XArena Sports

Proposed Indoor Extreme Sports Facility Takes Top Honor in the Philadelphia Region

Trenton, NJ – The American Institute of Architects recently announced the recipients of theprestigious AIA Awards for Design Excellence and Witherspoon and Hiller won top honors for their design of the indoor action sports facility that is to be built in Trenton, NJ this winter.

The American Institute of Architects has a long tradition of recognizing individuals and organizations for their outstanding achievements in support of the profession of architecture and the AIA. The AIA Philadelphia Awards for Design Excellence program for 2002 is a Celebration of Design.

The plans for XArena were said to be very forward thinking and showed an incredible amount of young thinking in the design. It was obvious to the board of nine jurors from North Carolina that the design reflects the essence of the sport and is magnificent in both statue and appearance.

"The Philadelphia Hillier office and the XArena people have successfully captured the sport and clearly displayed that in the exterior and interior details of the building" said Scott Jacobs, AIA Philidelphia office. "In our experience in presenting these awards, a typical contestant would submit there project a minimum of three times before any recognition from the jury. However, in this case, it was easy to award the highest Unbuilt Design to the XArena with its first review by the board."

The Design Excellence Exhibit ran from October 14 through November 2 at the Liberty Place Rotunda with the Jury Lecture and presentation held on Monday, October 28 at Meyerson Hall, University of Pennsylvania, featuring Frank Harmon, FAIA, of Raleigh, NC.

The jurors this year included nine architects from North Carolina, headed by Frank Harmon, FAIA, as jury chair. Award certificates will be presented at the Design Awards ceremony on October 29. Frank Harmon will narrate a presentation of the winning work, and Robert Campbell, architecture critic for the Boston Globe, will be the guest speaker.

The Design Awards Ceremony was held on Tuesday, October 29, 6 p.m., Millennium Ballroom, Loews PSFS Hotel.

For complete coverage, link to: http://www.aiaphila.org/D/Winners/2002/Fs_2002.htm