DESIGN AWARDS | 2024
DESIGN AWARD CHAIR
KATIE SINGLETON, AIA, NCARB
Katie is a project architect with a strong interest in continuous methods of improving the built environment through both adaptive reuse and new construction projects. With 8 years of experience in the field, Katie has successfully led and collaborated with multiple disciplines to design various scales of entertainment, hospitality, education, and civic projects across the U.S. She is an adept manager and architect, bringing meticulousness to her work that is invaluable to collaborators and clients.
Dedicated to pushing the boundaries of design and growing the field of architecture, Katie continuously explores new technologies and materials to craft spaces that inspire and endure. She applies this knowledge to each of her various roles within the profession, which include leadership and support roles within the office, the AIA, NCARB, and a number of local community organizations.
RICH BRYA, AIA PRESIDENT, AIA ARKANSAS
2024 | FROM THE PRESIDENT
As the 2024 President of AIA Arkansas, I’m honored to present to you this year’s AIA Design Awards publication highlighting our chapter’s achievements through our Design Awards Program and our Chapter Awards. These individuals and projects represent the accomplishments of our state’s architects, consultants, contractors, building owners, and clients. We are very proud of the high quality of work the state of Arkansas is able to produce yearly.
These awards were recently highlighted in our chapter’s state convention in Ft. Smith in early October. Architects, design professionals, allied members, clients, and friends joined in the celebration of these accomplishments.
36 entries were submitted by member firms in the Design Awards Program. We are grateful for the time and effort of our wonderful jury. The jurors, from New York / New Jersey, included Carisma Koenig AIA – Principal of Perkins Eastman, Associate Professor and Director of Practice of the Graduate Architecture and Urban Design Program in the School of Architecture at Pratt Institute, Andrew Thompson, AIA, NOMAC, LEED AP BD+C – County Architect for Passaic County in New Jersey, Fahir Burak Unel, RA, AIA, NCARB – New York City based designer and technologist, and Deborah Verne, AIA, Senior project manager FCA. Of the 36 entries, 12 were selected as finalists, and 9 of those were selected as Award winners. The submissions can be found throughout this publication. We thank all our entrants for their work and look forward to seeing next year’s submissions.
In addition to jury selected recipients, our Chapter honors two additional recipients through the Member’s Choice Award and the People’s Choice Award. The People’s Choice Award is an award that allows the public to view all entries and choose their favorite project.
The cover of this year’s publication highlights the 2023 Member’s Choice Award winner, Little Rock Police Department Headquarters designed by WDD Architects in Little Rock, AR. Selected for this honor by AIA Arkansas attendees at last year’s convention.
This year’s chapter awards are as follow:
The Fay Jones Gold Medal Award is the highest award AIA Arkansas can bestow on one of our members. The Fay Jones Gold Medal recognizes an individual architect who has demonstrated touchstones of excellence through artistic vision and design, leadership and service to the State of Arkansas and the AIA Arkansas Chapter. Excellence is measured not only by the mark of architectural and individual achievement, but through the esteem and regard held for the architect by professional practitioners and the community as a whole. This year’s recipient is Galen Hunter, AIA. Galen has been an invaluable asset to AIA Arkansas. His leadership within the organization has been marked by a dedication to advancing the profession and fostering collaboration among architects and allied partners. His mentorship of emerging professionals and his willingness to give back to the architectural community through volunteer efforts are an example of how his servant attitude stands out in everything that he does.
The Michael LeJong Leadership Award was established to recognize a member of AIA Arkansas who illustrates outstanding efforts to contribute to the success of AIA Arkansas through their leadership and mentoring. This year’s recipient is Chris East, AIA. Beyond his leadership at Cromwell, Chris actively works to further the profession of architecture in Arkansas and cultivate better spaces in our community. Chris has been a member of the Architecture and Design Network (ADN), the Downtown Little Rock Partnership (DLRP) Board, an AIA Merge mentor, one of the founding members and a past president of studioMAIN, and he continuously commits himself to AIA Arkansas initiatives, contributing to the organization’s success.
The Dick Savage Memorial Award is AIA Arkansas’s recognition of a member who has made notable significant contributions to the chapter and the profession. This year’s award goes to Lori Yazwinski Santa-Rita, AIA. Lori has represented AIA Arkansas at all levels of leadership, served the organization on many committees and continues to further our profession and the advocacy of our membership through joint committees and outreach programs.
The Award of Merit is AIA Arkansas’s recognition of an individual, public official, member of any allied profession, public agency, or company that through interest, activity, and concern with the profession of architecture, shall have advanced the cause of good planning and design and/or contributed to the dignity and value of the architecture profession. This year’s recipients are Preserve Arkansas and Talicia Richardson of 64.6 Downtown. Preserve Arkansas is a nonprofit organization that works statewide to build communities through shared architectural history while regularly supporting education and recognition of successful preservation projects, often highlighting those by AIA members. Talicia Richardson is best known for her role as the former Executive Director of 64.6 Downtown, a nonprofit organization committed to creating vibrant spaces in downtown Fort Smith. Her focus on business development, arts and culture, special events, projects, and the promotion of attractive amenities has led to increased investment from both public and private sources.
The Emerging Professional Award is intended to recognize a young professional, practicing for 10 years or less, who has expanded the role of the architect through civic participation and professional mentorship. This year’s recipient is Timothy Varner, AIA. Active in local and state professional organizations, Tim has served as a director for both the Fort Smith Section of AIA Arkansas and on the State Board of AIA Arkansas. Serving also on various AIA Arkansas committees including the Emerging Professionals/Young Architects Committee, Legislative Committee, and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. Tim has been dedicated to practice, service to the profession and community.
AIA Arkansas’ Diversity Award recognizes an individual, public agency, organization or company for exemplary commitment and contributions to inclusiveness within the architectural profession and education in the state of Arkansas. This year’s recipient is Ernest Banks, Assoc. AIA. Ernest is the founder, visionary and driving force behind studioMAIN’s RISE program. RISE stands for Reinvest in Students Everywhere, and is a scholarship program for underrepresented students from all over Arkansas that want to pursue a career in architecture. Through Ernest’s leadership, outreach, coordination, and immense personal effort - the RISE program has already awarded thousands of dollars in architecture scholarships to deserving students that are likeminded in their efforts to design with community and diversity at the forefront of their schoolwork. Ernest exemplifies the qualities that are at the heart of the Diversity Award and his contributions have been notable and significant to our Chapter and will continue to inspire and motivate future generations of leaders of our profession and organization.
I hope everyone enjoys this publication; it does a wonderful job showcasing the amazing talent in our AIA chapter, and the thoughtful and inspirational projects we produce here in Arkansas and around the country. Congratulations to all the award winners! I appreciate you taking the time to celebrate with us.
HONOR AWARD |
MISSISSIPPI COUNTY COURTHOUSE REHABILITATION AND ADDITION
FIRM: REVIVAL ARCHITECTURE, INC.
ADDITIONAL FIRM: CROMWELL
CONTRACTOR: CNI -CONSTRUCTION NETWORK, INC.
