AIA Corpus Christi Design Awards Program 2022 Winners

AIA Corpus Christi Design Awards Program 2022 Winners

From an innovative community gathering place to a stunning United States Land Port of Entry, here are the AIA Corpus Christi Design Awards Program 2022 Winners.

Uncommon Market will be located in Beeville, TX, USA.

Uncommon Market was awarded the Editor's Choice Award in the 2022 AIA Design Awards. Rendering provided by fresch Architects

Taking place every three years, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) – Corpus Christi Design Awards Program provides an avenue for AIA Corpus Christi member architects to be recognized by their peers for their outstanding achievements and dedication to excellence in architectural design. All submitted projects come from either member architects of AIA Corpus Christi or non-members whose structures are located in the Coastal Bend.

“Our goal is to have local architects honored by a jury of distinguished peers for their architectural design excellence and bring public awareness to the value of architectural practice,” Jay Porterfield (Solka Nava Torno Architects), AIA’s 2022 president, shared. In an exciting evening dedicated to celebrating the architectural talents in our community, the awards ceremony was held on Jan. 19 at the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History. Here, we spotlight each of the winners and their remarkable projects.

UNCOMMON MARKET

The Bend’s Editor’s Choice Award
Architect: fresch Architects

The Uncommon Market project was submitted in the “Unbuilt” category and will be located in Beeville, Texas once completed. According to the project’s submission summary, the structure will “serve as a food, beverage, event, education and community outreach hub with a focus on farm-to-table, sustainability, equity and community building.”

Uncommon Market was awarded the Editor’s Choice Award in the 2022 AIA Design Awards. Rendering provided by fresch Architects

Owner Dr. Dhaval Patel currently runs Uncommon Market’s programming out of his coffee shop, Coffee Barrel. However, as the program and its mission continue to evolve, the Uncommon Market is ready for its own home. The design for the new facility “adapts an existing historic linear wood-framed hardware store to house a commercial kitchen, an education/demonstration kitchen, dining/event space, retail space and support,” according to the project’s submission summary. Programming will flow out beyond the structure’s walls as designated areas will be designed for gardening, outdoor education, composting, recycling, outdoor cooking and more. Emma Freeman of fresch Architects spoke to the honor of receiving the Editor’s Choice Award from The Bend, and what she feels the Uncommon Market will bring to the Coastal Bend community.

Uncommon Market was awarded the Editor’s Choice Award in the 2022 AIA Design Awards. Rendering provided by fresch Architects

“This award is incredibly meaningful to us; not only as a recognition of our work but also as a confirmation of Dr. Patel’s vision to bring people together in ways that teach and increase our health, wellness and connectivity through community experience. Through previous involvement in Uncommon Market events, we have seen first-hand the positivity and sense of comradery that rallies around [it]. We feel that this new facility will allow the Uncommon Market to grow into its place in the Coastal Bend and extend its programs and vision, bringing people together in meaningful ways.”

DEL MAR COLLEGE GENERAL ACADEMIC AND MUSIC BUILDING PHASE II

Mayor’s Choice Award and AIACC AWARD OF MERIT #1
Jurors (for the Award of Merit): Michael Malone, FAIA; Brandi Rickels, AIA, Camille Jobe, AIA
Architect: Richter Architects

The Del Mar College General Academic and Music Building Phase II project was submitted in the “Institutional” category and is located in Corpus Christi, Texas. According to the project’s submission summary, this project contains “160,000 square feet of programmed spaces anchoring the main campus of a community college dating from the 1930s. Over the years, the campus has grown with buildings largely alone and aloof from each other with little attention to the creation of outdoor public spaces or connectivity.” The project received the Mayor’s Choice Award, decided upon by Corpus Christi Mayor Paulette Guajardo, as well as the Award of Merit, chosen by a juried panel of AIACC members.

Del Mar College General Academic and Music Building Phase II, Corpus Christi, TX.
The Del Mar College General Academic and Music Building Phase II was awarded the Mayor’s Choice Award and the AIACC Award of Merit in the 2022 AIA Design Awards. Photo provided by Richter Architects

According to Elizabeth Chu Richter, principal architect at Richter Architects, this design sprang from a “non-programmed opportunity to remake the core of this urban campus by integrating habitable and inviting outdoor rooms delineated by an enclave of new buildings programmed by this project. Composed as four rectangular blocks, orthogonally ordered with gaps between, this design generates intimate, shaded and wind-sheltered courtyards and infuses daylight into all the buildings.”

