Project Boards for 2017 AIA Arkansas Design Awards Competition on Display Through July 10

Shawnya Meyers

An exhibition of the 2017 AIA Arkansas Design Awards competition project boards will be on display through July 10 in Vol Walker Hall.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — An exhibition of the 41 project boards prepared for the 2017 AIA Arkansas Design Awards competition will be on display through July 10 in the Fred and Mary Smith Exhibition Gallery, in Vol Walker Hall, on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville. It is presented by the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design and the Northwest Arkansas section of the AIA.

In order to encourage excellence in architecture, the Arkansas Chapter of the American Institute of Architects holds an annual Design Awards program, in which AIA Arkansas seeks to honor works of distinction by its members and bring public attention to outstanding examples of architecture.

The categories include both built and unbuilt projects, and projects are judged against the jurors' standard of great design, rather than against other projects in the category. There are three levels of AIA awards selected by the jurors: Honor Awards, Merit Awards and the Citation Award. The newest award started in 2015 — the People's Choice Award — which is intended to increase public awareness of the level of design excellence produced by Arkansas architects.

"There is so much talent in Arkansas and in our region," said Anne Hamilton, upcoming Northwest section chair of AIA Arkansas. "Our architects will continue to gain prominence on a national stage, just as our region is being recognized as one of the best places to live in the country. Architects from all over compete for work in our region, but we have so many great architects in our own backyard."

This summer exhibition is an opportunity for the public to view high-caliber, architecturally designed projects of all types from across the state, in addition to the award-winning designs. Each of the 41 project boards measures 3-by-4 feet, and each board was prepared by the individuals or firms that participated in the AIA Arkansas Design Awards program.

"It's a great way for firms to present projects they are proud of in a medium that can have more impact than a series of photos on a website," Hamilton said. "We all get wrapped up in the day to day, so it's great to take a step back to enjoy, recognize and celebrate what Arkansas firms have accomplished." 

The winning projects in the 2017 AIA Arkansas Design Awards competition were:

• Graphic House, Marlon Blackwell Architects - Honor Award
• Greers Ferry Water Garden, University of Arkansas Community Design Center - Citation Award
• Harvey Pediatric Clinic, Marlon Blackwell Architects - Merit Award
• Office 1011, Modus Studio - Merit Award
• University of Arkansas Art & Design District Sculpture Studio, Modus Studio - Honor Award
• Walton Arts Center Expansion and Renovation, Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects and Bora Architects - Merit Award
• ATA International, Inc. World Headquarters, Wittenberg, Delony & Davidson Inc. - People's Choice Award
• Windgate Art & Design Building, WER Architects/Planners - Members' Choice Award

Award winners from the 2017 competition, along with details about the winning projects, can be found on the Facebook page of the AIA Arkansas.

Admission to the exhibition is free. The exhibition gallery is located on the first floor of Vol Walker Hall, and it is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.