1999 Honor Awards for Washington Architecture

Journal staff

Five public projects and two private residences were recognized for design excellence in the AIA Seattle 1999 Honor Awards for Washington Architecture, sponsored by the American Institute of Architects, Seattle Chapter.

An honor award went to city of Seattle West Police Precinct-/911 Communications Center, by Weinstein Copeland Archi-tects/Roth Sheppard Architects. Cabin & Pumphouse on Maury Island, by The Miller/Hull Partnership, received a merit award.

Five projects were recognized with a commendation from the jury: Queen Anne Hill Residence, by David Coleman/Architecture; Kennewick Library, by Buffalo Design; Cooling Towers, Sea-Tac International Airport, by Arai/Jackson Architects & Planners; Yaquina Head Interpretive Center (Newport, Ore.), by The Miller/Hull Partnership; and School of Fisheries Building, University of Washington, by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson.

The awards were announced at Benaroya Hall on Monday evening, Nov. 15, to an audience of nearly 1,000, the largest crowd ever gathered for the 48-year-old program. Seattle Mayor Paul Schell, an honorary member of the AIA, presided over the event and moderated the panel of jurors as they discussed the state of architecture in Washington.

The international jury included Eva Jiricna, born in Czechoslovakia and presently the head of a globe-spanning London-based practice; Fumihiko Maki of Tokyo, among the world's most revered architects; and Rafael Vignoly, a native of Uruguay now practicing around the world from his New York headquarters.

Included in this year's program was a response to a challenge issued by Schell at the 1997 Honor Awards program: "I'd like to see [a program] that will help architects, and all of us, rise to the challenge of designing our nation's Pacific gateway."

Architect Peter Bohlin review-ed Pacific gateway entries in the 1999 owners program, and announced his selections Nov. 8 at On the Boards Theater. His selections included completed projects that responded specifically to the Pacific gateway theme as well as unbuilt and conceptual projects.

Selected projects received citations at the Honor Awards program. They include: Klipsan Beach Cabin, Tom Frye AIA/Baylis Architects; The Brain - A Filmmaker's Studio, by Tom Kundig, Les Eerkes, Jim Graham, Joshua Brevoort, and Aaron Fein of Olson/Sundberg; Boston Athenaeum Insertion, by Marc A. Roehrle; Axis Aurora by Peter Sackett, Christopher Small, Jacqueline Blakeley; 47N: 122W, by Geoff Anderson, Nick Nakadate, Eduardo Ponce of Orange Light Madness (Intern Action); and Harbor Island Pacific Bird Aviary, by Kristofor H. Zehm.

Entries in the Conceptual category of the program will remain on view at AIA Seattle Gallery through the month of November.

Award of Merit: CABIN & PUMPHOUSE ON MAURY ISLAND Photo by Fred Housel Architect: The MillerHull Partnership Location: 2516 75th Ave. SW, Maury Island Owner/Client: Frank & Debra Ching Consultant: Dayle B. Houk & Company, structural General contractor: Bellan Construction, Inc. Jury comments: "A ritualistic interpretation of a small weekend retreat. With a simple volume, two disparate components of the program make up a compelling form that gives the site a contemplative and unique character."

QUEEN ANNE HILL RESIDENCE Photo by David Coleman Architect: David Coleman/Architecture Location: 308 W. Halladay Street, Seattle Owner/Client: David Coleman Consultants: Swenson Say Faget, structural; The Building Envelope, thermal & moisture General contractor: Powerhouse Construction Jury comments: "An interesting use of colliding typologies to resolve an extremely modest program. The resulting interior spaces are integrated in an intricate sequence which reveals the best vistas of the site. The economic use of limited resources nevertheless provides a very rich spatial experience."

Commendation: SCHOOL OF FISHERIES BUILDING Photo by Art Grice Architect: Bohlin Cywinski Jackson Location: University of Washington Owner/Client: University of Washington Consultants: KPFF Consulting Engineers, structural; Summit Technology, civil; Sparling, Inc., electrical; Affiliated Engineers NW, Inc., mechanical; McLellan & Copenhagen, laboratory planners; Swift & Co., landscape architects General contractor: Turner Construction Co. Jury comments:"The interiors demonstrate a skillful use of a limited palette of materials that makes the spaces very readable and suitable for its various uses. This building is an important contribution to a Master Plan that has not recognized, in its latest additions, the character of this wonderful site and the power of inventive architectural ideas."

Commendation: KENNEWICK LIBRARY Photo by James F. Housel Architect: Buffalo Design Location: 1620 S. Union St., Kennewick Owner/Client: Mid-Columbia Library District + The City of Kennewick Consultants: The Berger Partnership, landscape; The Greenbusch Group, mechanical/acoustical; The Robinson Co., cost analysis; Meier Enterprises, structural/civil; D. Hittle, electrical General contractor: Redding Construction Jury comments:" The planning of the building is based on the metaphor of the flowing river that connects the Tri-Cities region."

Honor Award: WEST POLICE PRECINCT/911 COMMUNICATIONS CENTER Photo by James Frederick Housel Architect: Weinstein Copeland Architects/Roth Sheppard Architects Location: 810 Virginia St., Seattle Owner/Client: City of Seattle Executive Services Department Consultants: Collaborative Design, artist; H. K. Kim Engineers, structural; CDi, mechanical; Sparling, Inc., electrical; SvR Design Co., civil; Murase, landscape architect; Ecotope, energy General contractor: M. A. Mortenson Co. Jury comments: "Contrary to the prevailing conventional character of this building program, the architect has found in this building the way to express these strict program requirements into a humane and rich architectural statement. The appropriate urban character of the building makes it inviting while respecting its severe security demands. In a rare demonstration of a productive collaborative work, the art program enhances the architectural ideas rather than diluting them. The external envelope is well articulated and expressed with a sensitive use of simple and efficient materials. The interior organization features a double courtyard arrangement with a remarkable sectional character that is both functional and pleasant. The design of the spaces is restrained and appropriate without resorting to frivolous gestures. The building makes a significant contribution to the enhancement of the public realm of the city and sets a standard for the future design of institutional facilities of this type."

Commendation: COOLING TOWERS, SEA-TAC INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Photo courtesy Arai Jackson Architect: Arai/Jackson Architects & Planners Location: Sea-Tac International Airport Owner/Client: Port of Seattle Consultants: CH2M Hill, Inc., civil/structural/electrical; CDi, mechanical; Path Engineers, Inc., electrical; Ceramic Cooling Tower Co., cooling tower General contractor: M. A. Mortenson Co. Jury comments:"An interesting treatment of a technical object which occupies an important place in the context. The vocabulary of exposed concrete gives a poetic character to this purely technological function."

Commendation: YAQUINA HEAD INTERPRETIVE CENTER Photo by Strode Eckert Architect: The MillerHull Partnership Location: Newport, Oregon Owner/Client: US Government, Bureau of Land Management Consultants: Aldrich Pears Assoc., Ltd., interpretive exhibitry; KCM, Inc., structural/civil; Murase Associates, landscape; CBG Engineers, mechanical/electrical; Rider Hunt Ackroyd, costing; Towne, Richards, Chaudiere, acoustics; Hong West Engineers, geotechnical; Douglas Welch Design Assoc., Ltd., exhibitry lighting; Stephen Dow Beckham, interpretive research General contractor: Slayden Construction Jury comments:A robust image that blends well into a powerful landscape, with a clear definition of different environments through its massing."

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