LOCATION: BLYTHEVILLE, AR
OWNER/CLIENT: MISSISSIPPI COUNTY
PROJECT TEAM:
AARON RUBY, AIA
KRISTI ANGYL, AIA
LAWRENCE ANGYL, AIA
WILLIAM LAMAR, AIA
AMANDA BENHAM, ASID
CONSULTANTS:
CROMWELL MEP & INTERIORS
KIP A. MOORE & ASSOCIATES
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE, INC.
DAVID COX CONSULTANTS
The Mississippi County Courthouse in Blytheville was originally constructed between 1919-21 in the colonial revival style at approximately 18,000 square feet, 3.5 stories, clad with brick and cut limestone. It was listed on the National Register in 1996.
In 2014, a proposition was made to replace the two older courthouses (one in Osceola and one in Bly¬theville, as Mississippi County is one of ten counties in Arkansas with dual county seats) with one new courthouse. After years of deliberation, along with the successful campaign of County Judge John Alan Nelson, who ran on a platform promising to keep the historic courthouses, in February 2019, through his leadership, voters approved the extension of an existing tax and bond issue to fund the renovation of the courthouses, with the Blytheville courthouse receiving the first major renovation and addition to what we see today. The plan was to not only repair the interior and exterior of the original courthouse, but to construct an addition that would double the size of the facility allowing for the growing needs of the County, and provide enhanced security for the public and staff.
Problems with the courthouse were long, including heavily damaged plaster walls and ceilings, nonADA restrooms, outdated wiring and lighting, poor connectivity and no separation between judges, public and prisoners. The roof was in terrible condition and leaking.
The new 18,000 square foot addition was designed to complement the original structure. It is shorter and it does not extend out past the outer edges of the original courthouse. The addition was blended by using similar building materials of brick and limestone, picking up on horizontal lines and window proportions. The new curtain wall on the east side of the building allows natural light to fill the public stairwell and introduces a sense of transparency-important in public buildings today. The deeply set glass of the curtain wall, separated by vertically oriented trim, speaks to similarly deeply set old wood casement windows. The new steel staircase and exposed steel beams showcase one of the County’s most successful industries. The addition houses a new large court room with a double barrel-vaulted ceiling utilizing acoustical plaster, significantly controlling echo. New offices for circuit judges, staff and jury rooms, and a sallyport as a dedicated entry for detainees, along with a secure elevator to holding cells, dramatically improves safety for the public and staff.
A major challenge was site restrictions of city streets, a railroad crossing and high voltage overhead pow¬er lines. In order to accommodate the sallyport, dedicated prisoner transport entry, secure parking for judges and additional parking spaces for the public, one street was closed and major power lines were moved. Landscaping around the courthouse was significantly improved, including access to the grave of Blytheville’s WWII Medal of Honor recipient, Edgar H. Lloyd. An exhibit in the new lobby displays the actual Medal.
Improving energy efficiency in the historic building was important. The older wood windows were kept and new storm windows utilizing low-e technology were added-reducing heat gain and noise from nearby trains. A highly efficient HVAC system known as Variable Refrigerant Flow was installed throughout the project. LED lighting and occupancy sensors were provided, including restoring origi¬nal light fixtures in the marble lobby and public corridors.
PHOTOGRAPHER KEN WEST
HONOR AWARD | LEDGER
FIRM:
MARLON BLACKWELL ARCHITECTS
ADDITIONAL FIRMS:
MICHEL ROJKIND
CALLAGHAN HORIUCHI
CONTRACTOR:
NABHOLZ CONSTRUCTION LOCATION:
BENTONVILLE, AR
OWNER/CLIENT:
CENTER CITY, LLC
PROJECT TEAM:
MARLON BLACKWELL, FAIA
MERYATI JOHARI BLACKWELL, AIA
RYAN CAMP, AIA
ETHAN KAPLAN, AIA
JUSTIN HERSHBERGER, AIA
WILLIAM BURKS
SCOTT KERVIN
ARI SOGIN
PAUL MOSLEY
COLBY RITTER
DAVID SWEERE
SPENCER CURTIS
CONSULTANTS:
HFA
ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS, INC.
STUDIO NYL
TAYLOR & MILLER
DESMAN
The Ledger is a new 230,000 square foot mixed-use co-working office building in downtown Bentonville, Arkansas. A new kind of workplace experience, the Ledger offers diverse amenities in addition to office space including retail, restaurant, and event spaces, all connected to an extensive network of pedestrian trails, redefining what it means to “bike to work”. Blurring the lines of where the sidewalk ends and the building begins, ramps ascend the east facade along Main Street, inviting the public to bike up the as¬cending terraces that scale the building to its context. Ledger is complemented by an adjacent, detached 500-space parking garage that includes a climbing wall and surfaces for large-scale public art. A large entry portal aligns with the intersection of Main Street and 4th Street, connecting a generous sidewalk along Main Street to a new public park to the west and leading to a generous public lobby and circulation spaces inside.
The material palette for the Ledger is kept deliberately simple, clad predominantly in copper and glass except for service areas on the ground floor wrapped in black, box rib metal panels. A mechanical court on the roof is wrapped with a copper screen to help shield the adjacent roof terrace from intense sun. With auditorium seating overlooking the downtown square sunsets, the roof terrace has become a desti¬nation for viewing sunsets, wedding receptions, and other big events, offering a reward for the six-story journey up the ramps. By rethinking the nature of public space, a completely new kind of experience has emerged that, as Treehugger magazine noted, “shows a glimpse of the future in how buildings, people, and the environment should seamlessly interlace.”
With a patina that gradually turns a soft purple and brown, the copper is warm and inviting, tracing the faceted edges of each ramp and floor. Following the ramps, the continuous glass storefront ensures every office and workspace has a street-front presence and access. Along the narrower north and south ends, al¬ternate floors are extended to create covered outdoor areas that are often directly connected to the ramps.
Inside, the design focuses on common circulation and collaboration spaces that often connect more than one floor level. The majority of the interior are “white box” tenant spaces that are finished out by various businesses and organizations, but generous public and common areas are designed and detailed with a simple material palette that is consistent with the exterior strategy. Polished concrete floors and reflective metal ceilings help bring light deep into the building along with extensive interior glass framed in white oak, which also wraps the open stairs and floor edges. Large custom wood benches wrap planters in the lobby spaces and integral seating along the ramps offer places to sit and work or just relax.
The overall effect is a building with a “work hard, play hard” attitude that weaves together the pervasive cycling culture in Northwest Arkansas and the flow of business life.
PHOTOGRAPHER TIMOTHY HURSLEY
HONOR AWARD | NEGOTIATION ROOM
FIRM:
URBAN DESIGN BUILD STUDIO (UDBS)
CONTRACTOR:
URBAN DESIGN BUILD STUDIO (UDBS)
LOCATION: ROME, ITALY
OWNER/CLIENT:
I.I.S LUIGI EINAUDI SCHOOL
PROJECT TEAM:
JOHN FOLAN, AIA, UDBS DIRECTOR
MARY BETH BARR, ASSOC. AIA, UDBS FELLOW
FRANCESCO BEDESCHI
MARIA AZZOLINI
SIMONE ROSSI
DAVID KENNEDY
AUSTIN PHILLIPS
ZACK KRESS
CLAYTON ROBERSON
CONSULTANTS:
RUBNER TIMBER ENGINEERING
The Negotiation Room provides a space for two actors to take a risk and begin a dialogue. It is a space of optimism that finds its form by positioning actors in close proximity. The mass timber structure demonstrably points to a sustainable future while shaping space for discourse of mutual benefit – socially, environmentally, and personally.
