2021 Design Award Winners

View all projects submitted

Thank you to all the architects and their firms who participated!

This program was proudly sponsored by

Lance Collins, AIA

The AIA Presidential Honoree Award honors an architect within our chapter who has meaningfully influenced architecture and the practice of the profession in a lasting way. This individual’s influence spans beyond the built practice of architecture and exercises expertise in multiple facets relating to the profession. Learn more.

Martin Howard, President & CEO, Howard CDM

This award acknowledges a community member that consistently contributes to the enhancement of the built environment. The awardee is contributing within our chapter boundaries and is not a licensed architect or affiliated with our professional organization. Learn more.

Michael Bohn, AIA, Studio One Eleven

Juror’s comments: It is terrific to see this level of care given to the design of an affordable housing facility. The architect retained the character of the existing building and successfully inserted the new program while retaining the interesting aspects of the original building. The ground-level gallery is an unusual amenity for this project typology and a pleasant surprise. This project shows that as architects we can, through design, create meaningful positive impacts to people’s daily lives.  Well done! Learn more.

Anthony Laney, AIA, Laney LA

Juror’s comments: The new is clearly inserted within the existing envelope, which is then allowed to peek out creating super interesting juxtapositions. This beautiful contrast highlights the highly refined against the rough nature of what was built there before. We appreciate the clean, minimalist design and love the concrete floors. For a low-budget project it looks very Instagram-able. A great creative space. Learn more.

rICHARD D’Amato, FAIA, LPA, Inc.

Juror’s comments: This project celebrates the intersection of early childhood development and sustainability. It provides spaces that stimulate multiple senses, including light and sound. The strong connection between inside and outside allows the kids to be immersed in nature as part of their daily learning fostering an awareness. Absolutely deserving of a COTE award, with clearly conveyed metrics to prove it. Learn more.

Southern California Edison comments: The LEED Platinum and Living Building Petal-Certified Environmental Nature Center Preschool fully exemplifies the promise of carbon neutral, all-electric construction. Producing more electricity than it consumes, the project’s designers completely eliminated all fossil-fuel end uses from the building, relying on a series of natural ventilation strategies for cooling and radiant floors for heating. The project demonstrates a commitment to preserving the natural environment which its deftly integrated biophilic design elements so beautifully evoke. Southern California Edison is proud to present a COTE Honor award to this trailblazing Net-Zero Energy project. Learn more.

rICHARD D’Amato, FAIA, LPA, Inc.

Juror’s comments: A very well-executed and detailed project that prioritized wellness and healthy environments. The armature is strong and clean. The interiors were well designed with a careful use of color, and the architects were thoughtful about how they inserted the new into the older existing building. While the stadium steps have been done in many office projects, this is an especially successful example. The team should be commended for working with the building owner for the installation of photovoltaics as part of the tenant improvement. We admire the aspirations of this project and its execution. Learn more.

Southern California Edison comments: Substantially reducing the energy footprint of our existing building stock is one of the most formidable sustainability challenges we collectively face. The Creative Design Studio project demonstrates how tenant-driven projects can be implemented with a low impact, designing very efficiently to keep both operational and embodied carbon to a minimum. A collaboration with the landlord made possible the deployment of a 70kW Photovoltaic array, offsetting nearly a third of the tenants’ energy use, even though the rooftop was outside of their project scope. The designers also employed numerous occupant health and wellness strategies, earning Fitwell Certification for the project to go along with its LEED Platinum rating. Learn more.

Richard C. Prantis, AIA, The Architects Collective

Juror’s comments: This project is conceptually clear and mission-driven. The project accomplishes the goal of providing homes for previously homeless veterans and low-income seniors, while appearing as luxury market-rate housing. It breaks down the box and commands the corner. The project’s exterior balcony design provides the dignity of privacy while also giving residents the opportunity to interact in the community. The courtyard’s landscape design is successful in creating a great communal space. Learn more.

zoltan e. pali, AIA, spf ARCHITECTS

Juror’s comments: This project is a game-changer in terms of elevating the potential of infrastructure and accommodating all sorts of important things that break the paradigm. The bridge elevates the potential of structure, showcasing a design medium that should be in any architect’s wheelhouse. While many of these types of structures are often solely designed by an engineer and gruelingly awful, this example, in contrast, is sophisticated and joyful. There is great potential in the sectional qualities of the design. Its transformation at night creates a whimsical public space. Learn more.

Anthony Laney, AIA, Laney LA

Juror’s comments: This is a small project on a tight budget that creates delightful, well-scaled spaces. The home flows well from interior to exterior, providing cozy nooks to hang out and live. The presentation is excellent. Showing the model and juxtaposing the sections was well done. We appreciated the first page elevation and the graphics were well-considered. Learn more.

BRADLEY WILLIAMS, AIA, RDC

Juror’s comments: This project elevates a relatively new typology: the cannabis shop. The exterior is especially successful in creating a clean and modern facade, while the interior highlights convincingly the medicinal nature of the product. It has a commanding street experience, but still offers privacy. Learn more.

Learn about the 2021 jury