On Friday June 1st, the inaugural Maritime Architectural Design Excellence Awards were presented by the Architects Association of Prince Edward Island, the Architects’ Association of New Brunswick and the Nova Scotia Association of Architects.
Submissions were received from across the region within a variety of categories including residential, commercial, institutional, public and outdoor spaces. A jury of internationally recognized architectural experts adjudicated the submissions and awarded two Awards of Excellence and a number of Awards of Merit.
Recognized with an Award of Excellence within the commercial category was the firm of Fowler Bauld & Mitchell Ltd. for the Cabot Links Lodge in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
The Lodge at Cabot Links echoes the sensitivity of the unique terrain with its curved form following the contours of the land to express a vision of the complimentary relationship between landscape, building and human play. The lodge presents a 350-foot curved, heavy timber wall, clad in cedar shingle.
Also within the commercial category, an Award of Merit was given to ACRE Architects for the project, “Port City Royal” in Saint John, New Brunswick.
“The quality of all the submissions and award winners shows us that excellent architectural work is happening across the region,” stated Don Sterritt, President of the Architects’ Association of New Brunswick. “These projects inspire and demonstrate our regions’ vibrant culture and fosters innovation in community building and planning,”
Within the public category an Award of Excellence was also presented to the firm of Fowler Bauld & Mitchell Ltd. for the Halifax Central Library.
Designed in collaboration with acclaimed Danish firm Schmidt Hammer Lassen, the Halifax Central Library is the most significant public building completed in Halifax in over a generation. The building is composed of three vertically stacked glass volumes that are topped by a glass cantilever. Each volume is rotated to embrace views of the surrounding ocean and landmarks of the Halifax peninsula. As well, a glass encapsulated reading lounge, is back-dropped by dramatic views of the Citadel Hill Fortress and the mosaic of buildings that define Halifax.
The Commercial category also saw two Awards of Merit, one to ABCP architecture et urbanisme Ltée. for “Amphithéâtre Communautaire d’Edmundston” in Edmundston, New Brunswick. As well as Mackay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects Limited for “Galerie d’Art Beaverbrook Art Gallery Expansion” in Fredericton, New Brunswick.
“We were very pleased to work with our neighbouring associations to put these awards in place. It is important to take the time to showcase and celebrate the talent and expertise of architects completing projects in our region,” shared Darrin Dunsford, President of the Architects Association of Prince Edward Island.
Within the residential category, three Awards of Merit were presented. Michael Napier Architecture Inc. was recognized for her multi-family residential project, “Southport”, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. For single family residential projects, two Awards of Merit were presented. The first to ACRE Architects for “Unbridled Path” in Rothesay, New Brunswick. The second to Fowler Bauld & Mitchell Ltd. for “House in Scotch Cove” in East Chester, Nova Scotia.
Within the institutional category, two school projects in the region were presented with Awards of Merit. Architecture49 was presented with an Award of Merit for “Charles P. Allen High School” in Bedford, Nova Scotia. While the firm of Fowler Bauld & Mitchell Ltd., received an award for “Bible Hill Consolidated Elementary School” in Bible Hill, Nova Scotia.
The final category, public outdoor spaces/adaptive reuse Award of Merit was presented to Houdini Design Architects, for “Kentville Library” in Kentville, Nova Scotia.
This was the inaugural year for the Awards and they will take place every two years. “This year’s submissions were outstanding and we look forward to continue to foster and recognize exceptional architecture across the region over the coming year,” said Spyro Trifos, President of the Nova Scotia Association of Architects.
More information about the Maritime Architectural Design Excellence Awards is available here.