PHOTOGRAPHER URBAN DESIGN BUILD STUDIO (UDBS)
MERIT AWARD | LA DAVIS STUDENT UNION RENOVATION
FIRM:
AMR ARCHITECTS
CONTRACTOR:
CDI CONTRACTORS
LOCATION: PINE BLUFF, AR
OWNER/CLIENT:
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT PINE BLUFF
PROJECT TEAM:
HEATHER DAVIS, AIA
ADAM DAY, AIA
KYLE HEFLIN, ASSOC. AIA
KATE EAST
CAROLINE HEFLIN
CONSULTANTS:
CRAFTON TULL
ECI
PETTIT & PETTIT
The 1950s Student Union at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, a beloved campus landmark, has undergone a transformative interior renovation to enhance functionality, accessibility, and the overall user experience after the exterior envelope was renovated in 2019. The design team made the bold de¬cision to relocate the building’s core from its deep, central location to a position just inside the facade, visible from the exterior. This strategic move dramatically improves navigation and clarity of space, al¬lowing natural light to penetrate deeper into the building. The introduction of the building’s first elevator ensures that all students, faculty, and visitors can easily access every level of the Student Union.
The second floor has been reimagined as an open, vibrant student hub, encouraging community in¬teraction and collaboration. The design team remained committed to celebrating the Student Union’s mid-century modern architectural heritage by restoring key elements, such as the exposed concrete ceil¬ing structure, while seamlessly integrating modern upgrades and amenities.
This transformative renovation creates a space that fosters a strong sense of community, encourages ac-ademic and personal growth, and serves as a source of pride for students, alumni, and the wider com¬munity. As the Student Union enters this new chapter, it is poised to remain a vital hub of campus life, honoring its rich past while embracing its bright future and securing its position as an enduring symbol of the university’s commitment to its students and legacy.
PHOTOGRAPHER RETT PEEK
MERIT AWARD | MARYGROVE EARLY EDUCATION CENTER
FIRM:
MARLON BLACKWELL
ARCHITECTS
CONTRACTOR:
BARTON MALOW BUILDERS
LOCATION: DETROIT, MI
OWNER/CLIENT:
MARYGROVE CONSERVANCY
PROJECT TEAM:
MARLON BLACKWELL, FAIA
MERYATI JOHARI BLACKWELL, AIA
JUSTIN HERSHBERGER, AIA
MARI MCLEOD, AIA
STEPHEN REYENGA
COLBY RITTER
CALLIE KESEL
LEONARDO LIEVA RIVERA
CONSULTANTS:
PETER BASSO ASSOCIATES
SDI STRUCTURES
GIFFELS WEBSTER
HEIDRUN HOPPE ASSOCIATES
MARGIE RUDDICK LANDSCAPE
TM LIG
The Marygrove Early Education Center (Marygrove EEC) is a state-of-the-art early childhood education center located on the campus of Marygrove College in the Livernois-McNichols district of northwest Detroit. Marygrove EEC supports 150 students up to five years of age from local neighborhoods, which reflects the diversity of the community. The Marygrove EEC extends the legacy of Marygrove as a beacon of education and contributes to its ongoing efforts to revitalize the surrounding neighborhood.
Set just east of the flagship building on the Marygrove campus, Marygrove EEC, the four-story Tudor Gothic Liberal Arts building from 1927, is both resonant and deferential, clad in terra-cotta within a low but distinct profile. Referring to the detail and heft of materials used in the Marygrove EEC’s neighbors and the broader memory of historic masonry structures in Detroit, the facade represents a progressive twenty-first-century application of a traditional building material. Colorful highlights are interspersed throughout the facade, providing a second layer of articulation that reflects the vibrancy of the children inside and the diversity of the surrounding community.
Three courtyards bring abundant natural light inside and highlight the journey from the entrance to the classrooms. Adjacent to the building entrance are resources for families and the community of caregivers within the neighborhood, including a Parent Lounge, Community Room, and the Flex Space. At the heart of the building, beside the central courtyard, is an informal community gathering space for school performances, meetings, and events. Each classroom has a view to the landscape, and south-facing rooms open directly onto a grove of trees that is now a large natural play space.
Through careful design and planning, the Marygrove EEC serves families and provides a safe, nurturing, and inspiring environment for children to grow socially, physically, and intellectually. The Marygrove EEC offers a place for children to experience the rhythm of the days and seasons, inspiring their imaginations, empowering them to learn through play and creativity. It imparts dignity, grace, and joy to the children, families, and community members that the center serves.
PHOTOGRAPHER TIMOTHY HURSLEY
MERIT AWARD | ARKANSAS MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
FIRM:
POLK STANLEY WILCOX ARCHITECTS
ADDITIONAL FIRM:
STUDIO GANG, CHICAGO
CONTRACTOR:
NABHOLZ, PEPPER, DOYNE
LOCATION: LITTLE ROCK, AR
OWNER/CLIENT:
ARKANSAS MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
PROJECT TEAM:
POLK STANLEY WILCOX PROJECT TEAM:
CINDY PRUITT, AIA
DAVID PORTER, AIA
WENDELL KINZLER, AIA
LAURA HENDRIX, ASID
DIAN BARTLETT, AIA
DAVID ROGERS, AIA
STUDIO GANG PROJECT TEAM:
JEANNE GANG, FAIA
JULIANE WOLF, AIA
MARGARET CAVENAGH, AIA
ANGELA PECKHAM
PAIGE ADAMS, NCIDQ
JILL DORAN
EMILY LICHT
AJ ROSALES, AIA
STANLEY SCHULTZ
DAVID SWAIN, AIA
ROLF TEMESVARI
PETER YI
WEN ZHOU.
CONSULTANTS:
SCAPE
THORNTON TOMASETT
MCCLELLAND CONSULTING ENGINEERS
DBHMS
ARUP
VENUE CONSULTING
LICHT KUNST LICHT
BROWNLEE AND MANN CONSULTING
Bringing together people, art, and nature, the design for the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts (AMFA) establishes a vibrant destination for culture and community in Little Rock. The reimag¬ined AMFA renews and reuses as many of the Museum’s existing buildings as possible, bringing them together as a harmonious whole. A new, connective space, running axially through the en¬tire building like a graceful stem, unifies and reorganizes the Museum’s functions and programs, and supports a seamless flow across the site. At each end, the stem blossoms outward, creating distinctive entrances and social spaces that embrace the revitalized landscape and city beyond.
While already a well-loved institution within Little Rock, the Museum had become a victim of its own success: seven additions had resulted in a fortress-like facility with inefficient circulation and a lack of connection to its surroundings. The client’s goal was to improve visitor experience and staff operations, open the building up to the surrounding park and city, and create a bold new visual identity, while also creating a sustainable building that could support a wider range of educational and public programs.
Constructed with a folded-plate, cast-in-place concrete roof that provides both visual interest and structural integrity, the new central addition unifies the eight existing structures and creates an intuitive organization for the Museum’s different functions and programs – including its galleries, art school, and theater, which were substantially renovated and reimagined.
