designwire daily | Shaw Contract Group Announces 5th Annual Design Is… Awards Winners

Shaw Contract Group Announces 5th Annual Design Is… Awards Winners

by | Monday, August 9, 2010

Year five of Shaw Contract Group’s Design Is… Awards have just wrapped up and we’ve got the winning list. The annual program, hosted by the carpet manufacturer, honors firms using a broad definition of design to shape surroundings and improve the quality of life.

“The Design Is… Award program asks one simple question that requires a thought-provoking answer: how do you define design?” says John Stephens, vice president of marketing for Shaw Contract Group. “Every project is unique except for the uniting factor of how design can impact people working, people healing, people learning, and people creating. After five years and nearly 1,000 entries from 21 countries, the Design Is… Award continues to champion design excellence across market segments and around the world.”

This year’s six winning design firms are as follows:

Westparks+Associates
Thornhill, Ontario
The firm reinforces transparency and collaboration in the corporate headquarters for Cara Operations, a leading restaurant and airlines services company. The custom built LEED Gold facility encourages associates to circulate, interact, and collaborate; creating an environment that harnesses the excitement of the food service industry.

id+s Design Solutions
Montreal
The firm inspires innovative thinking and problem solving at Heenan Blaikie, one of Canada’s leading law firms. Moveable walls and sliding glass doors were used to open conference rooms to public areas, creating a more functional and flexible space. id+s delivered color in a simplistic, yet surprising manner while preserving a neutral palette of finishes and materials. The result is a smart, modern and approachable business environment lacking the pretentiousness often displayed at law firms.

EwingCole
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The firm unifies their client’s expectations and desires to create function and beauty. The AtlantiCare Cancer Care Institute is a peaceful, calming, healing environment where evidence-based design concepts improve patient safety and comfort while ensuring privacy. The use of natural materials, sunlight and access to outside views allow patients to focus on positive life affirming elements. The layout of the space fosters organizational efficiency by incorporating staff preferences and best practices.

Perkins + Will
Minneapolis, Minnesota
The firm uses design to create experiences that translate into solutions for a North Dakota-based software developer. Work process and flow was examined to identify the obstacles to productivity. The design team then created a space that fostered concentration, while balancing the need for a collaborative, team-centered environment. Linear wood architecture elements reinforce a sense of place and enclosure from the harsh northwest winter winds.

Richärd + Bauer
Phoenix, Arizona
The firm seeks exploration, clarity and reality through function at the Prescott Valley Public Library. The multi-stakeholder project emphasizes the concept of community by bringing these groups together. The building was built using sustainable materials and is easy to maintain. Interior lighting elements are inspired by heliographs, creating a comfortable living room type environment in lieu of harsh institutional lighting. The large facility offers clear sightlines for staff and way finding elements to easily direct patrons to appropriate areas.

Cynthia Urbanik Interiors
Charlotte, North Carolina

The firm uses design to empower a new beginning at Dress for Success, an organization focused on changing the lives of disadvantaged women. Designing for a non-profit organization with a tight budget, the firm solicited materials from multiple manufacturers. Bold colors and elegant finishes were chosen to specifically make women patrons feel beautiful, elegant and empowered. Cynthia Urbanik Interiors also received the Design Is… People’s Choice Award, which was selected via open voting throughout June and July at shawcontractgroup.com where 12 finalists were profiled.

The 2010 judging panel included John Cary of Next American City, Christine Hester Devens of Ellerbe Becket, Daniel Huntsman of Huntsman Architectural Group, Jennifer L. Nye of KlingStubbins, and Martin Smith of Savannah College of Art and Design. In addition to their awards, a $2,000 scholarship in the name of each winning firm will be awarded to the program or organization of the firm’s choosing.