2014 People’s Choice Awards

Guests socialize prior to the presentation of the 2014 People's Choice Awards, October 15 at the Oregon Contemporary Theatre in Eugene (my photo)

 

Each year, the American Institute of Architects, Southwestern Oregon Chapter (AIA-SWO) in collaboration with the Willamette Valley Section of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) sponsors the People’s Choice Awards for Architecture. These awards aim to educate and inspire our fellow citizens by showcasing architecture, interiors and landscape architecture projects created within the Southwestern Oregon Chapter area by AIA or ASLA members. The program demonstrates to the public the role of the architectural profession in enhancing the built environment. 

 

Unlike previous years where the People’s Choice Awards balloting occurred during the Eugene Celebration(1), AIA-SWO asked the public to vote for their favorite designs at the Lane County Home Improvement Show, which took place October 10-12 at the Lane Events Center. A total of 30 entrants organized in nine categories comprised the display. 

 

The show proved to be an excellent opportunity for AIA-SWO and ASLA members to showcase their best recent projects, as a record number paused to enjoy the People’s Choice exhibit. Ultimately, the organizing committee gathered 350 completed ballots, tallied the votes, and identified the following winning projects: 

 

SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE

First Place: Rose Cottage - Willard C. Dixon, Architect

Second Place: Coburg Hills House – Arbor South Architecture 

 

MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING

First Place: The Andy – 2fORM Architecture

Second Place: Eagle Landing Apartments – Bergsund Delaney Architecture & Planning PC 

 

COMMERCIAL

First Place: Hop Valley Tasting Room – envelop design

Second Place: Wildcraft Cider Works – Willard C. Dixon, Architect 

 

PUBLIC/INSTITUTIONAL

Veterans Affairs Clinic, White City, OR – Rowell Brokaw Architects 

 

INTERIORS

Arbor South Office – Arbor South Architecture 

 

PUBLIC/INSTITUTIONAL LANDSCAPE

First Place: WJ Skatepark + Urban Plaza – City of Eugene Public Works 
Second Place: Opal Whiteley Park - Architectural Associates and Andrea Mull

 

RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPE

First Place: “Fire & Light” – Stangeland &Associates, Inc.

Second Place: “Star Farm” – Lovinger Robertson Landscape Architects 

 

UNBUILT PROJECTS

First Place: Connors Garden House – Willard C. Dixon, Architect

Second Place: 33 East Broadway – Rowell Brokaw Architects 

 

STUDENT PROJECTS

First Place: Eugene Riverfront Arts Center – Daniel Rosenthal

Second Place: Whidbey Island Visitor Center – Eli Nafziger 

 

Hop Valley Tasting Room by envelōp design , winner of both a 2014 People's Choice Award and a 2014 Colleague's Choice Award

 

Ancillary to the People’s Choice Awards were two additional programs that have likewise become annual mainstays for AIA-SWO. 

 

The “Colleague’s Choice” vote is meant to be a fun way for our AIA-SWO and ASLA members to weigh in on the question of which of their peers’ projects are most worthy of recognition. 

 

For the fourth year in a row, Eugene mayor Kitty Piercy presented her “Mayor’s Choice” awards. An enthusiastic public advocate for design excellence, sustainability, and smart growth, Kitty is a great friend of the local design community. 

 

Here’s the listing of the recipients of the Colleague’s Choice and Mayor’s Choice awards: 

 

COLLEAGUES’ CHOICE AWARDS

• Hop Valley Tasting Room – envelōp design
• The Andy – 2fORM Architecture
• Fineline House – STUDIO-e architecture

MAYOR’S CHOICE AWARDS

• WJ Skatepark + Urban Plaza – City of Eugene Public Works
• Arbor South Office – Arbor South Architecture
• The Octagon - Willard C. Dixon, Architect

The lobby of the Oregon Contemporary Theatre provided a marvelous venue this past Wednesday for the presentation of the various awards. Essex General Construction hosted and sponsored the gala event. Essex president Jon Texter and marketing director Jodi Sommers presented a special extra prize to each of the People’s Choice, Colleague’s Choice, and Mayor’s Choice Awards recipients in the form of a wonderful afternoon of wine tasting and socializing. They can all look forward to savoring a well-deserved afternoon away from the office in the comfort and safety of a party bus provided by Essex while enjoying the company of friends and colleagues. What an unexpected treat! Thank you Essex General Construction! 

Thanks too to the members of the People’s Choice Awards committee, who contributed so much toward the success of the 25^th annual edition of the event, and also to all of the AIA-SWO and ASLA members who volunteered their time to staff the display during the Home Improvement Show.

 

(1)  The Eugene Celebration did not take place this year.