Newman Receives Five 2020 AIA Connecticut Awards

Newman Architects is the recipient of five awards from the 2020 AIA Connecticut Design Awards and Elizabeth Mills Brown Awards in collaboration with Preservation Connecticut. All winning projects were honored at the AIA Connecticut Awards Gala held virtually on November 12. The Awards Gala is held on an annual basis to recognize the design achievements of Connecticut architects. The recorded presentation can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/478105298/8e857f1459.

Excellence Award: Elizabeth Mills Brown Award
Some of the juror comments included: “We can see that it is part adaptive reuse, and mostly restoration, with the original mid-century feel restored to the building's key spaces… the architects of the restoration knew that and were careful to retain it (recessed lighting ) in whole or in large part, and I thought that was admirable.”

Citation - Historical Research and Preservation in the Interior Architecture Category
Some of the juror comments included: “The restoration of the Beinecke interior to its original state is an amazing feat. The images present a cohesive experience from detail to interior.”

Excellence Award in the Unbuilt Design Category
Some of the juror comments included: “This is a jewel set between two Georgian stalwarts. Very powerful and engaging. The aluminum origami delights the eye and draws one in.”

Merit Award: Elizabeth Mills Brown Award
Some of the juror comments included: “The way they repurposed it, they recognized that for today's library users, the original building, had a lot of deficiencies to accommodate the kind of activities that we expect the library to encompass in today's world… In relation to the outside. I really enjoy how the addition is modern looking, but does not copy the original library at all, and therefor make the original building stand out and be recognized as older. So, the outside is very masterful.”

Merit Award in Architecture Encompassing Art Category
Some of the juror comments included: “This thoughtful memorial resonates through its symbolism and intertwining rooms that balance enclosure/protection and openness which invites participation.”