The county and BIA team up to recognize construction and design industry
Those in the development community creating homes and buildings that are not only functional, but add to the beauty of the community through design, will be recognized this month. The city of Vancouver- and Clark County-sponsored Community Pride Design Awards and the Building Industry Association of Clark County’s Building Excellence Awards are teaming up for the second consecutive year to recognize local winners.
The Community Pride Design Awards are in their 10th year. The program was established in 1996 by various public and private organizations within Clark County as a means of recognizing outstanding buildings, development and civic improvements. A 23-member committee representing public and private interests narrowed down the 24 nominations received this year to six winners. The recognized projects were chosen for their outstanding and unique efforts in architectural design, community enhancement and involvement, public facilities and commercial development. Several large projects were included in this year’s winners, including the Hilton Vancouver and Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital. But size isn’t everything. While the Legacy hospital amazes with its modern design and state-of-the-art technology, the restoration of the Farrell Building in Camas qualified as award-winning work. The 1920s building, originally designed by architect John Roffler, was historically renovated to ensure its survival for years to come. The two-story building includes retail space in the basement and on the ground floor with apartments above.
Desiree de Monye, Clark County community development and committee member, said projects are not compared with each other, rather, she said, "We think about the community it is in and how it is benefiting that community." Not only are the finished products critiqued, but the community involvement created during the development of the project matters, too. Three projects have been selected for honorable mention.
This represents the fourth year the BIA has presented its Building Excellence Awards. Twenty-four nominations were received this year. Awards will be given in 14 categories. The program was created to recognize quality projects. If a deserving nomination doesn’t fit into one of the categories, another is usually created, said BIA Public Affairs Director Joel White.
"If it is a quality project, we want to find a way to recognize it," he said.
Projects are chosen based on innovation, difficulty, uniqueness, quality and creating a safe workplace.
"The goal is to recognize the best in the industry and, over time, raise the standards of construction in Clark County," said White.
White singled out the winner of the infill/affordable category as a project that stands out in this year’s awards. The Camas home was built by Cobblestone Homes, owned by Doug and Andrea Woltersdorf. The small plot was passed over by many other builders not wanting to take on the challenges it posed. Doug Woltersdorf said the lot was very narrow and had a 45 to 50 degree slope at the rear, and a significant amount of rock had to be excavated to bring the lot closer to street level.
"Trying to make it all fit together was a challenge," said Woltersdorf. "With a medium price range home, making the project profitable was a challenge."
Aside from the lot, designing a two-story house that measures only 22 feet from front to rear and not make it look like a shoe box was yet another challenge, he said. Project architect Design NW incorporated prairie-style architecture reflective of Frank Lloyd Wright designs. The result is a 1,844-square-foot home with a detached two-car garage. Woltersdorf said the home sold to the first buyer who looked at it for $274,900.
The ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18 at the Hilton Vancouver. For more information contact Kathi Curtis, Clark County Department of Community Development, at 360-397-2375 ext. 4382.
The 2005 Community Pride Design Awards winners:
Clark College Penguin Student Union, Vancouver: Brockamp and Jaeger Inc., contractor; Opsis Architecture, architect
Clark County Fairgrounds Exhibition Center: Hoffman Construction Co., contractor; Barrentine, Bates, Lee AIA, Doug Pruitt, LMN Architects, architect
Esther Short Commons, Vancouver: R&H Construction; William Wilson Architects, architect
Farrell Building (restoration), Camas: CamVest Developments, owner/contractor
Hilton Vancouver: FaulknerUSA, contractor; Fletcher Farr Ayotte P.C., architect
Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital: Skanska USA Building Inc., contractor; Zimmer Gunsul Fransca Partnership Design Team, architect
Honorable mention:
Historic Summit Grove Lodge, Ridgefield
La Center K-8 renovation and addition
Plum Meadows Apartments, Vancouver
The 2005 Building Excellence Award Winners:
Under $300,000: Pacific Lifestyle Homes for Mapleton Cottage; Ned Sampson, Design Department, PLH, architect/designer
$300,000 to $500,000: Quail Homes for Quail Landing at Granite Highlands
$500,000 to $1 million: Soaring Eagle Homes for the home of Rob and Shawn Oliver; Alan Mascord Design, architect/designer
Over $1 million: Ken Winkelman, general contractor for home in La Center
Multifamily: Team Construction for Cascadia Village; Carleton-Hart Architecture, architect/designer
Condo/townhome: Boulevard Homes for The Woodlands
In-fill/affordable: Cobblestone Homes for home in Camas; Doug Woltersdorf & Design NW, architect/designer
Residential exterior or landscaping: Woods Landscaping for French Country Parade Home; Teresa Dennis/Garden Design, architect/designer,
Residential remodel over $250,000: Kashas Remodeling for home in Camas; Chris Miller, architect/designer
Residential remodel under $250,000: T-Square Remodeling; Megan Barcroft, T-Square Remodeling Inc., architect/designer
Residential addition: Foes & Sullivan for the home of Dale & Heidi Brandenburg; Foes & Sullivan Builders Inc., architect/designer
Best kitchen remodel: Kashas Remodeling for the home of John & Julie Kuhlman; Chris Miller, architect/designer
Best bathroom remodel: Kashas Remodeling for the home of Erik Kilgore; Chris Miller, architect/designer
New/renovated commercial under $3 million: Team Construction for Koplan’s remodel; Harder Architecture LLC, architect/designer,
New/renovated commercial over $3 million: RSV Construction for the RS Medical building; Architects Associative, architect/designer,
