Watson Tate Savory wins three AIA South Carolina design awards
May 8, 2018
Watson Tate Savory (WTS) is delighted to report that our projects received three design awards from the SC chapter of the American Institute of Architects on April 19, at the annual awards gala held in Lake City. The only Honor Award of the evening for Adaptive Reuse went to the City of Columbia Water & Wastewater Distribution Facility. Awards in this category recognize “thoughtful interventions that create synergy between old and new.” UNC Charlotte’s School of Arts + Architecture Dean’s Suite received a Merit Award for Interior Architecture, in recognition of “outstanding interiors created by architects,” and the City of Columbia project won an additional Merit Award for New Construction.
Tulane School of Architecture professor, Emilie Taylor Welty, AIA, chaired the awards jury for Adaptive Reuse, and said of the City of Columbia project:
“This is an exemplary project that remakes a collection of banal buildings into something noble, sustainable, and thoughtful. The design approach to the site shows great thoughtfulness and restraint. The jury was impressed by the way this design values sustainability, and believe it will serve as a case study for adaptive reuse in South Carolina and beyond.”
Welty, also jury chair for Interior Architecture, shared the following comments about the UNCC Dean’s Suite renovation:
“This project impressed us for its clever and counter-intuitive approach to interiors. The design allows daylight to move through the spaces, and the team explained their design intent with clear and well-drawn diagrams.”
Trey Trahan, FAIA, Founder & CEO of New Orleans -based Trahan Architects, chaired the jury for New Construction, and further commented on the City of Columbia project, saying:
“The architect’s high ambition for this project and client deserves recognition. Attention to detail is evident in the delicate exterior louvers and entry sequence into the naturally lit building. Through the use of innovation and restraint the owner and the architect can be justifiably proud of this project.”
Watson Tate Savory is pleased to have had the opportunity to work with both the City of Columbia and UNC Charlotte on these exceptional projects.
About Watson Tate Savory
An award-winning architecture firm with offices in both Columbia, South Carolina, and Charlotte, North Carolina, Watson Tate Savory received the 2014 American Institute of Architects (AIA) South Carolina Firm Award, the highest honor bestowed on an AIA South Carolina firm and presented only nine times in AIA SC’s history. Central to their design approach is a deep regard for the people who use their buildings and the contexts in which their buildings are placed. Since 1989, WTS’s projects have received more than 60 design awards and have been featured in numerous national and regional publications. For more information and to view their portfolio of projects, please visit www.watsontatesavory.com.
