HDR CUH2A receives "Unbuilt" design awards from AIA-NJ

HDR CUH2A has won two Merit Awards in the "Unbuilt" category for national and international projects from the N.J. chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA-NJ). They are for the headquarters for the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and the Carbon Neutral Energy Solutions Laboratory at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Ga. The awards were announced at AIA-NJ's annual Design Day event held recently at Princeton Theological Seminary. The design awards were presented at an awards dinner held on Jan. 9 at Thomas Edison College in Trenton. The Design Awards program brings public and professional recognition to architectural projects that exhibit design excellence. Architects were invited to submit their work for review by the distinguished Design Awards jury. "We are delighted to recognize these extraordinary designs," said Stacey Ruhle Kliesch, AIA, president of AIA-NJ. "The range of the award-winning entries -- from a university in Georgia to a telecommunications center in the United Arab Emirates -- demonstrates the incredible versatility of our homegrown architectural talent." The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority tower is designed with a sleek and modern luminescent "skin" made of a silica nano-material that wraps the building, insulating it from the harsh sun. Each façade is equipped to respond to its specific microclimate and orientation. The large open interior is penetrated by a glass atrium that allows daylight to reach deep into the building as well as enhancing air circulation. Modern technologies are woven into the facility, including under-floor air and electrical systems that provide a flexible work environment that easily accommodates expanding and contracting project teams. Informal and formal gathering areas are strategically located to encourage communication, and plans call for a large state-of-the-art training facility. The ground floor contains a spacious lobby, with the office floors "floating" above. Three levels of below-grade parking complete the facility. "The Telecommunications Regulatory headquarters will be easily recognizable and expressive of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority's mission and brand," said Brian Kowalchuk, AIA, LEED AP, director of design at HDR CUH2A. "Although rooted in tradition, the design is infused with innovative technological advancements." The Carbon Neutral Energy Solutions Laboratory at the Georgia Institute of Technology is designed as a 35,000 s/f facility that will house a variety of energy research programs requiring large-scale and intermediate-scale capabilities. The building is aligned on an east-west axis, providing long north and south facades. Windows on the upper and lower northern façade, along with translucent panels, provide light deep into the facility. On the southern façade, the window is shaded with an awning clad with thin-film photo-voltaic (PV) panels -- arrays of cells containing a material that converts solar radiation into direct current electricity -- to maximize daylight and minimize unwanted heat gain. In addition, PV panels are located on the roof and on the site to reduce the use of energy for lighting, heating and cooling. "The Carbon Neutral Energy Solutions Laboratory is intended to set a new standard for sustainable design for buildings of its type by optimizing passive energy technologies, reducing electricity loads and maximizing the use of renewable energy," (whom ever they would like to attribute the quote to, title). "No artificial light will be required during daylight hours and lights will be turned off when the lab is not in use." Other innovative energy-conserving elements include radiant heating, displacement ventilation and a more natural ecology that dramatically increases water conservation, efficiency and quality - part of a campus-wide initiative. AIA-NJ presented a total of 11 awards at the design conference. In addition to the Merit Awards given to HDR CUH2A in the "Unbuilt" category, an Honor Award went to RMJM Architects & Planners for the Al-asmariya University for Islamic Sciences, Zliten Campus in Zliten, Libya. In the "Historic Preservation" category, FMG - Farewell Mills Gatsch Architects was the winner of two Merit Awards -- for Princeton University's Whig Hall in Princeton, N.J., and for the New Jersey State Museum in Trenton. In the "Design/Build" category, the Honor Award went to Midouhas Architecture for the Nissenblatt Residence in Loveladies. Finally, in the "Built" category, three Honor Awards were announced. The winners were the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Engineering Department, Design Division, for their ferry terminal at the World Financial Center in New York City and Ikon.5 Architects for the Hockessin Public Library in Hockessin, Del., and the Kirkwood Public Library in Kirkwood, Del. The Merit Award winners in the "Built" category were GRO Architects for PREttyFAB in Jersey City, N.J., and Anderson Architects for the Roberts Soccer Stadium at Princeton University. For more information on AIA-NJ, please visit the website at www.aia-nj.org.