Architects Hawaii Ltd. was the big winner at the 2014 Renaissance Awards gala staged by the Building Industry Association – Hawaii Wednesday night.
In a rare development for the annual awards program, the company won two Overall Grand Awards in different categories.
AHL won the Overall Grand Award in the new commercial construction category for the FBI Field Office in Kapolei, as well as the Overall Grand Award in the commercial remodeling category for an overhaul of its own office space.
The FBI Field Office received a Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council for such aspects as 50,000 square feet of photovoltaic panels filling 20 percent of the building’s power demand and drought-resistant xeriscape landscaping. The building’s architectural design incorporates cultural inspiration as well as environmentally conscious technology.
AHL is seeking LEED Silver certification for its office space, for which "green" materials were used in furnishings, finishes, carpeting and various other elements which were manufactured with recycled contents.
The project enabled all of its employees to be situated in 17,000 square feet on the same floor of the Pacific Guardian Tower.
The use of glass, including movable partitions, maximizes natural daylight, which is supplemented with energy-efficient lighting and occupancy sensors.
Low partitions also maximize light flow through the space and create an open, collaboration-encouraging environment.
The Overall Grand Award for new residential construction was presented to architecture and interior design firm Cleve & Levin Inc. for its work on the Wathen Residence.
Billed as a showplace for entertaining, the home offers both professional workspaces and private living quarters, all of original design. Sustainable, recycled teak from Bali is used throughout the home, which also features teak and travertine flooring, and countertops of marble and granite.
Hale Pacific Heights Place was the Overall Grand winner for residential remodeling design and building work that highlighted views of Pauoa Valley and Punchbowl.
The project was entered by Green Sand Architecture + Sustainability along with general contractor Hawaii Renovators Inc.
The Carl Reppun Award, presented annually to a remodeler, went this year to Mokulua High Performance Builder, a unit of Mokulua Woodworking Ltd., for the Peaceful Plantation at Kainui Place in Kailua. The home is LEED Platinum-certified despite a strict budget. Interior paint, adhesives, cabinetry, trim and other components used in the project were NoVOC products, which emit no volatile organic compounds.
Humidity-sensing and control measures tied in to exhaust and continuous ventilation planning, maintain fresh air-flow though the house, to which additional measures were added to insulate the home against heat. A skylight and light tunnels maximize natural lighting.
The BIA-Hawaii Renaissance Awards honor excellence in design and construction, both for new construction and remodeling work.
Judges consider creativity, materials, visual appeal, environmental and sustainability factors, functionality, principles of design, value, overall quality, interior space and workmanship in reviewing each entry and choosing award winners.