With distinctive new entrances, the design addresses one of the project’s most significant chal¬lenges: opening the building up to its surroundings. Visitors arriving from the north are greeted by a new community gathering space, the Cultural Living Room. With its transparent facade and bold, uplifted form, the inviting space is conceived as a beacon that welcomes everyone inside.
At the south end, the building’s central stem emerges outward to form another entrance, orient¬ed toward MacArthur Park. More informal than its counterpart to the north, the Park Entrance steps down in height, along with the site’s topography, to meet visitors. The deep overhangs of the folded-plate roof create a sheltered dining terrace for the new indoor-outdoor restaurant, where people can socialize, relax, and enjoy the revitalized landscape and Sculpture Garden beyond.
Building on the project’s environmental stewardship, the design also ensured that the most car¬bon-intensive elements of the Museum’s existing additions were reused and renewed: the original structure and foundations, which are made of concrete and steel. Together with other sustainable strategies, such as the self-shading roof, efficient radiant heating and cooling system, and inno¬vative rainwater recycling system, the project is on track to achieve LEED Silver certification, an impressive achievement for an adaptive reuse project in the hot climate of the American South.
PHOTOGRAPHER IWAN BAAN
MERIT AWARD | SENSING THE FOREST
FIRM:
URBAN DESIGN BUILD STUDIO (UDBS)
CONTRACTOR:
NABHOLZ CONSTRUCTION AND URBAN DESIGN BUILD STUDIO (UDBS)
LOCATION: HOT SPRINGS, AR
OWNER/CLIENT:
GARVAN WOODLAND GARDENS
PROJECT TEAM:
JOHN FOLAN AIA, UDBS DIRECTOR
DAVID KENNEDY, AIA
MARY BETH BARR, ASSOC. AIA
ETHAN THOMAS
THOMAS ROHRBACH
JUSTIN TUCKER
COREY BOOTH
ANGELA CARPENTER
SALLY SENN
GAVIN CLARK
NATHANIEL IZARD
MAX HOLT
JAKE COCKE
SARAH MYANE
CONSULTANTS:
TATUM SMITH WELCHER
Sensing the Forest is a pilot project employing mass timber and structural strategies that will be incorporated into the Whipple Family Forest Education Center. The installation is constructed from a series of nail-laminated timber columns, beams, and baffles. Elements on the exterior are protected with a mirror finish stainless steel rain screen, reflecting its surroundings to dematerialize the formal qualities of the installation. Interior elements are finished with regionally sourced cypress that has been treated using the traditional Japanese method of shou-sugi ban (yakisugi), a natural process that protects the material from insects, rot, and elements. The charred space created inside ‘Sensing the Forest’ provides a focused experience for visitors in contrast to the exterior that is similar to that of occupying a hollowed-out tree. The duality of material juxtapositions between interior to exterior is inspired by Lewis Carroll’s fictional character Alice Pleasance Liddell peering into and making her way “through the looking-glass.”
PHOTOGRAPHER URBAN DESIGN BUILD STUDIO (UDBS)
MERIT AWARD | MOORE HOUSE
FIRM:
SKILES ARCHITECT PA
CONTRACTOR: ELY CONSTRUCTION
LOCATION: FAYETTEVILLE, AR
OWNER/CLIENT:
HEATHER AND BOBBY MOORE
PROJECT TEAM:
LISA K. SKILES, AIA
ALBERT B. SKILES
The Moore House, with its inward focused plan, seamlessly blends with the landscape and ensures privacy, while also achieving a balance between design and affordability. Designed for a family of four, the home sits on a small corner lot at the base of hill in an established and eclectic neighborhood in the heart of Fayetteville, Arkansas.
The compact home reflects a collaboration that prioritized minimal, well-composed, and functional spaces. Despite challenges like a steep site and tight budget, the architecture embraces the family’s lifestyle with minimalist detailing and graceful transitions from inside to outside. Inside, flooded with daylight and featuring vaulted ceilings, the home offers a spacious and serene retreat. A cohesive material palette of exposed concrete floors, laminated pine beams with white and maple cabinets adds to the tranquil atmosphere. Complemented by exterior cedar rain screen and a central tall porch, the design fosters a harmonious connection with the surrounding landscape and sky.
A simple plan and singular shed roof, wrapped in dark metal skin, serves as a backdrop to the regionally sourced cedar elements and is balanced with the bright interior. Carefully placed windows and a central porch enhance day lighting and framed views, while the cascading floor plan seamlessly integrates with its site. Fabricating the architectural design, the homeowner constructed front steps as an ode to his skill in metal fabrication and shared passion for precise detailing. The efficient building footprint incorporates flexible spaces, including an art-making niche within the open living plan. The Moore House provides its family with a modern and serene retreat in the heart of the city.
PHOTOGRAPHER DANIEL MOODY PHOTOS
2023 MEMBERS’ CHOICE AWARD | LITTLE ROCK POLICE DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS
FIRM: WDD ARCHITECTS
CONTRACTOR:
BALDWIN & SHELL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
PROJECT TEAM:
CHAD YOUNG, AIA
EARNEST DUCKERY, ASSOC. AIA
GORDON DUCKWORTH, AIA
MEGAN DYKMA
Little Rock Police Department is a glass and steel addition and renovation to the 1921 brick and concrete structure of the McFadden Building across the street from the previous headquarters. Designed to conveny a modern police force image, the goal was to distinctively layer the façade to provide openness and natural lighting from the glass, but with a perforated metal cladding and sunshades that give a distinctive “amorred” look.
MERIT AWARD | JUSTICE BUILDING ADDITION & RENOVATION
FIRM: AMR ARCHITECTS
ADDITIONAL FIRM: BRACKETT KRENNERICH
CONTRACTOR: WAGNER GENERAL CONTRACTORS
LOCATION: LITTLE ROCK, AR
OWNER/CLIENT:
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS & TSS-DIVISION OF BUILDING AUTHORITY
PROJECT TEAM:
HEATHER DAVIS, AIA
JONATHAN OPITZ, AIA
KYLE HEFLIN, AIA
KATE EAST
JAMES SULLIVAN, AIA
KYLE COOK, AIA
TODD WELCH, AIA
STEVE SCHOETTLE
CAROLINE HEFLIN
CONSULTANTS:
PETTIT & PETTIT
ECI
CRAFTON TULL
SPLITROCK STUDIOS
The Justice Building Addition exemplifies the principles of transparency and the vital connection between the judiciary and the other branches of government. The architecture serves as a symbol, reinforcing the importance of the judicial arm in upholding the rule of law and ensuring justice for all. The new north and south wings seamlessly integrate with the original 1958 mid-century structure, elegantly framing the iconic 1976 glass-enclosed rotunda.
The strategic placement of the eastern fins, echoing the number of supreme court justices, opens the eastern facade to offer direct views of the Capitol while creating a dynamic experience of shadow and light from both interior and exterior. This visual connection serves as a poignant reminder of the interdependence and checks and balances between the judicial and legislative branches.
A new public entrance welcomes visitors to the learning center, where carefully crafted layered views through the museum and meeting areas draw the eye towards the capitol building. The addition creates a space that serves the functional needs of the judiciary while also inspiring and educating the public about the critical role of the judicial system in our democracy.
