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| Prism Awards presented for tour de force use of marble & stone The $10,000 Grand Prize in this year's Prism Stone in Architecture Awards was presented to the 90 West Street Building, a survivor of 9/11. The Prism Awards for outstanding use of marble or stone in architecture and design were announced at the opening ceremony of Coverings, the world's leading exposition and conference for tile and stone in Orlando, Florida. Constructed in 1905 by Cass Gilbert and known as the Coal & Iron Building, 90 West Street was designated a historic landmark in 1998 and actually was in the midst of a restoration and repurposing project for residential apartments when the fateful 2001 attack occurred. What swayed the judges to award 90 West Street the top Prism prize was the "brilliant engineering feat" the post-9/11 restoration represented as timing and location constraints were overcome while preserving the historic integrity of the building all within the parameters of the Landmarks Commission. Original granite was reused wherever possible. The team developed a method of removal and reinstallation of nearly all of the north elevation. In just eight weeks, that was completed, along with hand setting pieces and infill, using a panelized system. Also legendary architect Hugh Newell Jacobsen wowed the judges, taking First Prize for his design of a picturesque stone house in Snowmass Village, Aspen, CO. The Award of Merit and $1,000 was conferred upon an extraordinary yellow limestone construction dubbed "The Rain Catcher, " submitted by Nayana Currimbhoy. For its work on behalf of Denver's World Trade Center Plaza, Design Workshop received the Prism Award of Merit and $1,000 cash prize in the commercial category. The recent expansion of the Albuquerque Museum of Art & History has yielded a stunning study in stone and a First Prize Prism Award plus $2,000 cash prize for Rocky Mountain Stone's involvement in the project. Inside and out, stone was instrumental in the design of the Michigan Hall of Justice in Lansing, MI, and this outstanding example was acknowledged with the Award of Merit going to the Miami-based architectural firm Spillis Candela DMJM. A Special Award of Merit for Detail and $1,000 were presented to Rugo Stone, LLC, Natural Stone & Mosaic Contractors of Lorton, VA, for its installation work on the Commodore Uriah P. Levy Center in Annapolis, MD. The Prism Stone in Architecture Awards is conducted annually by Coverings together with the Marble Institute of America and Architectural Record. In 2007, Coverings is set for April 17-20 and moves to Chicago's McCormick Place Convention Center. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Construction News :: home page |