Developers, architects, landscape architects, designers, property owners and community members are invited to attend the “Celebrate Design” reception and awards event at the Silver Spring Civic Building
SILVER SPRING, MD –The Montgomery County Planning Department, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, is inviting everyone with an interest in excellent architecture, landscape architecture and urban design to attend “Celebrate Design” on Thursday, October 22 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Silver Spring Civic Building (1 Veterans Plaza, Silver Spring, MD).
The winner of the Planning Department’s first annual Design Excellence Award competition will be announced during the celebration, which will also include the annual awards ceremony of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Potomac Valley Chapter. One of the highlights of the evening will be a presentation on the business case for design excellence by land use strategist Christopher Leinberger, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.
The Planning Department’s first Design Excellence Award seeks to recognize exceptional work in architecture, landscape architecture and urban design that has been completed in Montgomery County over the past decade. More than 30 entries to the competition have been submitted by architects, developers and property owners. The goal of the awards program is to promote top-notch design and improve the quality of the built environment throughout the County.
The winner will be selected in late September by an outside jury of accomplished professionals in the fields of architecture, landscape architecture and urban design:
Edward Feiner, FAIA | Design Leadership Council Director, Perkins+Will, Washington, D.C.
Dhiru Thadani, FCNU | Architect and urbanist, Washington, D.C.
Michael Vergason, FASLA | Michael Vergason Landscape Architects, Alexandria, Virginia
Amy Weinstein, FAIA | Principal, Esocoff & Associates/Weinstein Studio, Washington, D.C.
Review the bios of the jury.
Celebrate Design Awards Ceremony
Thursday, October 22, 2015
6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Silver Spring Civic Building (1 Veterans Plaza, Silver Spring, MD)
Ticket price: $35
6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Opening reception.
7:30 – 8:45 p.m. Awards presentation by the AIA Potomac Valley and the Montgomery County Planning Department.
Featured Speaker: Christopher Leinberger presenting on the Business Case for Design Excellence
8:45 – 9:30 p.m. Dessert reception.
Purpose of Design Excellence Award
The Planning Department launched its Design Excellence initiative in 2014 to inspire the highest quality of architecture, landscape architecture and urban design in changing areas within the County. In January 2015 as part of this program, the Department invited nationally recognized urban design and planning expert Noré Winter to discuss community design guidelines with the staff, Planning Board and public.
In June 2015, the Department launched its Design Excellence Award program to achieve the following goals:
-To recognize the best examples of architecture, landscape architecture and urban design in the County, and increase public awareness of this world-class design excellence.
-To promote built work that contributes to the creation of pedestrian-oriented, walkable neighborhoods that enrich and contribute to the greater community.
-To show how physical design can lead to greater health, economic opportunity and environmental sustainability.
Learn more about the Montgomery County Planning Department’s Design Excellence initiative.