Buffalo, NY SWBR won the New York State American Institute of Architects (AIA) 2017 People’s Choice Award for its work on the Evergreen Lofts project. The winner was selected by popular vote online, open to the public.

“Working closely with Evergreen Health, we were able to adapt and transform a wonderful piece of Buffalo’s manufacturing history into exciting and energizing new apartments for their residents,” said Joe Gibbons, AIA, principal in charge of the Evergreen Lofts project. “As architects, it’s very rewarding to be able to design projects that have a meaningful impact on people’s lives.”

Evergreen Lofts opened in 2016 with a mission to provide affordable housing for people who are in danger of or are experiencing homelessness. It’s a safe option for people who may face housing discrimination elsewhere, with full access to supportive services, including medical, mental health and transportation.

“We are so pleased with the award and SWBR’s hard work to ensure a beautiful living space for our patients,” said Justin Azzarella, vice president for community development for Evergreen Health Services.

SWBR’s design preserves much of the original 1901 former warehouse, including exposed wood beams, exposed brick and the main stairwells. All windows were replaced with historically correct metal-clad wooden windows. In all, the 64,000 s/f Evergreen Lofts contains a mix of 56 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, with half of those units eligible for subsidies through the HUD McKinney Continuum of Care Supportive Housing Program.

Earlier in 2017, SWBR was also awarded an Excelsior Award from AIA New York State for Public Architecture in the Historic Renovation category.