The Del Mar College General Academic and Music Building Phase II was awarded the Mayor's Choice Award and the AIACC Award of Merit in the 2022 AIA Design Awards.
The Del Mar College General Academic and Music Building Phase II was awarded the Mayor’s Choice Award and the AIACC Award of Merit in the 2022 AIA Design Awards. Photo provided by Richter Architects

Richter goes on to elaborate on what a structure like this brings to the Coastal Bend. “This project was inspired by the opportunity to bring energy, order, clarity and outdoor livability to the heart of Corpus Christi’s most historic higher education campus,” she shared. “The transparency and openness stand as an invitation to the Coastal Bend community that all are welcome to take part in higher education.”

MANILA AMERICAN CEMETERY VISITOR CENTER

AIACC AWARD OF MERIT #2
Jurors (for the Award of Merit): Michael Malone, FAIA; Brandi Rickels, AIA, Camille Jobe, AIA
Architect: Richter Architects

The Manila American Cemetery Visitor Center project was submitted in the “Civic/Institutional” category by Richter Architects and is located in Manila, Philippines. This project was brought to life 50 years after the American Cemetery and Monument/Chapel in Manila was built. The project was chosen as the second Award of Merit, chosen by a juried panel of AIACC members.

Manila American Cemetery located in Manila, Philippines.
The Manila American Cemetery Visitor Center was awarded the AIACC Award of Merit in the 2022 AIA Design Awards. Photo provided by Richter Architects

According to the project’s submission summary by Richter Architects, the center was “envisioned to tell the personal stories of the fallen who fought and died for freedom in the Pacific War. The 8,280 square-foot visitor center [needed to] be deferential to the existing Cemetery and Monument/Chapel apogee. The design sought to connect visually to the graves and the landscape of Southeast Asia where the battles were fought. The gravitas of history is told by the lives and letters of the heroes that lie in every direction a visitor may turn.”

The Manila American Cemetery Visitor Center was awarded the AIACC Award of Merit in the 2022 AIA Design Awards.
The Manila American Cemetery Visitor Center was awarded the AIACC Award of Merit in the 2022 AIA Design Awards. Photo provided by Richter Architects

Richter Architects strongly took into consideration the deep cultural and historical contexts of the site when designing the new center. “This site is dedicated to the memory of fallen heroes who fought and died in the Pacific during WWII,” Elizabeth Chu Richter shared. “The building’s modest scale and open vistas defer to the array of graves and the 1960 Monument to the missing. The building stands quietly and respectfully while visually connecting the exhibit and individual stories with the thousands of graves outside.”

THE FRIO RESIDENCE

People’s Choice Award
The People’s Choice Award Voting took place on The Bend’s website and was open to the public to cast their votes.
Architect: LEVY DYKEMA Architects

The Frio Residence project was submitted in the “Residental” category and is located in Real County, Texas. Inspired by the owner’s lifestyle and the desire to have a Texas Hill Country-designed home, the idea was to create a “comfortable residence where they could entertain friends and family while enjoying the spectacular views from the hilltop location,” according to the project’s submission summary. The project, submitted by LEVY DYKEMA Architects, took home the People’s Choice Award, as voted on by the public on The Bend’s website.

The owners of the home desired a residence that would “provide space and inspiration for their artistic endeavors as well as their business and work,” according to the project’s submission summary. Taking advantage of the beautiful and unique setting, the design takes into consideration the owner’s desire for comfort and their love of the surrounding topography. “The design is a spacious contemporary structure that has incorporated exterior decks for both day and nighttime outdoor living,” the summary continued.

The Frio Residence was awarded the People's Choice Award in the 2022 AIA Design Awards.
The Frio Residence was awarded the People’s Choice Award in the 2022 AIA Design Awards. Photo provided by: LEVY DYKEMA Architects

Bibiana Dykeama, principal architect at LEVY DYKEMA, spoke to the honor of receiving the People’s Choice Award for this project. “To be chosen by the public is a true honor,” she shared. “Architecture that appeals to people day by day and also enhances their lives is what we strive for. We thank everyone for their votes of confidence.”