PHOTOGRAPHER TIMOTHY HURSLEY
FINALIST | PS1200
FIRM:
MARLON BLACKWELL ARCHITECTS
CONTRACTOR: PGP CONSTRUCTION
LOCATION:
FORT WORTH, TX
OWNER/CLIENT:
KAFKA PROPERTIES & PRINCE CONCEPTS
PROJECT TEAM:
MARLON BLACKWELL, FAIA
MERYATI JOHARI BLACKWELL, AIA
CONSULTANTS:
ROOT ENGINEERING SERVICES
DATUM ENGINEERS
THE SADLER GROUP
SALCEDO GROUP, INC.
D.I.R.T. STUDIO
STUDIO OUTSIDE
PS1200 embodies the vibrant, eclectic nature of Magnolia Village, a centrally located, mixed use neigh¬borhood in Fort Worth, Texas. Slowly brought back to life over the last 30 years, Magnolia Village has a small-town Main Street appeal with a wide range of dining, retail, and other businesses that contribute to a thriving community now recognized as one of the ‘Great Places in America’ by the American Planning Association.
Where so many new developments fill their entire site, PS1200 is restrained, turning nearly half of the busy corner site over to public space that is generously filled with an array of native tree species, especially Pond Cypress. Providing shade throughout the plaza that connects the restaurant, gallery and retail at the ground level, trees fill in the gaps between locally sourced stone paving that has a decidedly ancient char¬acter. Evocative of the ancient geology of the site, the ground is porous, carefully collecting and returning rainwater to the aquifer and the watershed of the Trinity River nearby.
Building on several of Prince Concepts’ past projects, PS1200 uses the venerable Quonset hut whose struc¬ture and strength comes from the corrugation of its metal skin. The potential and beauty of these simple structures has often been overlooked, relegated to industrial use, but through deliberate care and design, an inspiring new life and dignity is introduced, elevating something prosaic and humble into something noble.
The public face of PS1200 includes a new restaurant in one freestanding building and grab and go café and exhibit gallery in another. As a generous single story, these spaces are wrapped with the same corru¬gated ‘galvalume’ metal skin of the live work units but turned on its side. Deep overhangs provide gen¬erous entries and protection from the often-intense Texas climate. The durable, industrial character is softened and complemented by gently curved corners and banks of glass that face into the tree-filled park.
Behind the restaurant and gallery, the live work units rise to a generous three stories, the rolling rhythm of the roofline evoking the shape of the Kimbell Art Museum nearby in Fort Worth. The central space of the plaza expands into a pedestrian alley leading to office and retail bays, each separated by stone walls. With discreet entries from the west, the apartments all overlook the tree-filled public park to the east. Abundant daylight fills the vaulted space of the lofts, each two and a half stories with custom plywood enclosures for the kitchen, restroom, and storage. The combination of ancient and modern materials gives PS1200 a timeless character, one that remembers a powerful past and imagines an exciting future.
PS1200 embodies the benefits of contemporary city life — working, living, and relaxing in one beauti¬ful, convenient, and central location. At once exuberant and restrained, PS1200 is a generous addition to the already vivid fabric and of Magnolia Village. Serving an intensely diverse and growing community through its inventive approach to balancing public and private, PS1200 is a prototype for thoughtful and inclusive development nationally.
PHOTOGRAPHER TIMOTHY HURSLEY
FINALIST | STERLING MARKET
FIRM: CROMWELL ARCHITECTS ENGINEERS
CONTRACTOR: CANYON
CONSTRUCTION GROUP
LOCATION:
LITTLE ROCK, AR
OWNER/CLIENT: FIDEL SAMOUR
PROJECT TEAM:
COREY EDWARDS, AIA
JOANN WICKES, ASID
CONSULTANTS:
CROMWELL ARCHITECTS ENGINEERS
Sterling Market revitalizes a historic 4,256 SF space. The restaurant offers diverse dining options, including individual stations, a grab-and-go section, and traditional seating, catering to various customer needs.
A key feature of Sterling Market is the thoughtful integration of historical elements. The building’s legacy as Sterling Paint is honored through various design choices, such as the paint can wall above the banquettes, which features rotating paint cans as a nod to the building’s past. The restaurant logo, bar front tile, and dynamic space angles also reference the Sterling star, subtly blending history with modern design. These elements ensure that the building’s story remains a central part of the new restaurant’s identity.
The exterior of the restaurant features a new, dynamic awning that enhances street presence and invites customers into the space. The awning connects the two distinct parts of the restaurant (market hall and beer garden). The original loading dock roof was replaced with this architectural element to activate the street and draw attention to the new eatery. The resulting patio is equipped with heaters, fans, outdoor furniture, and screens for year-round dining. The modern beer hall is a multi-purpose space that accommodates live music performances, casual seating arrangements, screens for event viewing - all under an operable glass roof system that makes the space all-season. While enjoying the local outdoor music and entertainment scene, visitors have access to a quick service outdoor bar that features soft lighting, modern design, and sleek lines accentuating the buildings history. Inside, the market hall, accommodates various dining experiences, from intimate tables to a lively custom designed community table. This walnut table spans nearly 20 linear feetsupported by a steel beam between two existing concrete columns.
The market hall booths offer custom design vignettes- each customized for the type of fare created there. For instance, the butcher shop features all of the facilities to cut, season, and dry-age locally sourced meat products in house. The design team worked collaboratively from the project’s inception to refine the initial space plan, developed the station organization, and coordinated millwork and equipment.
PHOTOGRAPHER
FINALIST | PINNACLE MOUNTAIN STATE PARK VISITOR CENTER
FIRM:
POLK STANLEY WILCOX ARCHITECTS
CONTRACTOR:
CDI CONTRACTORS
LOCATION: LITTLE ROCK, AR
OWNER/CLIENT:
ARKANSAS STATE PARKS
PROJECT TEAM:
REESE ROWLAND, FAIA
AMANDA STURGELL, AIA
WENDELL KINZLER, AIA
DIAN BARTLETT, AIA
DAVID ROGERS, AIA
ALEX WARD,ASID NCIDQ
JIM THACKER
CONSULTANTS:
MCCLELLAND CONSULTING ENGINEERS INC.
ECOLOGICAL DESIGN GROUP
ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS INC.
PETTIT AND PETTIT CONSULTING ENGINEERS INC.
Of the 52 State Parks that grace the state of Arkansas, Pinnacle Mountain State Park is unique in that it sits adjacent to the capital city of Little Rock, which has grown to border the park. With over 750,000 people living in the metro area, Pinnacle Mountain may be for many their only experience with visiting a State Park; 600,000 people visit this park each year. While the park offers geographic characteristics found in the state from steep cliffs to wetlands, the park’s most prominent feature, and one of the state’s as well, is the mountain itself. Climbing to the summit is a rite of passage for many children with their parents, and its trails are covered with people each day.
While other state parks in the Ozark and Ouachita mountains have a variety of historic lodges and structures from the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) period that set their architectural style, Pinnacle Mountain did not have a precedent; its urban connection, and the younger city patrons that canoe, kayak, hike, climb and bike the mountain said it should connect in a different way. State Parks desired a building that fit seamlessly with the mountain, as part of the mountain. For those that have not ventured past this park, this Visitor Center needed to be not only a gateway to Pinnacle, but to all of State Parks.
