Aug. 6, 2010
CUAdc was recognized this week with an UNBUILT Award from the Washington, D.C., chapter of the American Institute of Architects. CUAdc's Hermitages project was chosen from among more than 100 submissions by local architects, landscape architects, planners, interior designers and students.
"There were great entries from CUA and all across the city," says William Jelen, director of CUAdc. "Being chosen from those, I believe, recognizes the students' hard work and celebrates their ingenuity in the collaborative process."
CUAdc is a design program that provides services to non-profits and community organizations. The Hermitages project will be built at the Franciscan Monastery in D.C.'s Brookland neighborhood this fall.
One hermitage, about 400 square feet in size, was designed by 12 students this past spring. A hermitage is a small building used by monks and their guests for retreat and quiet contemplation. Four will be built on the monastery grounds.
"I am gratified that CUAdc's method of teaching architecture is being recognized," says Jelen. That method includes "learning by doing, while engaging students in the local community through involvement in real design projects," he noted.
The Washington UNBUILT Awards Program recognizes excellence in projects that to date remain unbuilt. The awards were presented during the Washington Chapter of the AIA's DesignDC conference at the Washington Convention Center.