We had a “loganberry” good time at the 2024 Excellence in Design Awards Program. We thank AIA Buffalo for jurying our awards this year.
The ceremony was hosted at the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company Theater, the 2014 Baltimore Architecture Foundation (BAF) Golden Griffin Award Winner and 2015 Excellence in Design Awards Honorable Mention, renovated by Cho Benn Holbeck (now Quinn Evans Architects) and Southway Builders.
First to announce their awards was Baltimore Architecture Foundation (BAF). This year’s award categories included the Roger D. Redden Award, the Golden Griffin Award, The Jim Dilts Award, the People’s Choice Award, the Future Architects Resources (FAR) Committee Student Scholarships.
Roger D. Redden Award
The Roger D. Redden Award is presented annually to an individual who has demonstrated a dedication to architecture and furthering its understanding in Baltimore.
Klaus Philipsen, FAIA
With decades of experience, Philipsen has been a vocal advocate for sustainable development, historic preservation, and thoughtful urban design. He influenced vital projects shaping Baltimore’s landscape through his architectural practice, ArchPlan, and civic engagement. His dedication to fostering public discourse around the built environment is evident in his writings, his blog, “community architect daily,” and his participation in city planning initiatives. Philipsen’s work bridges the gap between design and community, making architecture accessible and relevant.
Among his many roles, he was a founding board member of the 1000 Friends of Maryland, a well-respected statewide growth management group and the “D Center,” a non-profit design center in Baltimore, and a past chair of the Urban Design Committee of AIA Baltimore. Additionally he served for 20 years on the national Regional and Urban Design Committee of AIA (RUDC). By championing smart growth and equity in urban development, Klaus has contributed to the physical transformation of Baltimore and helped elevate the conversation around architecture’s role in improving quality of life, aligning perfectly with the values of the Roger D. Redden Award.
Baltimore Architecture Foundation is pleased to present the 2024 Roger Redden Award to Klaus Philipsen.
Photo of Klaus Philipsen, FAIA by Side A Photography
Golden Griffin Award
BAF’s Golden Griffin Award honors a group or institution for its exemplary contribution to, or stewardship of, Baltimore’s built environment. The Golden Griffin trophy consists of a stone from the Maryland Club salvaged from the building’s fire, and a gilded griffin inspired by those that grace the art deco landmark, former Baltimore Trust Company Building at 10 Light Street. The recipient of this award will keep this hefty reminder of their weighty contributions to Baltimore architecture for the coming year.
Black Women Build – Baltimore
Black Women Build-Baltimore was founded in 2017 by Shelley Halstead who believes that for Black women to build intergenerational wealth, with the inherent security and prosperity it can generate, they must also learn the skills necessary to maintain that wealth. Home ownership and the ability to maintain that asset is one way this can be achieved.
BWBB purchases the ruins of old houses from the city for reconstructions. Since its start in 2019, the organization has rehabilitated 13 houses. To help keep their houses affordable, BWBB works with the Committee on Historical and Architectural Preservation (CHAP), which provides a 10-year tax credit on the property value increase resulting from rehabilitation work. In addition, Halstead is transforming other blighted buildings into social “third places” like a cafe and an art gallery.
BWBB is not only physically repairing neglected rowhouses, but as each house turns into a home and homeowners become neighbors, they are rebuilding communities in historically disenfranchised neighborhoods.
Photo of Shelley Halstead accepting the Golden Griffin Award by Side A Photography
Jim Dilts Award
The Jim Dilts Award was created in memory of author, Baltimore Sun newspaperman, and BAF board member James D. Dilts. As a founding member of BAF’s ‘Dead Architects Society’ Jim authored and edited many books, including A Guide to Baltimore Architecture. The Jim Dilts award is a monetary prize that is awarded to an individual who creates publicly accessible works that celebrate or educate about Baltimore architecture, past, present, or future.
Nick Redding and PreserveCast
Nick is the President & CEO of Preservation Maryland, where he has served since 2014, leading the charge to protect and celebrate the architectural heritage of Baltimore and beyond. Under his leadership, Preservation Maryland has grown significantly, launching programs such as Smart Growth Maryland and the Campaign for Historic Trades, which trains the next generation of preservationists in partnership with the National Park Service.
Nick is also the host of PreserveCast, a popular podcast that shares stories of preservation efforts from around the world, highlighting the importance of our history in shaping the future. His work not only preserves Baltimore’s architectural treasures but also educates and inspires others to take part in safeguarding our shared heritage. For his tireless efforts in making Baltimore’s history accessible to all, we are proud to present Nick Redding with the Jim Dilts Award.
Photo of Nick Redding accepting the Jim Dilts Award by Side A Photography
People’s Choice Award
Emmanuel Episcopal Church – Moseley Architects
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- Photos by Kevin Weber/ Moseley Architects
Since its founding in 1854, Emmanuel Episcopal Church has been in its original building in Baltimore’s Mount Vernon neighborhood. The building contains multiple historic and well-maintained spaces for worship, performances, and gathering that were being used by the congregation and a variety of community and arts groups. However, these spaces were not accessible. Taking seriously its baptismal covenant to “respect the dignity of every human being” and seeking to be a welcoming place for all people, Emmanuel completed a renovation that connects the whole building via an elevator, provides accessible all-gender toilets, and adds a new exterior entry to the lower level. Besides meeting these functional requirements, the renovation matches the quality of the historic building while staying within a limited budget through careful use of materials. Instead of relegating the disabled to a utilitarian appendage, the elevator anchors a hub that is an integral part of the structure used by all. When many churches and other “third places” and community anchors are struggling, the resulting transformation not only keeps a historic building in active use, but it allows Emmanuel to grow and thrive so that it can continue its mission into the future.
Photo by Side A Photography
FAR Scholarship Awards
The Future Architects Resources (FAR) Committee created a scholarship program for students pursuing careers in architecture that awards design excellence. Winning projects demonstrate innovation, social responsibility, environmental stewardship, and critical thinking. The FAR Scholarship is a joint program between Baltimore Architecture Foundation, AIA Baltimore, and AIA National.
Undergraduate Student Design Award + Scholarship
Project 3 – Visitors Center by Lee Tomolonis of Morgan State University.
Lee’s Visitors Center (also described as the ‘Pavilion for a Criminal’) has a clear intent and strong concept that is presented in a playful and engaging graphic style. All jurors agreed that the orthographic drawings were uniquely compelling – from the graffiti coloring the sections to custom restroom sinks that match the outdoor pavers in the plan. Hand-drawn vignettes were excellent companions to support the bold, stylistic renderings and lead jurors through this student’s thoughtful design process. Lee also showed an advanced level of landscape design, intentional inclusion of sustainable materials, and dedication to social equity. The pavilion for a “criminal” truly subverts the prison architecture it drew inspiration from.
Graduate Student Design Award + Scholarship
“Hydro Haven” by Evan Cage of Morgan State University.
Evan’s Hydro Haven is sensitive to its context while showcasing an incredible amount of research and technical knowledge. A thorough site analysis revealing flood patterns clearly supports the need for water harvesting on the site. Inhabitants could live and work within the water cycle, with walking paths and building entrances side by side with the channels and sloped roofs funneling water down the natural slope of the site. Diagrams drawn directly on the plans and sections helped to show, not tell, the many sustainable strategies used in Evan’s design. Jurors were especially impressed by the knowledge of structural and MEP systems shown in wall sections and exploded axons, and the beautiful physical model included in the submission.
