December 14, 2005

Design Detailings: Predock wins AIA Gold Medal

Predock

The Board of Directors of The American Institute of Architects recently announced that Tacoma Art Museum designer Antoine Predock won the 2006 AIA Gold Medal. Predock's firm is based in Albuquerque, N.M.

Thomas S. Howorth, chairman of the AIA Committee on Design Gold Medal Committee, said Predock's buildings have been "universally embraced."

"Antoine Predock designs buildings that grow out of their unique landscapes, creating, at the same time, symbols that are fearlessly expressive and sincere, simultaneously complex and guileless," Howorth said.

In addition to the Tacoma Art Museum, Predock designed the $285 million ballpark for the San Diego Padres, which approaches the concept of a stadium as a "garden" rather than a sports complex, and the new National Palace Museum in Taiwan.

Other commissions include the U.S. Federal Courthouse in El Paso, Texas, and the Spencer Theater for the Performing Arts in Alto, N.M.

Predock designed TAM with executive architect Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects of Seattle.

The board gave the Architecture Firm Award to Moore Ruble Yudell Architects & Planners of Santa Monica, Calif.

Otak takes two awards

The American Society of Landscape Architects and the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officers recently honored two projects by Otak.

WASLA recognized Otak's work on the Shoreline Interurban Trail. Otak produced a preliminary design report for trail alignment and developed final design documents for its north and south ends. The trail, which provides a continuous network from Seattle to Everett, is an enhancement to the city of Shoreline's urban framework, according to Otak.

NAHRO honored Otak's Plum Meadows with Awards of Excellence in two categories: project design and community revitalization. Otak provided architecture, site design, planning, landscape architecture and civil engineering services for a multi-family development led by the Vancouver Housing Authority.

Anne Whitacre is CSI Fellow

Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership announced Anne Whitacre has been named a Fellow by the Construction Specifications Institute. Fellowship is a top honor granted by CSI.

She is the specifications writer for ZGF's Seattle office and one of eight people in the Seattle metropolitan area ever to receive this honor. Whitacre is one of 10 nationally to advance to Fellowship in April at the CSI Show & Convention in Las Vegas.

Whitacre has been a member of CSI for 27 years and was president of the Puget Sound chapter in 1988 and 1989. She has been a full-time specifier since 1978. She has published articles and is a frequent lecturer throughout the region.

Morss Medical puts tips online

Morss Medical Architecture has developed a Web-based resource called Planning Tips. Every other month, a new tip is added to the site. The tips are common sense guidelines for developing or designing medical facilities.

Current tips cover such topics as natural light and its importance in developing a patient-friendly facility and way finding.

Bainbridge Island-based Morss Medical Architecture specializes in medical architecture. Its Web site is http://www.morssarch.com.