The ARCH335 Design|Build students of La. Tech University have won both an Honor Award and the sought-after Members Choice Award in the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Louisiana 2023 Design Awards. The awards were given on September 29 during the awards presentation of the AIA Louisiana 2023 Conference on Architecture, which was held in New Orleans.
ARCH335 won the awards for its design of Imago in Choudrant, an amphitheater and path network at a summer camp for children with special needs. The other four architecture firms to win Honor Awards were Rome Office, EskewDumezRipple, Trapolin-Peer, all of New Orleans; and WHLC Architecture of Baton Rouge in a joint venture with Schwartz Silver.
The new amphitheater and path network at the camp maximizes views of the lake. An expressive roof fabricated from reclaimed steel illuminates the night, while an asymmetrical plan and radial seating prioritize simplicity and flexibility. The judges stated, “There is a hand-wrought quality to this project that seems very fitting of its context. The texture and form create a wonderful experience.”
Firms receiving Merit Awards in the competition included Waggonner & Ball, EskewDumezRipple, SO Studio, Colectivo, Holly & Smith Architects, and Nathan Fell Architecture, all of New Orleans.
A total 74 entries were judged in the competition by a jury of nationally recognized architects.
