2015 DESIGNArlington Winners Announced

Published on February 03, 2016

Updated 02-05-2016:  The 2015 DESIGNArlington Awards Ceremony, free and open to the public, will be held on Thursday, February 25 at 6 p.m. at Bennett Park Atrium. Event details here.

• 11 winners


• Projects recognized for excellence in design


• Two public schools, one community center received highest honors


• Jury of local design professionals

Eleven distinctive architectural and landscape projects were selected to receive 2015 DESIGNArlington awards. The biennial awards program recognizes excellence in design, showcasing the best of Arlington.

"This year's DESIGNArlington winners have set the bar for design excellence in Arlington," said County Board Chair Libby Garvey. "The projects creatively overcome design challenges, preserve the fabric of our neighborhoods and contribute to the quality of our community."

"A jury of local design professionals reviewed a significant number of highly qualified entries and selected an outstanding group of projects that contribute to the quality of Arlington's built environment," said Bob Duffy, Planning Director for Arlington County.

Judges examined 54 entries for the award. The winners include public art, new construction, and renovations of private homes and commercial space. Images of the winning works can be found on the DESIGNArlington website.

The winners will be recognized by the County Board at its recessed meeting on February 23. A separate awards ceremony, free and open to the public, will be held  at 6 p.m. on Thursday, February 25, 2016 at Bennett Park Atrium.

2015 Winners

Awards of Excellence

• Wakefield High School — replacement facility designed for 21^st Century learning and shared use with the public.


• Discovery Elementary School — new school that reaches the highest standards in instructional space, sustainability, operating costs and flexibility.


• 2332 Tuckahoe Street — restoration and remodel of a 1919 Sears bungalow, saved from demolition in the East Falls Church neighborhood.


• The Hyde — humanely-scaled, multi-family by-right development on the edge of Lyon Park that includes natural materials and light-filled spaces.


• Arlington Mill Community Center — community facility with iconic civic presence on the western end of Columbia Pike; an example of environmentally-responsible design.


• The Maxwell — eco-friendly multi-family residential community with LEED Gold rating, mixed-uses and on-site amenities.

 Merit Awards

• Rocky Run Park — new community park in the Clarendon-Courthouse neighborhood with emphasis on a variety of users and integration with the surrounding residential community.


• Arlington Boulevard — art enhancements of new bridges and retaining walls that connect Arlington Boulevard/Route 50 to the Courthouse-Clarendon neighborhoods. Programmable LED lighting provides nighttime interest and intricate concrete patterns create memorable landmarks at these entries to Arlington.


• "Ripple" (Water Pollution Control Plant Fence Enhancement) - design enhancement of over 800 linear feet of fence panels and brightly-colored "widgets," based on the designers' interpretation of tools and methods used at the plant.


• 3001-3003 Washington Boulevard — commercial office that used transfer of density rights to preserve two off-site landmark buildings as well as the façade preservation and restoration of two historical buildings on-site.


• Davis Place — affordable housing in the Nauck neighborhood that aims to provide opportunity for first-time home buyers, designed to encourage neighbor interaction.

Evaluation Process

The entries were not in competition with each other, but rather evaluated according to their own merits. A panel of jurors examined the quality of each overall design and determined the number of awards to be granted.

The four jurors were:

• Charles Matta, FAIA, Architect, US-GSA Public Buildings Service


• Liesel Fenner, ASLA, Public Art Program Director, Maryland State Arts Council


• Lan Hogue, RLA, Senior Associate, Michael Vergason Landscape Architects


• Karen Conkey, AIA, Karen Conkey Architects

 Background

DESIGNArlington is a biennial awards program, launched in 2009, aimed at increasing public awareness of outstanding design. The program recognizes design work that enhances all aspects of the County's built environment, such as notable architectural, historic preservation, landscape and public art projects. Residents, property owners, developers and members of the design community submit nominations for new construction, renovations, additions or adaptive re-use projects. Eligible projects must have been completed within the last 10 years.