by Jonathan McGaha | November 17, 2013 12:00 am
A welcoming park shelter in Iowa, a light-filled worship center, a boldly-realized home in Madison, Wis., an artful pavilion at Aurora’s RiverEdge Park, a visually-appealing Chicago school and an elegant architect’s studio in Des Moines took top honors at the Association of Licensed Architects[1] (ALA) 15th Annual Design Awards, which recognized projects in five states for design and construction achievement.
A total of 41 presidential, gold, silver, and merit awards were presented in categories that included: commercial, institutional, residential, renovation, religious, interior and unbuilt.
The highest honor, the Don Erickson Presidential Award, went to The Walker Johnston Shelter House in Urbandale, Iowa, designed by Brent Schipper, ALA and Kurtis Wogast, ASK Studio, Des Moines, Iowa. The collaboration by the park district, taxpayers and the architect produced a strong yet light and transparent park district building with an expected useful life of a century and a FEMA shelter that can protect up to 600 people. Judges lauded it as a successful multipurpose building, noting that it “exudes safety yet is cozy, warm and comfortable, creating space in which to sit on a cold winter day or a place to gather for conversation on a summer evening.” The project also won a Silver Award in the commercial category.
“This year’s winning architecture firms displayed exceptional creativity,” said Joanne Sullivan, ALA Executive Director. “Our judges were impressed with use of natural materials, beautiful light-filled environments and finely-crafted details that the projects showcased.”
Gold Award winners included Harding Partners for New Faith Baptist Church International Worship Center, Matteson, IL; Bruns Architecture for Midvale Courtyard House, Madison, WI; Muller & Muller, Ltd. For John C. Dunham Pavilion at Aurora RiverEdge Park, Aurora, IL; UrbanWorks, Ltd., for Galewood School, Chicago and ASK Studio for ASK Studio, Des Moines, IA.
Architects, contractors, owners/developers and guests attended the recent award presentation, which was emceed by Geoffrey Baer, WTTW Emmy winning producer recognized for numerous programs on Chicago architecture.
Entries were evaluated by a panel of judges, including: Mike Breclaw, AIA, LEED AP, Principal and Director of Design with OKW Architects; Stephen Cavanaugh, ALA, LEED AP, Principal and Regional Design Leader, DLR Group, Chicago; Cheryl A. Ciecko, ALA, AIA, LEED AP, President of CCG + Architects, Inc. and Midwest Region Director for WoodWorks; Bob Davidson, FALA, AIA, LEED AP, Chief Architect for The Austin Company, Cleveland, OH and Keelan Kaiser, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, architect at Serena Sturm Architects, Chicago and Professor of Architecture and Chair of the Department of Architecture at Judson University
The Presidential Award is named for the founder and first president of ALA, Don Erickson (1929 – 2006), who formed the association in 1998, and was a student and protégé of Frank Lloyd Wright.
The ALA Awards reception was sponsored by Andersen Windows, IMAGINiT Technologies, Marvin Windows and Doors and Moen/Creative Specialties International.
Category: Commercial
Walker Johnston Shelter House, Urbandale, IL
ASK Studio, Des Moines, IA
Brent Schipper, ALA, Kurtis Wogast, Designers
Rochon Corporation, Contractor
City of Urbandale Parks & Recreation, Owner
Category: Religious
New Faith Baptist Church International Worship Center, Matteson, Ill.
Harding Partners, Chicago
Paul Harding, FAIA, ALA, Designer
Powers and Sons, Contractor
New Faith Baptist Church International, Owners
Category: Renovation
Midvale Courtyard House, Madison, Wis.
Bruns Architecture, Madison
Stephen Bruns, ALA, Designer
Dino Maniaci and Jason Hoke, Owners
Category: Institutional
John C, Dunham Pavilion at Aurora RiverEdge Park, Aurora, Ill.
Muller & Muller, Ltd., Chicago
David Steele, Designer
R.C. Wegman Construction, Contractor
City of Aurora, Owners
Category: Institutional
Galewood School, Chicago, IL
UrbanWorks, Ltd., Chicago, Designer
FH Paschen, Contractor
United Neighborhood Organization, Owner
Category: Interior Architecture
ASK Studio, Des Moines, IA
ASK Studio, Des Moines, IA
Michael Kastner, Brent Schipper, ALA, Designers
Munro Construction Company, Contractor
ASK Studio, Owner
Category: Renovation
White Oak Library District-Romeoville Branch Renovation, Romeoville, Ill.
Dewberry Architects Inc., Elgin, Ill.