In studying the site as long time patrons, the most striking feature is a vein of rocks that runs from the peak down the mountain to a clearing that became the perfect location for access to trails, lower park amenities, and highway 300. The design solution creates three rock “outcroppings” of functional spaces spread along the grade at this vein, all under one undulating roof canopy that reacts to the terrain and weaves through the actual tree canopy. Under that roof canopy, two buildings form a gateway for the trail opening to the mountain and the lobby. Reception, gifts, and exhibits all view the mountain through a continuous glass wall enclosure where education occurs inside/out to connect visitors visually, physically, and spiritually to the mountain. The Loblolly Outpost sits free under the canopy, offering visitors an outdoor café setting to celebrate conquering the summit. The roof is lifted to match the mountain’s slope to open the view up, direct water to the downward slope, and limit the view of the roof from above and below the mountain. Glass reflects nature by day but creates a dynamic open pavilion at night for returning hikers. The glulam beams structural bracing pattern at the roof emulates the organic order seen in nature.
The Pinnacle Mountain Visitor Center blends perfectly into the mountain as both gateway and destination with a progressive language that bridges the urban and natural environments.
PHOTOGRAPHER TIMOTHY HURSLEY
2024 | CHAPTER AWARDS
PRESERVE ARKANSAS |
AWARD
OF MERIT
The Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas – now known as Preserve Arkansas – was founded in 1981 by a group of people who believed in the importance of saving our state’s historic places in order to preserve our rich heritage and to enhance our quality of life. The organization aimed to promote historic preservation across the state, coordinate the efforts of local preservation groups, and provide educational opportunities. Preserve Arkansas continues this work today and remains the only statewide nonprofit advocate for historic preservation.
More than just saving old buildings, historic preservation offers unique economic, environmental, and quality of life benefits to Arkansas communities. Preserve Arkansas works to build stronger communities by reconnecting Arkansans to our heritage and empowering people to save and rehabilitate historic places.
With the support of our membership, Preserve Arkansas works to improve the State and Federal Historic Tax Credit incentives, save endangered places, provide resources for property owners and community leaders, and secure additional funding for critical preservation programs at all levels of government. Through its Cy Sutherland and Charles and Becky Witsell Endowments, Preserve Arkansas supports scholarships for architecture students interested in historic preservation and for people pursuing continuing education in preservation and historic trades. The organization also offers a wide variety of educational programs and events, including the Arkansas Preservation Awards, Behind the Big House, Dollars and Sense of Historic Preservation, Mid Mod Arkansas, Preservation Crustaceans, Preservation Ramble, and Women in Preservation. Learn more and support Preserve Arkansas by visiting PreserveArkansas.org.
TALICIA RICHARDSON | AWARD OF MERIT
Talicia is the former Executive Director of 64.6 Downtown, a non-profit organization specializing in creative placement in downtown Fort Smith. Under her leadership, she led the effort to rebranding 64.6 Downtown as Main Street Fort Smith, increased the activation of Riverfront Park with the Levitt AMP Fort Smith Music Series, built community awareness of arts and cultural impact of various communities through Black, Asian Pacific Islander, and Hispanic-Latino Heritage Months, and obtained National Main Street accreditation. In addition, her tenure was launched when the Arkansas Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA) granted the Achievement in Comprehensive Plan Development Award to the Propelling Downtown Forward Plan.
Talicia understands business and the keys to success in the workplace and marketplace. She has acquired a wealth of knowledge crossing multiple business disciplines possessing over 20 years of experience in operations, quality control, and counseling in the industries of hospitality and health care. Her experience and infectious enthusiasm engages all levels of an organization, from CEO to line employees. She is committed to passing the knowledge she has attained over the years to others. A graduate of a private historically black all-female institution, Spelman College, majoring in Sociology, Talicia attained a Master’s of Science from the University of Arkansas in Counseling. Talicia holds a Professional Community Economic Developer Certification and recently expanded her journey into the private practice setting of mental health therapy and business consulting.
Her love for Fort Smith and downtown is known across the State and beyond. She has shared the story of Fort Smith in North Little Rock’s Argenta, Vancouver, Canada, Boston, and Tampa. In 2023, Talicia was named one of the Top 100 Women of Impact in Arkansas by the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas, Little Rock Soiree and Arkansas Business Publishing Group.
Talicia is serving her third term on the Fort Smith School Board, an advisory board member with the UCA Community Development Institute, Arkansans for the Arts, former Advertising & Promotion commissioner, DEI committee member with Fort Kids Museum, and member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Her philosophy simply stated is “how can we work together with kindness and respect while sustaining a greater a place for all to coexist.” Talicia resides in Fort Smith with her husband of 30 years, State Representative Jay Richardson. They have two children, Yuri and Jag.
LORI YAZWINSKI SANTA-RITA, AIA | DICK SAVAGE AWARD
Lori has been a partner at Jennings+Santa-Rita Architects in Fayetteville since 2015. She served as the 2019 AIA Arkansas President, is a founding member of Women in Architecture Arkansas, and was a member of the AIA National Strategic Council as the Arkansas representative from 2021-2023. After graduating Magna Cum Laude from the University of Arkansas in 2005, Lori was appointed to the City of Fayetteville Environmental Action Committee and, over the years, has been involved in vari¬ous nonprofits throughout the state. Lori’s dedication to the profession of architecture and community service was recognized by the AIA Arkansas 2018 Emerging Professional Award, as well as a FJSOA+D alumni award in 2022. She was included in the Northwest Arkansas Business Journals 40 under 40 in 2015 and featured in the Women Make Arkansas publication by Et Alia Press in 2019. She is currently in¬volved in Theatre Squared as the secretary of the Corporate Council Steering Committee in addition to teaching Professional Practice at the FJSOA+D. Lori enjoys being involved in various outreach initiatives using her craft to engage with others on the subjects of architecture and equity.
ERNEST BANKS, ASSOC. AIA | DIVERSITY AWARD
Driven by a commitment to inclusivity in design, Ernest has dedicated his career to empowering underrepresented students to pursue architecture. Born in Little Rock, he recognized early on the need for greater diversity in the field and uses this awareness to create spaces and opportunities that reflect the rich diversity of his community.
While studying at the Fay Jones School of Architecture, Ernest became actively involved with his NOMA (National Organization of Minority Architects) Chapter. Through NOMA, he worked to raise awareness about issues of inclusion, opportunity, and equity within the broader architecture profession and their im¬pact on communities. This experience fueled his desire to return to his hometown and engage with local government through architectural advocacy, ultimately leading him to found RISE (Reinvest in Students Everywhere). This non-profit scholarship program is aimed at inspiring underserved students to pursue careers in architecture.
Since its launch, RISE has made a significant impact by providing scholarships and opportunities outside the classroom to more than 70 students. Through RISE, Ernest continues to demonstrate that architecture can be a powerful tool for community empowerment and development. He remains committed to shaping the future of Arkansas by encouraging young people to actively participate in the design and development of their communities.
