On November 15, 2007, the Buffalo/Western New York chapter of the American Institute of Architects announced that two construction projects built as the part of the Institution’s “Idea Campaign” were winners of awards. The building renovations to Chautauqua’s School of Art received the AIA chapter’s Honor Award, the highest award given by the organization. The renovation of McKnight Hall at the School of Music received the chapter’s second highest award, the Merit Award.

In both cases, the architecture firm nominated for the award was Foit-Albert Associates/Architecture, Engineering and Surveying, P.C. The contractor was STC Construction, Inc.

For the Honor Award, the jurors stated the School of Art project “involves a handsome restoration of an existing building and inventive re-use of existing studios. The design is explained in drawing text and photos that show clarity of intent and clarity of realization. The cutting apart and regrouping of the studios is ingenious and the new arrangement on a raised connecting deck makes for interesting places of social interaction. The redesign and relocation of the kiln building opens up not only new vistas but new places of casual meeting, very much in the spirit of Chautauqua. The gentle scale is maintained throughout, giving to the project a refreshing modesty. The whole is strong, unequivocal and beautiful.”

In making the Merit Award, regarding the renovation of McKnight Hall, the jurors said, “This is a very clever restoration which offers new found flexibility of space – use with a utilitarian feeling. It made good sense to open up the walls to an extended audience in the new courtyard. The adaptation of the existing colonnade vocabulary to emphasize the entrance is sophisticated and clearly avoids pretense. The new porch roof at the hall entrance delicately softens the risk of conflict with the existing roof profile. The project shows a level of design competence which is admirable.”

Click here for the School of Art pictorial (2 MB).