Portable Kinetic Molecular Heater

As the year draws to a close, we reached out to our 2023 JE+DI Wednesday Warriors for their insights on the upcoming year. Our July Wednesday Warrior, Linda Marzialo, AIA, Emerita ACHA, expressed her outlook:

"I plan to lead with love, kindness, generosity and inclusivity – and to embrace continuous learning and the promotion of good design."

Russell Residence by archimania received an Award of Merit in the category of New Construction at the 2023 AIA Tennessee Design Awards.

The jurors noted this project’s successful plan layout and the simple arrangement of two intersecting linear bars of spaces as an elegant solution to maximize connections to a beautiful setting. The home has magnificent interiors due to the skillful placement of skylights and floor to ceiling windows. The exterior materials palette is simple and reserved, reinforcing a clean and elegant composition. The exterior detailing and attention to material changes caught the jury’s attention as the primary component of design excellence above the other residential submissions.

📷: archimania

Kaiser Permanente North Baltimore Hub by Gresham Smith received an Award of Merit in the category of New Construction at the 2023 AIA Tennessee Design Awards.

Jurors found this project providing elegant solutions to multiple goals on a challenging site. The project demonstrates very clear aspirations and study related to solar heat gain and high performing building elements. The jury commends this project for striving to foster community connectivity and took note of the intentional effort to partner with local artists to create well refined exterior experiences for the visitors, employees and the adjacent Timonium neighborhood. The “Thrive Walk” and sustainable garden approach is often missing from the design of healthcare design and refreshing to see in this project. The commitment to sustainability through Healing Environments is clear and to be commended in this project.

📷: Chad Baumer

The Grove at GPAC by archimania received an Award of Merit in the category of New Construction at the 2023 AIA Tennessee Design Awards.

The jury noticed two projects that are performing arts center programs. This project is a small addition to a center that will provide a big impact for the Germantown community. The grove is a skillfully arranged set of smaller program activities and amenities around a community gathering space that acts as the heart of the site. The jury commends this project for contributing to a city of green through saving existing urban tree canopy while striving for a goal of walkability, connectivity and community gathering. The design shows merit in the careful detailing and exterior cladding of the pavilion structures and built program beneath them that accommodate food and beverage. The arrangement of these spaces showcases a commendable level of care for human scale and community gathering.

📷: archimania

Warner Chappell Music and Warner Nashville Offices by Hastings Architecture received an Award of Merit in the category of Architectural Interior Design at the 2023 AIA Tennessee Design Awards.

The jury appreciated this entertainment office project which showcases the performance side of the industry with elegance. The jury noted the attention to details that sculpt light into the inner spaces that would otherwise be windowless box performance space. Elegant design and millwork components, with a beautiful contrasting palette of warm colors, textures, and patterns provide layer and human scale. The jury also appreciated the use of lighting to highlight the layering and contrasting of dark and light.

📷: Garrett Rowland

Harper Auto Wash by BarberMcMurry Architects received an Award of Merit in the category of New Construction at the 2023 AIA Tennessee Design Awards.

This project stood out for elevating the design of a project type that is normally relegated to getting very little creativity. The jury appreciated the use of warm materials in the retail center to contrast the industrial aesthetic that comes with the automotive uses. The design team did a very good job of maintaining a simple parti, and driving home (forgive the pun) the solution through the careful use of natural light, materiality and scale. The primary components of innovative design are well represented in the layering of experiential space found in essence of the project’s function - clean.

📷: Denise Retallack

Hilltop Branch Library by Gresham Smith received an Award of Merit in the category of Restoration and Renovation at the 2023 AIA Tennessee Design Awards.

Jurors found this project is an exemplar of renovation and restoration of a dramatic scale. The design for this renovation dramatically transformed the existing structure from a closed colonial style structure to an open, welcoming, and modern street frontage. Libraries reflect community pride and commitment to education and this renovation shows commitment to the quality and care needed in public architecture. The jury commends the design team for the use of light monitors and the use of color to add vibrancy to the interior spaces. This is clearly a space that will provide joy for young people that will utilize the space as a gathering space and a space for learning. The jury noted the successful design of the exterior facade to create a pleasing street frontage inside this neighborhood.

📷: Lauren K. Davis

Ed Rice Community Center by archimania received an Award of Merit in the category of New Construction at the 2023 AIA Tennessee Design Awards.

This project stood out for its creativity and clear dedication to a community forward approach to design. The plan arrangement was noted by the jury as a wonderful solution to connect multiple functions to the community and the neighboring Frayser Park. The arrangement of spaces along a linear “front porch" allows for the building to extend east and west to the adjacent greenspace while holding a street edge. The building elevations were well composed and coordinated with interior spaces. The jury noted that this project provides hope for more high performing buildings having achieved the first LEED Silver building constructed by the City of Memphis.

📷: archimania

Architecture Tours are offered every Saturday at 3:30 p.m. and are free to attend. An ASL interpreter is available on the first Saturday of each month.

Architecture Tour - Frist Art Museum Enjoy a guided tour of the Frist Art Museum landmark art deco building at 3:30 p.m. every Saturday.

Visitors Center at Cummins Falls State Park by Tinker Ma, LLC received an Award of Merit in the category of New Construction at the 2023 AIA Tennessee Design Awards.

The jurors recognized this project’s simultaneous restraint and reaching for material expression to properly accommodate visitors from different paths and varying topography. The original design intent and diagram parti was very clear, yet the jury appreciates the details that balance nobility and durability which ensure a long life for the public structures. The jury did not miss the nod to historic Tennessee vernacular structures that are prominent in rural parts of the state. The project beautifully demonstrates the AIA Merit for a well-designed and crafted public building.

📷: Timothy Hursley