Gala recognizes top buildings by local design professionals, student scholarship winners
The Rochester chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Rochester) held its 2020 Design Awards Gala virtually on Friday, September 25, 2020 from their headquarters in Warner Castle.
Five local firms each garnered an award. Citation Awards were given to Bergmann Associates for the Partners+Napier Corporate Office, HBT Architects for the unbuilt Finger Lakes Museum, and LaBella Associates for the East Irondequoit CSD Ivan Green Library Addition. A Merit Award went to HARVESThouse by In.Site: Architecture.
An Honor Award was presented to the Western New York Welcome Center by Stantec. Poised along the geographic gateway between New York and Canada, the state-of-the-art Welcome Center invites visitors and residents to engage in the vibrant regional economy, culture, gastronomy, history, and experiences of the State of New York.
AIA Rochester introduced a new award this year. Edge Architecture's 250 Alexander Street/Mindex Technologies received the first ever People's Choice Award. Public voting raised over $1,000 for AIA Rochester's Virtual Food Drive for Foodlink.
Eight merit-based scholarships totaling $15,000 courtesy of AIA Rochester and the AFGR, with contributions from AIA National, Bergmann Associates, Women in Architecture, the Family of Myron Starks, and the newly established Legacy Fund - this year awarded in memory of Thomas A. Zimmerman, FAIA - were presented to students studying architecture. Ashley Aurand of Fairport High School and Emma Baker-Kenyon of The Harley School each received $1,000. Hannah Ruth of Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women earned $1,500. Additional scholarships were awarded to college students A.J. Gartland and Colin Thompson, attending SUNY Alfred State; Sara Hall, attending RIT; Mason Malsegna, attending Syracuse University; and MaryElisabeth Hanley, attending Notre Dame.