WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 2011 -- Today, the U.S. General Services Administration recognized the best in public architecture and civilian federal workplaces at the 2010 GSA Design Awards in Washington, D.C. This year's 11 award winners showcase the federal government's commitment to cutting-edge architectural design and its focus on sustainability.
"GSA is working hard to change the look and feel of federal buildings," said GSA Administrator Martha Johnson. "We are making the investments now to save energy and taxpayer money in the future. The winning projects mark not just innovation in design, but also, rapid progress toward our nation's sustainability goals."
The biennial GSA Design Awards celebrate the best federal civilian workplaces, including land ports of entry, federal courthouses, and office buildings. The winners are selected by a jury of private sector design and building professionals.
"Through collaboration with some of the best architects and engineers in the country, we are creating a welcoming and sustainable federal presence in communities across the country," said GSA Commissioner of Public Buildings Robert A. Peck. "GSA's Design Awards celebrate the energy and creativity of everyone who works tirelessly to deliver the best in public architecture."
The 2010 GSA Design Award winners are:
- United States Land Port of Entry, Warroad, Minn. – ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIOR DESIGN HONORS; CONSTRUCTION, ENGINEERING, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE CITATIONS
- United States Land Port of Entry, Massena, N.Y. – ARCHITECTURE AND ART CITATIONS
- United States Land Port of Entry, Calais, Maine – ARCHITECTURE CITATION
- Historic District of Columbia Courthouse, Washington, D.C. – PRESERVATION CITATION
- United States Courthouse, Cedar Rapids, Iowa – PRESERVATION CITATION
- Federal Parking Garage, San Juan, Puerto Rico – ON-THE-BOARDS ARCHITECTURE CITATION
- United States Land Port of Entry, Van Buren, Maine – ON-THE-BOARDS ARCHITECTURE CITATION
- Mariposa Land Port of Entry, Nogales, Ariz. – ON-THE-BOARDS COMMUNICATIONS CITATION
- Peter W. Rodino Federal Building modernization, Newark, N.J. – ON-THE-BOARDS ENGINEERING CITATION
- Dr. A.H. McCoy Federal Building modernization, Jackson, Miss. – ON-THE-BOARDS URBANISM
- United States Courthouse, San Diego, Calif. – ON-THE-BOARDS URBANISM
For more information about the GSA Design Excellence Awards, visit gsa.gov/designawards.
As the federal government's workplace solutions provider, the U.S. General Services Administration works to foster an effective, sustainable and transparent government for the American people. GSA's expertise in government workplace solutions include:
* Effective management of government assets including more than 9,600 government-owned or leased buildings and 210,000 vehicles in the federal fleet, and preservation of historic federal properties;
* Leveraging the government's buying power through responsible acquisition of products and services making up more than 11 percent of the government's total procurement dollars;
* Providing innovative technology solutions to enhance government efficiency and increase citizen engagement; and,
* Promoting responsible use of federal resources through development of governmentwide policies ranging from federal travel to property and management practices.
Related Stories
| Feb 15, 2011
Iconic TWA terminal may reopen as a boutique hotel
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey hopes to squeeze a hotel with about 150 rooms in the space between the old TWA terminal and the new JetBlue building. The old TWA terminal would serve as an entry to the hotel and hotel lobby, which would also contain restaurants and shops.
| Feb 15, 2011
New Orleans' rebuilt public housing architecture gets mixed reviews
The architecture of New Orleans’ new public housing is awash with optimism about how urban-design will improve residents' lives—but the changes are based on the idealism of an earlier era that’s being erased and revised.
| Feb 15, 2011
LAUSD commissions innovative prefab prototypes for future building
The LA Unified School District, under the leadership of a new facilities director, reversed course regarding prototypes for its new schools and engaged architects to create compelling kit-of-parts schemes that are largely prefabricated.
| Feb 15, 2011
New 2030 Challenge to include carbon footprint of building materials and products
Architecture 2030 has just broadened the scope of its 2030 Challenge, issuing an additional challenge regarding the climate impact of building products. The 2030 Challenge for Products aims to reduce the embodied carbon (meaning the carbon emissions equivalent) of building products 50% by 2030.
| Feb 15, 2011
New Urbanist Andrés Duany: We need a LEED Brown rating
Andrés Duany advocates a "LEED Brown" rating that would give contractors credit for using traditional but low cost measures that are not easy to quantify or certify. He described these steps as "the original green," and "what we did when we didn't have money." Ostensibly, LEED Brown would be in addition to the current Silver, Gold and Platinum ratings.
| Feb 15, 2011
AIA on President Obama's proposed $1 billion investment in energy conservation
The President’s budget increases the value of investment in energy conservation in commercial buildings by roughly $1 billion, reports AIA 2011 President Clark Manus, FAIA. The significant increase from the current tax deduction of $1.80 per sq. ft. now on the books is an increase for which the AIA has been advocating in order to encourage energy conservation.
| Feb 14, 2011
Sustainable Roofing: A Whole-Building Approach
According to sustainability experts, the first step toward designing an energy-efficient roofing system is to see roof materials and systems as an integral component of the enclosure and the building as a whole. Earn 1.0 AIA/CES learning units by studying this article and successfully completing the online exam.