Brian Meade, ALA, Designer
The Lombard Company, Contractor
White Oak Library District Library Board, Owner
Category: Commercial
Walker Johnston Shelter House, Urbandale, Iowa
ASK Studio, Des Moines, IA
Brent Schipper, ALA, Kurtis Wogast, Designers
Rochon Corporation, Contractor
City of Urbandale Parks & Recreation, Owner
Category: Institutional
Tioga School, Bensenville, Ill.
STR Partners, Chicago, Designer
Gilbane Building Company, Contractor & Developer
Bensenville Elementary School District 2, Owner
Category: Commercial
The Glass Cube, Skokie, Ill.
JGMA, Chicago
Juan Moreno, ALA, Jason Nuttelman, Cosmin Brajitour, David Ruffing, Linda Chavez, Designers
Graycor Construction Inc., Contractor
Westfield, LLC, Owner
Category: Commercial
Terry Trueblood Lodge, Iowa City, Iowa
ASK Studio, Des Moines, IA
Michael Kastner, Amber von Arb, Designers
Tricon Construction Group, Contractor
City of Iowa City, Owner
Category: Renovation
Livingston County Courthouse Interior Renovation, Pontiac, Ill.
Dewberry Architects Inc., Elgin, Designer
Frederick Quinn Corporation, Contractor
Livingston County, Owner
Category: Interior Architecture
INVISION Waterloo, Waterloo, Iowa
INVISION Architecture, Waterloo
Kate Payne, Designer
Cardinal Construction, Contractor
INVISION Architecture, Owner
Category: Renovation
Hillshire Brands Corporate Headquarters Redesign and Redevelopment, Chicago
Proteus Group LLC, Chicago, Designer
Leopardo Companies Inc., Contractor
Sterling Bay Companies, Developer & Owner
Category: Renovation
First United Methodist Church of Arlington Heights, Arlington Heights, Ill.
Jaeger Nickola Kuhlman & Associates Ltd., Park Ridge, Ill., Designer
Efraim Carlson & Son, Inc., Contractor
First United Methodist Church of Arlington Heights, Owner
Category: Interior Architecture
CVS Caremark Advanced Technology Pharmacy, Mount Prospect, Ill.
Heitman Architects Incorporated, Itasca, Ill., Designer
Skender Construction, Contractor
The Alter Group, Developer
CVS Caremark, Owner
Category: Residential 2
Country Club Hills Wellness Center, Chicago
Harley Ellis Devereaux, Chicago
Susan King, FAIA, LEED AP, Designer
Walsh Construction, Contractor
South Suburban PADS, Owner & Developer
Category: Commercial
Cedar Falls Public Works Complex, Cedar Falls, Iowa
INVISION Architecture, Waterloo, Iowa
Brad Leeper, Jeff Oltmann, Tim Turnis, Michael Bechtel, Designer
Cardinal Construction, Contractor
City of Cedar Falls, Owner
Category: Interior Architecture
Cathedral of St. Paul Organ Case, St. Paul, Minn.
Duncan G. Stroik Architect, LLC, South Bend, Ind.
Duncan Stroik, ALA, Forest Walton, Designers
JE Dunn Construction, Contractor
Cathedral of St, Paul, Father John Ubel, Owner
Category: Interior Architecture
ZenithOptimedia, Chicago
NELSON, Chicago
William Hollander, AIA, ALA, LEED AP BD+C, Designer
Clune Construction, Contractor
ZenithOptimedia, Owner
Category: Renovation
Wayne State University Chemistry Building, Detroit, Mich.
Harley Ellis Devereaux, Chicago
Sam Bayne, FAIA, LEED AP, Designer
DeMaria Building Co., Inc., Contractor
Wayne State University, Owner
Category: Institutional
W. A. Johnson School, Bensenville, IL
STR Partners, Chicago, Designer
Gilbane Building Company, Contractor
Bensenville Elementary School District 2, Owner
Category: Renovation
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign-Lincoln Hall, Champaign-Urbana, Ill.
