BSA LifeStructures and GEA Architects received an award for their design of Ivy Tech Complex at Marian College.

Press Release

INDIANAPOLIS – AXIS Architecture + Interiors received top honors Thursday during the biannual American Institute of Architects Indianapolis Chapter Excellence Awards for its design of a fire station in Shelbyville, which preserved the historic significance of the facility while at the same time provided modern amenities for firefighters and the community.

The fire station is sandwiched between historic buildings, including a French Renaissance-style library, a historic theater and the Grover Museum next door. AXIS’ design is a masonry building that includes composite metal panels with a glaze, giving the building a modern look the community wanted, but paying tribute to the historic surroundings.

History also played a vital role in the renovation and addition at Second Presbyterian Church, a classic gothic-style building on North Meridian Street that has been an Indianapolis landmark since 1949. Merit Award winner BSA LifeStructures designed a new main entry for the church, added a music area, youth area and gathering space, and renovated classrooms and meeting spaces. The design draws upon the historic gothic architecture, including the exterior of the addition clad in limestone, clay tile and lead-coated and copper detailing, all consistent with the churches’ original design.

BSA LifeStructures also received a Merit Award for the design of Purdue’s Biomedical Engineering building. The $19.2 million building is at the eastern edge of Purdue’s Discovery Park. Not only is the facility home to classrooms and labs, but the design so distinctive that it helps the university recruit faculty, researchers and students. In fact, a lab was redesigned at the last minute in order to recruit a specific faculty member, who had very specific needs. The three-story building includes an optics lab, project labs, microscope rooms and tissue culture labs, of course plenty of classrooms and niche areas that foster collaboration and communication.

Ratio Architects also received a Merit Award for the design of Keep Indianapolis Beautiful’s headquarters in Indianapolis, which has received Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) from the US Green Building Council for its green design. Among the green design features: Natural light that spills from the center atrium of the building to workspaces that surround it, and recycled materials used for furniture and carpeting. In addition, yarn remnants salvaged in the production process was used in an office, donated lounge chairs were reupholstered with eco-friendly textiles, and new furnishings were selected based on low-emitting materials. The energy-conscious organization is using sensor-activated lighting and energy efficient appliances.

Judges – a panel of architects from Ohio – also awarded four citation awards. BSA LifeStructures and GEA Architects received an award for their design of Ivy Tech Complex at Marian College; Gray Architecture received the award for top unbuilt work – a Light Screen Project proposed for Fort Benjamin Harrison; Rowland Design earned recognition for its renovation and addition at Kiwanis International; and AXIS Architecture + Interiors received an award for the design of Frankey’s Boutique.

American Institute of Architecture Indianapolis Excellence Awards

These projects are among eight that will be recognized as among the best architecture designs in 2008. The award winners are:

· Honor Award: AXIS Architecture + Interiors, Shelbyville Fire Station No.1

· Merit Award: RATIO Architects, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful Headquarters, renovation and addition

· Merit Award: BSA LifeStructures for Second Presbyterian Church renovation and addition

· Merit Award: BSA LifeStructures for the Purdue Biomedical Engineering building

· Citation Award: BSA LifeStructures/GEA Architects for Ivy Tech Complex at Marian College

· Citation Award: Gray Architecture for The Light Screen Project proposed for Fort Benjamin Harrison

· Citation Award: Rowland Design Kiwanis International Auditorium, renovation and addition

· Citation Award – AXIS Architecture + Interiors for the interior of Frankey’s Boutique

Source: