, they have mapped an architectural path that is as didactic as it is successful.” Over the past 10 years, the firm has won 13 national AIA awards, including: • Solar Umbrella, Venice, Calif., completed 2005 • COoP Editorial, Santa Monica, Calif., completed 2003 • Colorado Court, Santa Monica, Calif., completed 2002 • Reactor Films, Santa Monica, Calif., completed 2000 • Orange Grove, West Hollywood, Calif., completed 2005 • Jigsaw, Los Angeles, completed 2005 The firm has more than 40 state and local AIA awards. In 2008, Pugh + Scarpa received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Interior Design. Other awards include; Record Houses, Record Interiors, The Rudy Brunner Prize, Emerging Voice in Architecture presented by the Architectural League of New York, The Collaborative Practice Award from the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, The AIA Henry Adams Medal and The Leadership Award for Sustainable Design presented by the California Legislature Assembly. In 2003, Pugh + Scarpa was also selected as a finalist for the World Habitat Award presented by The United Nations and Building & Housing Social Foundation. The award will be presented June 12 at the 2010 AIA National Convention in Miami. Previous recipients include Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects, Leers Weinzapfel, Moore Ruble Yudell, Muphy/Jahn, and KieranTimberlake. In recognition of Pugh + Scarpas legacy to architecture, their name will be chiseled into the granite Wall of Honor in the lobby of the AIA headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Powers Brown News

Megan Ebert has relocated to the D.C. office of Powers Brown Architecture to support its interior/space planning project base. She will lead the interior design practice group managing clients and projects. Ebert started her career with Powers Brown Architecture and is a founding member of the firms’ leadership group.

More here: http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2009/12/07/daily1.html

Arizona Provides DC's Christmas Tree

From Kold.com

Arizona's Christmas gift to the nation arrived in Washington this week. The Capitol Hill Christmas tree arrived Monday in Washington, D.C..

It looked bare, but in just a few weeks, it will be adorned with thousands of sparkling lights and decorations. It will be decorated with approximately five-thousand ornaments made by people across Arizona.

The tree was harvested November 7th and passed through Oro Valley and Tucson on it's way to Washington. This year's tree is an 85-foot spruce from the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in Arizona. It was selected from 12 candidates based on its form.

The official lighting ceremony is December 8th at 5 p.m.. The Capitol Christmas Tree should not to be confused with the National Christmas Tree, which is planted near the White House and lighted every year by the president and first lady. The Speaker of the House officially lights the Capitol Christmas Tree.

The tree will be lit by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, with the Arizona congressional delegation, Senators John McCain and Jon Kyl along with Arizona Governor Jan Brewer in attendance.

Following the lighting ceremony, the Capitol Christmas Tree will be lit from dusk until 11 p.m. each evening through January 1, 2010. As part of the Architect of the Capitol's continuing commitment to save energy, strands of LED (Light Emitting Diodes) lights will be used to decorate the entire tree. LED lights use little electricity, have an extremely long life-span, and are environmentally friendly.

After the holidays they will be recycled and used as mulch.

FIRST FINISH AWARDED REGIONAL AND NATIONAL BEST OF AWARDS SPONSORED BY McGRAW-HILL

Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill – Winning Project

Columbia, MD -- November 13, 2009 – First Finish, a Columbia, MD based general contracting company, was recently awarded both the regional Mid-Atlantic Construction’s Best of 2009 award and the National McGraw-Hill Construction’s Best of the Best 2009 award. First Finish’s successful completion of renovations to the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill project earned them the recognition in the award program’s “Small Project” category. The award winning team was comprised of First Finish, Host Hotels & Resorts, Johnathon Nehmer & Associates, Salem Engineering Inc., and Looney & Associates. A 100 percent union workforce provided the manpower to complete the project in just 19 weeks with minimal to no interruption to the hotel’s normal operations. During renovations, the 834 room hotel maintained 90 percent occupancy, as well as served as the back drop to one of Senator Hillary Clinton’s speeches held during the 2008 primary elections. “Our work has transformed the hotel into one of DC’s ‘must attend’ marquee spaces on Capital Hill, raising the bar for local competition” said Bryan Higgins, Executive Vice President of First Finish, “It’s equally gratifying to be recognized by such a prestigious organization as McGraw-Hill.” Mid-Atlantic Construction’s Best of 2009 recognizes projects in the Maryland, Virginia, eastern Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia region. The award is given to teams who best achieved the established goals for the project, overcame significant challenges, adopted innovative approaches, executed exceptional design and craftsmanship; maintained safe sites; and displayed strong teamwork. Only 40 projects were honored in the region in 16 categories including Healthcare, Industrial, and Retail. In its second year, McGraw-Hill Construction’s Best of the Best national award recognizes design and construction excellence based on the winners of McGraw-Hill Construction’s 10 regional publications’ Best of 2009 Awards. Out of 273 regional winners, an independent jury of construction professionals selected 76 national finalists and 24 national winners in 23 categories. Winners will be profiled in the January 4, 2010 issue of Engineering News-Record. A ceremony honoring each of the winning 40 projects will take place Dec. 11 at the Baltimore Marriot Waterfront Hotel located at Inner Harbor East in downtown Baltimore. ABOUT FIRST FINISH Based in Columbia, MD, First Finish provides premiere construction services for a full range of market segments including: commercial, government and those specific to the hotel & lodging industry. First Finish manages every aspect of a project from planning, construction, finishing, to installing FF&E. First Finish is a proud member of the U.S. Green Building Council.

Design Within Reach- Tonight