The Frio Residence was awarded the People's Choice Award in the 2022 AIA Design Awards.
The Frio Residence was awarded the People’s Choice Award in the 2022 AIA Design Awards. Photo provided by: LEVY DYKEMA Architects

Dykema went on to share a few of her personal favorite design features of the project. “This home is perched on a mountain top with spectacular 180-degree views. It does not overwhelm the site; instead, the home and site both complement one another. The use of natural materials and the human scale of the home blend with the hill from a distance. We designed this project as a vacation home, but the clients decided to move there permanently. That is the indication of a successful project and a happy client.”

UNITED STATES LAND PORT OF ENTRY, COLUMBUS, NEW MEXICO

AIACC Award of Excellence #1
Jurors: Michael Malone, FAIA; Brandi Rickels, AIA, Camille Jobe, AIA
Architect: Richter Architects

The United States Land Port of Entry was submitted in the “Institutional” category by Richter Architects and is located in Columbus, New Mexico. The new port entry provides safe, efficient and expanded international entry processing for people and goods. According to the project’s submission summary, this new port entry design “aspires to welcome travelers to America with architecture that conveys our country’s better virtues – architecture that serves and respects all people, embraces culture, conserves resources, nurtures ecology, protects habitat, celebrates diversity and conveys a love of the land.” The project received the AIACC Award of Excellence, decided upon by a juried panel of AIA members.

U.S. Land Port of Entry, Columbus, New Mexico.
The United States Land Port of Entry was awarded the AIACC Award of Excellence in the 2022 AIA Design Awards. Photo provided by: Richter Architects

The project serves as a remote port of entry in the Chihuahuan Desert. “Best known for frontier history and Pancho Villa’s brief incursion, this border crossing now accommodates daily pedestrians, private vehicles, commercial (primarily agricultural) goods and 800-plus school children who cross each day to go to school in the United States,” the submission summary stated.

The United States Land Port of Entry was awarded the AIACC Award of Excellence in the 2022 AIA Design Awards.
The United States Land Port of Entry was awarded the AIACC Award of Excellence in the 2022 AIA Design Awards. Photo provided by: Richter Architects

Elizabeth Chu Richter of Richter Architects shared her favorite design features of this project. “This project strives to celebrate human qualities–namely the love of this beautiful land, the Chihuahuan Desert, and the power of nature that transcends borders. This is a hardworking and high-functioning Port that also speaks to both immigrants and visitors about the better qualities of America.”

INDIAN POINT PAVILION

AIACC Award of Excellence #2
Jurors: Michael Malone, FAIA; Brandi Rickels, AIA, Camille Jobe, AIA
Architect: Richter Architects

The Indian Point Pavilion was submitted in the “Civic” category by Richter Architects and is located in Portland, Texas. The location of the structure serves as a natural shoreline landmark dating back to the earliest settlements on Corpus Christi Bay. According to the project’s submission summary, the City of Portland, Texas desired to build “a multipurpose shade pavilion to support the diverse and holistic public activities at Indian Point Park while creating an architectural marker to express the city’s coastal culture and eco-ethics to visitors.” The project received the honor of AIACC’s second Award of Excellence which was selected by a juried panel of AIA members.

Indian Point Pavilion is located in Portland, Texas.
The Indian Point Pavillion was awarded the AIACC Award of Excellence in the 2022 AIA Design Awards. Photo provided by: Richter Architects

Due to the nature of this environment, structures typically aren’t long-lived. However for this project, “only marine grade stainless steel offered a demonstrable service life appropriate to institutional architecture,” according to the project’s submission summary. “Designed for hurricane wind and tidal loading, this pavilion sculpts 316-grade structural stainless-steel pipes and 22-gauge 316-grade standing seam panels into soaring and shining thin-shell vaults that shade visitors and beckon to passersby at land and sea.”

The Indian Point Pavillion was awarded the AIACC Award of Excellence in the 2022 AIA Design Awards.
The Indian Point Pavillion was awarded the AIACC Award of Excellence in the 2022 AIA Design Awards. Photo provided by: Richter Architects

The structure as a whole celebrates the beauty and power at the water’s edge. “The organic form of the shade structure is an innovative landmark that will serve the community for years to come at the famed historic fishing spot,” shared Elizabeth Chu Richter.

Each of the winning projects exemplifies the immense architectural talent in the Coastal Bend. Whether the structure itself or the team behind it resides here in our community, the 2022 AIA Design Awards Program winners showcase innovative artistry at its finest.