TIMOTHY VARNER, AIA | EMERGING PROFESSIONALS
Tim has been actively involved in leadership positions within AIA Arkansas at both the State and Section levels since 2017. In addition to his devotion to the craft of Architecture, Tim has been involved with introducing local students to the profession and advocating for them to pursue a career in Architecture. Tim regularly takes time to host job shadows and visit local schools to engage and provide advice to students.
A graduate of Leadership Fort Smith Class of 2023, Tim chairs the Future Fort Smith Committee which is responsible for implementation of the City’s 10-year Strategic Plan. Tim also spearheaded a very successful tactical urbanism project to test out revitalization ideas in Downtown Van Buren and recently worked with the City of Fort Smith’s CBID developing ways to improve connection and safety in the downtown area.
While serving many leadership roles within AIA Arkansas. Tim is probably best known to many of you for his role in the Virtual Speaker programs of 2020 and 2021. Tim’s interviews with speakers after lectures kept members engaged and speakers appreciative of the opportunity to further discuss their work here in Arkansas.
Tim has also served as Graphics Chair and Design Awards Chair for the AIA Arkansas Convention, but more importantly, he has remained a driving force in the Fort Smith Section serving as both Section Chair and Program Chair. Tim knows the value of strong and trusted relationships in a community and never misses a chance to include AIA Arkansas Allied Members or engage community partners in the profession of Architecture.
CHRIS EAST, AIA | MICHAEL LEJONG LEADERSHIP AWARD
Chris East is a principal at Cromwell and a licensed architect with over 20 years of experience. He is a grad¬uate of the Fay Jones School of Architecture at the University of Arkansas and is an Accredited Learning Environment Planner (ALEP).
Chris has been actively involved in leading design-related community issues including the recent Down¬town Little Rock Masterplan’s Development, Density, and Urban Design Task Force. He has also co-chaired the Greater Little Rock Chamber of Commerce’s Think Big program, Little Rock War Memorial Park taskforce, and studioMAIN’s advocacy efforts to improve the I-30 corridor project, 30 Crossing. Chris has worked closely with the city of Little Rock to change the municipal code to be more walkable, dense, and streamline the planning, development and approval process.
Chris is a founding member of StudioMain whose mission is to Educate, Collaborate, Advocate and Chal¬lenge Convention. In 2012, Chris led the very first PopUp in the Rock (PopUp Main St. at the time) which re-imagined South Main Street (SOMA) and installed temporary shops, bike lanes, and urban street ame¬nities. It was such a success the City of Little Rock made it permanent, and it was an early contributor to SOMA’s revitalization.
Chris has been involved in various roles within AIA Arkansas since 2008 when he was the Central Section Chair. He is currently serving as the Treasurer. He is grateful to donate his time to an organization that promotes critical design thinking when not just planning buildings, but how it affects our cities, environ¬ment, and society.
GALEN HUNTER, AIA | FAY JONES GOLD MEDAL
Galen Hunter is a Principal at MAHG Architecture in Fort Smith where he was one of the founding part¬ners in the firm after merging his predecessor firm, Anderson Hunter Architects, with longtime Fort Smith architecture firm Mott Mobley McGowan & Griffin. He has been engaged in architectural practice for more than four decades. He received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Arkansas School of Architecture in 1983 where he was awarded the Tau Sigma Delta Bronze Medal for Design and Leadership.
Upon beginning practice in Fort Smith, Hunter focused predominantly on medical and residential design before beginning to design newspaper plants for the Donrey Media Group. These projects were located across the country with a focus on the West Coast and Hawaii. This relationship with the Donrey Me¬dia Group took a turn when Anderson Hunter Architects began to work on projects at what was then known as Westark College. This combination of client relationships resulted in Donrey funding the Cross Campus Mall/Campus Green and Belltower, which became the first project ever funded by what became known as the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation. The Reynolds Foundation went on to fund many projects across the country.
After merging his firm in 1994, Hunter’s focus began to shift to publicly funded projects including higher education, K-12 education, libraries, and planning. These planning projects allowed Hunter to focus on how communities and campuses could transform the built environment by engaging and incorporating the ideas and dreams of stakeholders. When downtown Fort Smith was struck by a tornado in 1996, he was chosen to work with the community to develop a master plan for the development of Fort Smith’s River¬front. This led Hunter to be on the team that negotiated with the Kansas City Southern Railroad to donate property for the first 6 miles of the River Trail along the Arkansas River. He also was a key advocate for the passage of a ½ cent sales tax to fund the implementation of the master plan.
While continuing to grow his practice, Hunter was encouraged to become active in AIA Arkansas by part¬ner Larry McGowan. Based on this encouragement, Hunter has gone on to serve as Fort Smith Section President, AIA Arkansas Convention Chair, AIA Arkansas Design Awards Chair, AIA Arkansas Chapter President, and currently serves as AIA Arkansas Senior Board Member.
His involvement in the community includes Co-Chair of the inaugural Future Fort Smith Committee, Co-Chair of the City of Fort Smith Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee, Chair of the Community Development Advisory Committee, and Chair of the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority Real Estate Committee. He has served as an instructor for the Women In Construction Constructions Basics Course at Westark College and been a repeat guest lecturer on construction delivery at the UA School of Engi¬neering.
Galen is an accomplished watercolor artist and urban sketcher and has studied under Stephanie Bower in Civita di Bagnoregio, Italy, and Rovinj Croatia, James Richards in Lucca, Italy, Rita Sabler in Pau, France, and has studied the buildings of Palladio in northern Italy with Australian architect and artist Liz Steele. Galen and his wife Risa reside in Fort Smith and have a daughter Carson and a son Marshall.
2024 | REMAINING PROJECTS
PROJECT: 600 MAIN
FIRM: TAGGART ARCHITECTS
CONTRACTOR: NABHOLZ
LOCATION: NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR
PROJECT: ARGENTA PARKLETS
FIRM: AMR ARCHITECTS
CONTRACTOR: ALESSI KEYES
LOCATION: NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR
PROJECT: PROJECT B.O.B.
FIRM: POLK STANLEY WILCOX ARCHITECTS
CONTRACTOR: NABHOLZ CONSTRUCTION
LOCATION: BENTONVILLE, AR
PROJECT: AIRSHIP COFFEE
FIRM: JENNINGS + SANTA-RITA ARCHITECTS, PLLC
CONTRACTOR: MILESTONE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, LLC
LOCATION: BENTONVILLE, AR
PROJECT: ARGENTA PLAZA
FIRM: TAGGART ARCHITECTS
CONTRACTOR: ALESSI KEYES
LOCATION: NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR
PROJECT: BIG ROCK QUARRY PARK
FIRM: TAGGART ARCHITECTS
CONTRACTOR: N/A
LOCATION: NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR
2024 | REMAINING PROJECTS
PROJECT: CENTENNIAL PARK PAVILION
FIRM: MODUS STUDIO
CONTRACTOR: CROSSLAND CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
LOCATION: FAYETTEVILLE, AR
PROJECT: EDEN’S BLUFF
FIRM: JENNINGS + SANTA-RITA ARCHITECTS, PLLC
CONTRACTOR: STRONGHOLD, LLC
LOCATION: LOWELL, AR
PROJECT: KIDS SPOT THERAPY CLINIC
FIRM: SCM ARCHITECTS
CONTRACTOR: CDI CONTRACTORS
LOCATION: SPRINGDALE, AR
PROJECT: CORDIA HARRINGTON CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE
FIRM: CORE ARCHITECTS INC.
