AIA-SWO Holiday Party

Masked merrymakers at the 2018 AIA-SWO Holiday Party.

The annual AIA-Southwestern Oregon holiday party took place last Wednesday at Sprout! Marketplace in Springfield. From all accounts, the AIA-SWO holiday party was a grand time, with great food, great music, and the fanciful spectacle of a masquerade ball. (Alas, I could not be there as I was otherwise occupied that evening, accepting a grant from the Lane County Cultural Coalition and the Oregon Cultural Trust on behalf of Eugene Taiko. I wish I could have been in two places at once! ) 

More Holiday Party revelers.

In addition to the sparkling festivities, the holiday party was also where the chapter announced the winners of the Colleague’s Choice and Mayor’s Choice awards. The “Colleague’s Choice” vote is an ancillary program to the People’s Choice Awards and meant to be a fun way for AIA-SWO and ASLA members to weigh in on the question of which of their peers’ projects are most worthy of recognition. The “Mayor’s Choice” carries on the tradition established under the tenure of former Eugene mayor Kitty Piercy, wherein she selected from among the People’s Choice entrants the projects she considered most worthy of recognition. Current mayor, Lucy Vinis is, like Kitty, an enthusiastic public advocate for design excellence, sustainability, and smart growth.

The 2017 Colleague’s Choice winner is:

Roosevelt Middle School (Robertson/Sherwood/Architects and Mahlum)

Lucy Vinis' selections for the 2017 Mayor’s Choice projects are:

1203 Willamette (Rowell Brokaw)

  

Valley Football Center (HNTB Architecture) 

 

The Oaks at 14^th (Bergsund Delaney Architecture & Planning)

Fairmount Remodel (Arbor South Architecture)

The holiday party marks the end of the AIA-SWO calendar each year. Frank Visconti, AIA will succeed Katie Hall, AIA as chapter president in January. I’m certain Frank will build upon the significant achievements under Katie’s leadership. AIA-Southwestern Oregon is as vital and dynamic as it’s ever been, and truly elevating the profile of the profession throughout the chapter area. I look forward to more great things in 2018.