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Business Architecture Awards

This statewide award honors architects and their clients whose projects help achieve the client’s business goals and/or create outsized impact through the design of the built environment.

Award categories: (1) Projects designed for businesses employing less than 50 people, and (2) Projects designed for businesses employing 50 or more people

2024 Registration Opens: March 20
Registration Deadline: April 24
Submission Deadline: May 8

2024 Jurors

Annie Adams
Norfolk Southern Headquarters
Atlanta, GA
2022 Business Architecture Excellence Winner

Bob Labanara
Wohlsen Construction
Hamden, CT

Rodney Nelson
Pickard Chilton
New Haven, CT

Excellence

Bessemer Venture Partners | Amenta Emma Architects

Photo: Robert Benson Photography

Jury comments: The soft lines, curved planning, and ceiling treatments bring a level of comfort to the space and suggest a dynamic moving space. The muted material tones and soft lighting also add to that welcoming feel. Skillful connection of early 20th century with early 21st century. Great use of recyclables and notable arch features.

Excellence

Grid Iron Capital, LLC | CPG Architects

Photo: kpn Photo

Jury comments: Kudos for commitment to honoring New Canaan roots; incorporating existing brick; and producing a creative solution to elevation challenges. The preservation of an older building is a great sustainability story. Overall, an inspiring work environment that sets its occupants up for success on first sight.

Excellence

The Village | CPG Architects

Photo: Landino Photo

Jury comments: An impressive redevelopment that appears to include a wide variety of amenities. Care and attention have clearly been given to ensuring the project has high quality finishes while revealing the underlaying structure of the building. Incredible final result that truly embraces the full life-cycle of work, live, play. An exciting transformation and an interesting concept.

Merit

Maxx Properties | CPG Architects

Photo: kpn Photo

Jury comments: The design appears to create a good sense of community with communal spaces and wide sweeping circulation. The central communal space is great, and clearly reflects the design aspiration of open, bright, natural, collaborative, and flexible space. Excellent use of design and materials to foster an appropriate post-COVID transition/return to the workplace.

Architects practicing and located in Connecticut may submit design projects completed in the past 5 years. AIA membership is not required.

The Architect of Record must be noted in the submission.

Clients need to occupy the premises as a place of business, either for profit or not-for-profit. Development or speculative and institutional, educational, and residential projects will not be considered.

The submission form will require the following items:

  • Project name, client name, and project location
  • 250-word project description that includes:
    • Square footage and site information (as relevant and/or applicable)
    • Brief synopsis of the project and design rationale
  • Maximum of 12, minimum of 8 high resolution photos following these guidelines:
    • Maximum of 10MB per photo
    • Minimum of 6 photos that demonstrate the work completed on behalf of the client
    • Maximum of 3 additional photos with support information such as organizational diagrams, plans, or unique attributes that inspired and supported the design response
    • All photos must be properly oriented as jurors will not be able to rotate them
    • Do not include firm identification in the file names or photos
    • All photography permissions and releases are the responsibility of the submitting architect
  • Client support document that includes the following:
    • A letter of support from the Client with the reason for consideration of the project, overall Client satisfaction with both the project and design team, and any links between the project and Client growth
    • A one- to two-page summary (250-300 words) of the project program, including a description of the design challenge, how the team addressed the design issues, and documentation of the success the business realized as a result of the design. The support letter should NOT identify the architecture firm but should reference only the “Architect” or “Designer”
  • Photographer’s name/photo release
  • List of project team members with names and email

Do not include any identifying firm information in any part of your submission. This includes file names because they are visible to jurors. Submissions with identifying information will automatically be disqualified.

Jurors will take into consideration and acknowledge:

  • Evidence that design contributed to business success (growth, service, impact, or other criteria as outlined by the Client)
  • Design quality
  • Sustainability features
  • Client support for the submission
  • AIA Connecticut member: $100.00
  • Member of another AIA component: $200.00
  • Non-Member Registered Architect: $400.00
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