continued

"When I explain our San Francisco building, I can talk in performance terms and the double skin is part of that," Mayne recently told GreenSource magazine. "You can like or dislike the building, but you have to understand its relationship to its purpose and its ecological, cultural and political context."

Another honor award for architecture went to 185 Post Street by Brand + Allen Architects. A modernization of a circa-1908 building, this project restored the original masonry cladding while fusing it with an illuminated curtain-wall system composed entirely of transparent and silk-screened glass panels. It's the kind of bold reinvention of a historic building that is uncommon, partly due to the preservation laws that protect many buildings.

The other two architecture honor awards went to Bridge House by Stanley Saitowitz/ Natoma Architects and Tehama Grasshopper by Fougeron Architecture.

Located on 15 acres (six hectares) of wooded grasslands in Marin County, Bridge House is so named for dramatically bridging a ravine. The building's walls of glass and Cor-Ten® steel plating contrast with the natural landscape.

Tehama Grasshopper, which also won a 2008 national AIA honor award for interior architecture, is a remodeled San Francisco warehouse, converted into private residences and offices. Its three stories of interlocked spaces include a variety of indoor-outdoor spaces. Glass panels separate the rooms, further deconstructing traditional notions of public and private space. An industrial palette of materials also keeps the design consistent with the surrounding neighborhood.

Five projects received merit awards in the architecture category: 1234 Howard by Stanley Saitowitz/ Natoma Architects; the Ann Hamilton Tower and CCA Graduate Center, both by Jensen Architects; the Clovis Memorial District Lecture Hall by Mark Cavagnero Associates; and the Sherman Residence by Lorcan O'Herlihy Architects.

Of these, the Hamilton Tower in Geyserville, California, is particularly iconic and unique: a 78-foot- (24-meter-) tall cylindrical concrete tower with a randomized pattern of openings. Described as a vertical performance space, it recalls San Francisco's Coit Tower, as well as The Round Tower in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Honoring Sustainability

AIA San Francisco has become one of numerous American Institute of Architects chapters to incorporate special designations and awards for sustainability. While some chapters reserve a single award for this purpose, AIA SF has the entire Energy + Sustainability category.

Two projects won honor awards in this category: Orinda City Hall by Siegel & Strain Architects, and the Nueva School Hillside Learning Complex by Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects, which was recently featured in ArchitectureWeek as one of AIA/COTE's Top Ten Green Projects for 2008.

Orinda City Hall achieved much on just an $8 million budget. The 14,000-square-foot (1,300-square-meter) office project benefits from a unique arrangement between the City of Orinda and a local church, the latter of which provided the property. Siegel & Strain also eliminated the need for air conditioning through a combination of cantilevered shades and ceiling fans.

The only merit award given in energy and sustainability went to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's Molecular Foundry, designed by SmithGroup.

From Interiors to Urban Design

AIA San Francisco's design awards program includes an interior architecture category, unlike in some other cities where organizations such as the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) or the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) take on that role.

Three projects received honor awards for interiors: Conduit Restaurant by Stanley Saitowitz/ Natoma Architects; a sanctuary renovation for Congregation B'nai Israel by Herman & Coliver Architecture and LOCUS Architecture; and the Marvisi Residence, with interior design by Sand Studios.   >>>

Discuss this article in the Architecture Forum...

SUBSCRIPTION SAMPLE Restoration of an early 1900s building at 185 Post Street in San Francisco earned Brand + Allen Architects a San Francisco AIA chapter honor award for 2008. Photo: Courtesy Brand + Allen Architects, Inc. Extra Large Image Bridge House, designed by Stanley Saitowitz/ Natoma Architects, was named for the way it spans a ravine in Marin County, California. Photo: Rien van Rijthoven Extra Large Image Bridge House received an honor award for architectural excellence from AIA San Francisco. Photo: Rien van Rijthoven Extra Large Image Tehama Grasshopper, by Fougeron Architecture, was also recognized in the national AIA honor awards for 2008. Photo: Richard Barnes Extra Large Image The new city hall for Orinda, California, was awarded in the Energy + Sustainability category by San Francisco AIA. Photo: David Wakely Extra Large Image Siegel & Strain Architects designed the Orinda City Hall. Photo: David Wakely Extra Large Image Nueva School Hillside Learning Complex in Hillsborough, California, was designed by Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects. Photo: Tim Griffith Extra Large Image SUBSCRIPTION SAMPLE Nueval School was also recently named one of the AIA/COTE Top Ten Green Projects for 2008. Photo: Tim Griffith Extra Large Image   Click on thumbnail images to view full-size pictures.