The 2014 American Institute of Architects”™ Connecticut Business Awards found much to praise in Fairfield County in April. The awards were juried by Michael Bingham, of award co-sponsor Business New Haven in New Haven; Bruce Beinfield, principal at Beinfield Architecture in Norwalk; and Gary Annino, director of facilities and project engineering at Pfizer Pharmaceuticals in Groton. The Fairfield County Business Journal and the Hartford Business Journal also were sponsors.
The awards acknowledge architects and their clients “whose projects enhance the built environment and achieve business goals.” An overarching theme was that architecture possesses “the power to shape business performance, to improve peoples”™ lives and provide a value-added service to clients in a business setting that far exceeds the costs of that service.”
AIA Connecticut is a chapter of the American Institute of Architects with a membership of more than 1,200
architects statewide. The biennial awards began in 2006. There was no ceremony, with the awardees named in the May 5 issue of the Fairfield County Business Journal in conjunction with appearing on the Connecticut AIA website.
Local winners with more than 50 employees included Chelsea Piers in a former Clairol facility in Stamford and the Norwalk headquarters of Pepperidge Farm. Chelsea Piers was designed by James G. Rogers Architects in South Norwalk and Pepperidge Farm by Perkins Eastman Architects P.C. in Stamford.
“The jury was very impressed with the repurposing of this building (Chelsea Piers),” the jury said in its formal comments. “It is innovative and demonstrates what can be done with a site, rather than just creating a brownfield. This private community resource is a great example of adaptive reuse.”
Regarding the Pepperidge Farm headquarters on Westport Avenue in Norwalk, “The jury was struck by the whimsical use of color in the interiors, which makes it a fun place in which to work. The design does a good job of building and celebrating brand awareness throughout the facility. This is a very progressive design for a well-established company.”
As good as they were, each placed behind the Clarity Software building in Madison, designed by Madison-based Duo Dickinson, Architect.
For companies with fewer than 50 employees, Frederick William Hoag Architect in Westport earned an honorable mention (essentially second place) for work on the Urban Outfitters/Spotted Horse property on Post Road East in Westport.
“The building is both a dramatic contrast and a good fit with its surroundings,” the jurors said. “It successfully creates a new retail node in Westport. The new steel and glass structure, with its modern aesthetic, is juxtaposed with the adjoining historic building and helps to animate the street. Innovative and whimsical, the design has supported its business well.”
The Nathan Hale Homestead in Coventry took top honors in the “under 50 employees” category for an addition and renovation work done by New Haven-based Pirie Associates Architects.