Cannon Design, Chicago, Architect of Record and Design
Bailey Edward, Associate Architect
Williams Brothers Construction Inc., Contractor
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Owner
Category: Institutional
University of Illinois-Chicago, Douglas Hall, Chicago
The Architects Enterprise, Ltd., Chicago & Harley Ellis Devereaux, Chicago in collaboration
Jack Bullo, AIA, LEED AP, Designer
Barton Malow, Contractor
University of Illinois at Chicago, Owner
Category: Unbuilt
UIC Soccer Stadium, Chicago
JGMA, Chicago
Juan Moreno, ALA, Jason Nuttelman, John Rausch, Dan Spore, Jose Garcia, Designers
University of Illinois at Chicago, Owners
Category: Residential 2
The Hermitage Block, Chicago
Hanna Architects, Chicago
John Hanna, ALA, Tomasz Sokolowski, Designers
Phoenix Builders, Contractor
Volo Development, Owner
Category: Residential 2
The Armitage Collection, Chicago
Hanna Architects, Chicago
John Hanna, ALA, Tomasz Sokolowski, Designers
Bmuk Enterprise Inc., Contractor
Halcyon Group, Owner
Category: Renovation
Schaumburg Township District Library Teen Place, Schaumburg, Ill.
Dewberry Architects Inc., Elgin
Eddie Davis, Denelle Wrightson, Designers
FGB Corporation, Contractor
Category: Institutional
Salvation Army College for Officer Training Playground, Chicago
Harding Partners, Chicago
Paul A. Harding, FAIA, ALA, Designer
W.B. Olson, Contractor
Salvation Army, Owner
Category: Renovation
Renaissance Place, Milwaukee
Korb Tredo Architects, Milwaukee, Designer
Catalyst Construction, Contractor
Van Buren Management, Owner
Category: Interior Architecture
Razorfish, Chicago
NELSON, Chicago
William Hollander, AIA, ALA, LEED AP BD&C, Designer
Clune Construction, Contractor
Razorfish, Owner
Category: Renovation
Ragdale House Restoration, Lake Forest, Ill.
Johnson Lasky Architects, Chicago
Walker Johnson, FAIA, ALA, Designer
Bulley & Andrews, LLC, Contractor
Ragdale Foundation, City of Lake Forest, Owners
Category: Residential 1
Private Residence, New Buffalo, Mich.
Fraerman Associates Architecture Inc., Highland Park, Ill.
James Fraerman, ALA, Designer
Highgate Builders, Contractor
Category: Institutional
Mercy Children’s Hospital Renovation, Des Moines, Iowa
INVISION Architecture, Waterloo, Iowa
Mark Nevenhoven, ALA, Jill Goedken, Tonia Householder, Designers
Graham Construction, Contractor
Mercy Medical Center, Owner
Category: Renovation
Mazak Midwest Technology Center Renovation, Itasca, Ill.
Heitman Architects Inc., Itasca, Ill., Designer
Paul Hemmer Companies, Contractor
Mazak, Owner
Category: Commercial
Koch Facial Plastic Surgery, West Des Moines, Iowa
INVISION Architecture, Waterloo, Iowa
Mark Nevenhoven, ALA, Cheung Chan, Jason DeVries, Designers
Hanning Construction, Contractor
Dr. Brent Koch, Owner
Category: Interior Architecture
Kelly Scott Madison, Chicago, IL
Harley Ellis Devereaux, Chicago
Leonora Georgeogiou, Enrique Suarez, ALA, Designers
Interior Construction Group, Contractor
Kelly Scott Madison, Owner
Category: Renovation
J&J Arnaco Monroe Building Rehabilitation, Chicago
Holabird & Root, Chicago, Designer
Bulley & Andrews, LLC, Contractor
J&J Arnaco, Owner
Category: Residential 1
Guest House, Lakeside, Mich.
SMNG-A Architects, Chicago
Jack Murchie, AIA, Designer
Jack Murchie, Contractor
Jack Murchie, Owner
Category: Interior Architecture
Clariant Colorworks Lab, West Chicago, Ill.
The Jenkins Group, Itasca, Ill.
David Olesen, Kevin Bochenek, ALA, Designers
JC Harris and Sons, Inc., Contractor
Clariant, Owner
Category: Institutional
City Colleges of Chicago-Wright College Math Tutoring & Electronics Labs, Chicago
RADA Architects Ltd., Chicago
Rada Doytcheva, Ph.D., ALA, AIA, LEED AP, BD+C, Designer
Friedler Construction, Contractor
Wright College, One of the City Colleges of Chicago, Owner
Category: Residential 1
Private Residence, Naperville, Ill.
JGMA, Chicago
Juan Moreno, ALA, Jason Nuttelman, ALA, Cosmin Vrajitoru, ALA, Michael Cady. ALA, David Ruffing, Linda Chavez, Designers
Muellner Construction, Inc., Contractor
Judith Bieniek, Owner
Source URL: https://www.metalarchitecture.com/news/industry-news/ala-announces-winners-in-15th-annual-design-award-competition/
Copyright ©2026 Metal Architecture unless otherwise noted.