September AIA-SWO Chapter Meeting Recap

J.F. Alberson and Scott Clarke at the September AIA-SWO chapter meeting (my photo)

The September AIA-Southwestern Oregon chapter meeting celebrated the value of design in our community by honoring the recipients of the 22nd Annual People’s Choice Awards. Hosted once again by Kaz Oveissi at his OPUS VII gallery in downtown Eugene, the well-attended gala showcased all of the projects submitted for the 2011 People’s Choice program.

The People’s Choice Awards is a public outreach effort conducted jointly by AIA-SWO and ASLA Oregon-Willamette Valley Section as part of the annual Eugene Celebration (which took place this past August 26-28). The purpose is to present the recent work of architects and landscape architects, and to encourage the public to critically engage the built environment. The emphasis is not on winning but on sharing and honoring all the work undertaken to make buildings and landscapes important and meaningful in our daily lives.

All of the 2011 entrants were on display for the meeting (my photo)

The “Colleague’s Choice” vote is an ancillary program to the People’s Choice Awards and 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 second 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.

Eugene mayor Kitty Piercy (my photo)

Each of the 2011 award recipients is listed below. The “PC” designation indicates a People’s Choice award. “CC” indicates a Colleagues’ Choice winner, and “MC” is a Mayor’s Choice.(1)

RESIDENTIAL DESIGN

2fORM: Dillard Landing - PC + CC

Dillard Landing - 2FORM Architecture (photo by Jeff Amram)

Chuck Bailey Architect: Done in the Sun - MC

Done in the Sun - Chuck Bailey Architect

COMMERCIAL DESIGN

2fORM: Evergreen Family Medicine - PC + CC + MC

Evergreen Family Medicine - 2FORM Architecture

PUBLIC/INSTITUTIONAL DESIGN

PIVOT: EmX Gateway Extension - PC

EmX Gateway Extension - PIVOT Architecture

PIVOT: EWEB Roosevelt Operations Center - CC

EWEB Operations Center - PIVOT Architecture

PIVOT: Eugene Aircraft Rescue & Firefighting - MC

Eugene Aircraft Rescue & Firefighting Facility - PIVOT Architecture

RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

Stangeland & Associates: An Oasis Reclaimed - PC + CC + MC

An Oasis Reclaimed - Stangeland & Associates, Inc.

COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

Dougherty Landscape Architecture: Roosevelt Crossing - PC + MC

Roosevelt Crossing - Dougherty Landscape Architecture

Dougherty Landscape Architecture: Oregon Coast Community College - CC

Oregon Coast Community College - Dougherty Landscape Architecture

INTERIOR DESIGN

Robertson/Sherwood/Architects: Fenton Hall - PC + CC

Fenton Hall - Robertson/Sherwood/Architects PC

2fORM: Kitchen Karma - MC

Kitchen Karma - 2FORM Architecture (photo by Jeff Amram)

MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING DESIGN

2fORM: Solstice Student Housing - PC + CC

The Solstice - 2FORM Architecture (photo by Jeff Amram)

Bergsund Delaney Architects: Lamb Building - MC

Lamb Building - Bergsund Delaney Architecture & Planning PC

Congratulations to all of the 2011 winners!

The success of this year’s program is due in no small part to the efforts of its organizing committee. Thanks to the following individuals for making the 22nd Annual People’s Choice Awards the best yet:

• Richard Shugar
• Paul Dustrud
• Kurt Albrecht
• Alison Moore
• Nicole Ankeney
• Matt Koehler
• Don Kahle

Model of Eagle Rock Retreat by 2FORM Architecture, part of an adjunct display at OPUS VII (my photo)

Thanks too to Kaz Oveissi for making his splendid gallery space available for the AIA-SWO September meeting.(2) In addition to OPUS VII, Kaz operates Oveissi & Co. (each year the site of the People’s Choice exhibit during the Eugene Celebration) and Perugino (a coffee shop nonpareil). Kaz envisions OPUS VII as a means to introduce the community to the creative world, a social and artistic platform whose purpose is to recognize, reward, and showcase mastery in art, architecture, and design. The People’s Choice Awards is a perfect fit for OPUS VII; this year’s entrants will remain on display through mid-October.

(1) I failed to take note of all of the photographers responsible for the images of the winning projects; for this, I apologize. I'll add their names to this post as soon as possible.

(2) In addition to the display of People's Choice entrants, OPUS VII is currently displaying models of projects by 2FORM Architecture and Rowell Brokaw Architects. Rowell Brokaw also curated an exhibit of photographs at OPUS VII entitled "The City" that documents how surprisingly dymanic Eugene's cityscape has been in its relatively short history.