Copper Awards Honor Design Excellence Across North America

by Jason Cramp | August 20, 2025 1:35 pm

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A world-class museum upgrade, the restoration of a beloved century-old community landmark, and the creation of a mountain retreat carved into its terrain: These are three of 10 winning entries in the 2025 North American Copper in Architecture Awards (NACIA), presented by the Copper Development Association (CDA).

Now in its 18^th year, the awards program recognizes copper design and craftsmanship in recent residential and commercial work across North America. As in previous years, the winning projects showcase architectural copper and copper alloys in roofs, facades, wall systems, and custom-fabricated elements. A panel of industry judges selected this year’s winners based on copper system design, integration with overall building design, craftsmanship, restoration or construction quality, and sustainable strategies.

New Construction Honorees

37 Hillside Senior Apartments
New York, N.Y.
Architects: SLCE Architects LLP, Architecture in Formation
General Contractor: Mega Contracting Group
Wall Cladding Installer: GGL Enterprises Inc

This 164-unit senior housing development uses 20-ounce double-lock standing seam copper cladding to reflect the natural changes of nearby Fort Tryon Park. As the facade patinas over time, it mirrors both the surrounding environment and the residents’ aging journey.

New England Biolabs Garden Site Facility Expansion
Ipswich, Mass.
Owner: New England Biolabs
Architect: ARC / Architectural Resources Cambridge
General Contractor: Columbia Construction
Fabricator: A. Zahner Company
Installer: Ipswich Bay Glass

A 15,329-m² (165,000-sf) campus addition uses nearly 2,787 m² (30,000 sf) of custom copper wall panels fabricated by Zahner. Designed to match the 2006 copper-clad lab building, the new panels were prototyped extensively to ensure visual consistency.

Portsmouth Abbey School Student Center
Portsmouth, R.I.
Architect: icon.5 architects
Sheet Metal Fabricator/Design Engineer: Crocker Architectural Sheet Metal Co., Inc.
Metal Finisher: DLSS Manufacturing

This new student hub includes a perforated, pre-patinated copper screen engineered from 48-ounce panels. The screen references historic campus buildings while moderating heat and solar gain. Copper also clads the soffits and roofing areas.

Snowmass Retreat
Snowmass, Colo.
Architect: Wheeler Kearns Architects
General Contractor: Hansen Construction, Inc.
Sheet Metal Contractor: GZO Sheet Metal & Roofing

Designed around a theme of “fire and ice,” this mountain home features quartzite stone walls and copper wall panels, soffits, and roofing. The patinated copper responds to changing light, emphasizing seasonal shifts and durability in high alpine conditions.

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The Spirit Garden
Toronto, Ont.
Architects: Gow Hastings Architects, Two Row Architect (Indigenous architect)
Client: Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre and the City of Toronto
General Contractor: Buttcon Limited
Sheet Metal Contractor: Mariani Metal Fabricators Limited
Sculptor: Raymond Skye

Located at Nathan Phillips Square, this public memorial honors those affected by the Residential Schools program. The Teaching Lodge uses ash glulam framing and brass panels fabricated and assembled to resemble birchbark. Brass is also used in the engraved Three Sisters statue, visually connecting the architecture and landscape.

Restoration Honorees

Hillsdale County Courthouse Restoration
Hillsdale, Mich.
General Contractor: Renaissance Historic Interiors

This 1898 courthouse, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, received a full exterior restoration. Renaissance Historic Interiors recreated the sheet metal detailing on the 1909 clock tower, including Spanish-style copper panels and expansion-ready systems.

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Magic Chef Mansion Restoration
St. Louis, Mo.
General Contractor: Vince Graye Slate & Tile Roofing
Sheet Metal Contractor: Chicago Metal Supply

This 1908 mansion underwent a comprehensive copper roof restoration, including edge flashings, finials, cornices, and decorative weathervanes. Chicago Metal Supply fabricated the 20-ounce copper elements, which were installed over six months.

St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral
Chicago, Ill.
Owner: St. Nicholas Catholic Cathedral Parish
Consulting Architect: Nestor Popowych, AIA
Architect: JLK Architects
General Contractor: Berglund Construction Co.
Sheet Metal Contractor: Daprato Rigali Studios Inc.

Thirteen copper domes define this Neo-Byzantine cathedral. Restoration involved replacing deteriorated copper cladding, reconstructing rose windows with copper-clad steel frames, and restoring ornamental detailing using traditional and modern methods.

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Temple Emanu-El Dome Restoration
Birmingham, Ala.
Sheet Metal Contractor: CopperWorks Corp
Copper Ornament Fabricator: Ornametals Manufacturing, LLC

A 502-m² (5,400-sf) neoclassical copper dome, originally built in 1912, was restored using a standing seam roofing system and S5 clamps to eliminate roof penetrations. Ornametals fabricated the decorative copper pieces.

The Frick Collection: Reception Hall Copper Roof Replacement
New York, N.Y.
Architect: Beyer Blinder Belle
Project Architect: Selldorf Architects
Roof Architect: Simpson Gumpertz & Heger
Sheet Metal Contractor: Nicholson & Galloway, Inc.
General Contractor: Sciame Construction, LLC

A new period-appropriate batten seam copper roof was installed over the Reception Hall, part of a major renovation at The Frick. Grey-toned tin/zinc-coated copper caps the limestone parapets. Custom bronze and copper metalwork were also added throughout the museum.

“The 2025 winners not only showcase copper’s enduring beauty and versatility, but also set new standards for innovation and excellence in architectural design,” says Larry Peters, CDA Project Manager, Building Construction.

Each of the winning projects will be honored with a special commemorative award and will be recognized in CDA’s educational and industry outreach programs.

Source URL: https://www.metalarchitecture.com/news/daily-news/copper-awards-north-america/

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