CONTRACTOR: VCC
LOCATION: FAYETTEVILLE, AR
PROJECT: GREENLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT
ADMINISTRATION OFFICE
FIRM: MODUS STUDIO
CONTRACTOR: KINCO CONSTRUCTORS
LOCATION: GREENLAND, AR
PROJECT: MOUNTAIN HOME HIGH SCHOOL
FIRM: MODUS STUDIO
CONTRACTOR: N/A
LOCATION: MOUNTAIN HOME, AR
2024 | REMAINING PROJECTS
PROJECT: MUSSER HOME
FIRM: STOKE ARCHITECTURE
CONTRACTOR: STONE HARBOR CUSTOM HOMES
LOCATION: FAYETTEVILLE, AR
PROJECT: SIMMONS BANKING PAVILION
FIRM: POLK STANLEY WILCOX ARCHITECTS
CONTRACTOR: FLYNCO, INC.
LOCATION: WHITE HALL, AR
PROJECT: SRYGLEY RESIDENCE
FIRM: MARLON BLACKWELL ARCHITECTS
CONTRACTOR: NEAL HEFNER CONSTRUCTION
LOCATION: FAYETTEVILLE, AR
PROJECT: NEW HOPE THERAPY CLINIC
FIRM: TAYLOR KEMPKES ARCHITECTS
CONTRACTOR: HARRISON CONSTRUCTION
LOCATION: HOT SPRINGS, AR
PROJECT: SOUTH ARKANSAS ARTS CENTER ADDITION
FIRM: MICHAEL ROGERS DESIGNS LLC
CONTRACTOR: IDEAL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
LOCATION: EL DORADO, AR
PROJECT: THE GARDENS OF SOMERSET, A P. ALLEN SMITH INSPIRED LIVING COMMUNITY
FIRM: CROMWELL ARCHITECTS ENGINEERS
CONTRACTOR: HARCO CONSTRUCTORS – INITIAL CONTRACTOR
J.S. HELD CONSTRUCTION MANAGERS – COMPLETION CONTRACTOR
LOCATION: MONROE, LA
2024 | REMAINING PROJECTS
PROJECT: THE ORTHOPAEDIC & SPINE HOSPITAL AT UAMS HEALTH
FIRM: CROMWELL ARCHITECTS ENGINEERS
CONTRACTOR: NABHOLZ CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION
LOCATION: LITTLE ROCK, AR
PROJECT: UNITY HEALTH JACKSONVILLE
FIRM: TAGGART ARCHITECTS
CONTRACTOR: DAVID PAUL BUILDERS
LOCATION: JACKSONVILLE, AR
PROJECT: WOLFE RESIDENCE
FIRM: DEMX ARCHITECTURE
CONTRACTOR:GB GROUP CONSTRUCTION
LOCATION: FAYETTEVILLE, AR
PROJECT: UAMS RADIOLOGY ONCOLOGY CENTER
FIRM: WDD ARCHITECTS
CONTRACTOR: KINCO CONSTRUCTORS
LOCATION: LITTLE ROCK, AR
PROJECT: WINDGATE CENTER FOR FINE & PERFORMING ARTS
FIRM: WER ARCHITECTS
CONTRACTOR: BALDWIN & SHELL
LOCATION: CONWAY, AR
PROJECT: THE HOWARD FIRM: HUFFT
CONTRACTOR: DAVE GRUNDFEST COMPANY
LOCATION: BENTONVILLE, AR
2024 | AIA AWARD JUDGES
CARISIMA KOENIG, AIA | PERKINS EASTMAN
As a College and University Practice Leader and Partner at Perkins Eastman, Carisima leads dynamic teams of strategists, architects, and planners focused on transforming the campus experience through the built environment. She works with college and university leadership, planning and designing spaces which address the many and often shifting needs of academic institutions.
In addition to her work in practice, she is an Adjunct Associate Professor and Director of Practice of the Graduate Architecture and Urban Design Program in the School of Architecture at Pratt Institute where she develops curriculum, mentors students and works with academic and campus leadership. Her practice and teaching examines the mutually forming relationships within and across design, practice, and the built environment.
Current research explores the complex forces, including public understanding, of bringing a built work of architecture into the world. This evolving body of knowledge is interested in creating conversations around the multiple possibilities for the future of architectural practice. Carisima has been asked to speak locally and nationally from the Columbia University to University of Massachusetts - Amherst.
ANDREW THOMPSON, AIA, NOMAC, LEED AP BD+C | PASSAIC COUNTY, NJ ARCHITECT
Mr. Thompson is the Passaic County Architect in New Jersey. Projects range from historic restoration projects, courthouse renovations and building infrastructure improvements. He served as the Director of Campus Operations for the former New Community College (now Charles and Stella Guttman Community College) at the City University of New York (CUNY), was the Chief Architect for Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and worked for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on airport improvements and transportation systems at JFK and Newark airports.
Mr. Thompson is currently the President-Elect for AIA New Jersey. Andrew serves as a member of the NOMA Council and was a past President of NYCOBA-NOMA. He was a Visiting Professor at Pratt Institute’s Undergraduate School of Architecture. He has a Bachelor of Architecture Degree from Pratt Institute and a Masters in Architecture and Urban Design from Columbia University.
FAHIR BURAK UNEL, RA, AIA, NCARB | CANNONDESIGN
F. Burak Unel, RA, AIA, NCARB, is an architect, educator, and computational technologist licensed in New York and California with over a decade of experience practicing internationally, and a volunteer consultant for NGOs that empower disenfranchised communities through design and advocacy.
Currently based in New York City, Burak holds a B.Arch. degree from Syracuse University, an M. Arch. II in advanced building technologies from Cornell University, and a portfolio that spans institutional, commercial office, mixed-use, cultural, and healthcare projects across multiple US and global markets.
Burak further dedicates his time to mentorship programs at the national level, and works in collaboration with organizations like NCARB to tackle issues of education and licensure in architecture, while contributing think-pieces to architectural publications like Metropolis magazine. He is Co-chair of the Emerging New York Architects (ENYA) Committee at AIA New York, a member of the Civic Leadership Program (CLP) Advisory Taskforce, and a member of the TORCH Executive Committee.
DEBORAH VERNE, AIA, LEED BD&C | FCARCHITECTS
With over 30 years of experience in project design and delivery, Deborah is a seasoned professional who brings a comprehensive suite of management skills to every endeavor. Her portfolio spans a variety of project and building types, including healthcare, behavioral health, transit, and corporate interiors, with a particular emphasis on higher education and science & technology projects.
Deborah has collaborated with prestigious institutions such as Pace University, Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, the New York Institute of Technology, and several campuses within the SUNY system. Her expertise ranges from the meticulous renovation of historic university buildings to the development of new children’s behavioral health campuses. Deborah’s deep understanding of the multifaceted elements that contribute to a successful project, combined with her passion for close collaboration, enables her to create beautiful, functional, and cost-effective spaces that align with her clients’ strategic goals.
