Island Architecture
Architects' group chooses best new designs on O'ahu

By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Staff Writer

The addition to the Honolulu Academy of Arts provides a nearly seamless transition to the original building. The heart of the transition is a new courtyard, which houses the garden cafe. Photos courtesy of the American Institute of Architects, Honolulu Chapter

Buildings designed to serve large groups of people, public and private, swept top honors in the annual competition sponsored by the American Institute of Architects, Honolulu Chapter. The awards were recently announced at a banquet at the Hawai'i Prince Hotel.

The Hawai'i Convention Center, Kapi-'olani Park Bandstand, Honolulu Academy of Arts expansion, Punahou Science Learning Center and the headquarters for the Aloha Council of the Boy Scouts of America received the highest awards of excellence. Five other entries, including three city projects, received awards of merit.

"The consensus was that this year really offered a bumper crop of civic projects," said Seattle-based architect Jim Suehiro, one of five jurors for this year's competition. "If this group is an indication, there's a real feeling that public architecture is becoming more sophisticated here."

Over the last decade, a larger percentage of award winners have been small-scale commercial or residential developments. This year only one home project, an extensive Diamond Head renovation, won an award.

While this year's winners represented an assortment of uses, they shared many principles of good design that are sometimes left out of institutional projects, said Suehiro, whose own work includes several large Mainland airports.

A wooden walkway leads to the entrance of the Aloha Council Boy Scouts of America headquarters. The walkway provides a dramatic sense of the open space around the building.

Joyce Noe, an associate professor of architecture at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa, agreed. "Certainly you don't always think of government projects as award winners, but these all went beyond the ordinary," she said.

Honolulu architect Jeffrey Nishi, one of the jurors, said competing demands can sometimes strip the life out of a big public project.

"When you're working with an individual homeowner or small client, it can be easier to do something that leaves a mark," Nishi said. "When you're dealing with a government or institutional client, there are so many more regulations and pressures to address. It's hard to please everybody, and hard not to get crucified in the end."

Nishi said many of the winners — like Arthur Kimbal Thompson's design of a canoe halau and pavilion for Kailua Beach Park — stood out because they didn't stand out. The coral aggregate sandblasted concrete pillars, gray clay tile roofing and stone floor pavers of the structure all blend well with the park atmosphere.

Jurors cited the natural, uplifting feel of the 70-foot-high lobby and reception area of the Hawaiëi Convention Center in giving it an award. They also praised the building's natural light, details, views and landscaping.

The convention center, which had been passed over for an award in previous years, met favor with this year's jurors.

"I think people forget how difficult it is to realize a design vision in a very large project," Noe said. "Sometimes it takes a little time for large projects that are controversial to be recognized. I think we're just starting now to see that value that this convention center has for the whole community. It is very well done, inside and out. It's becoming a landmark."

Noe said the new Boy Scout headquarters drew an emotional response from the jurors.

"It all came down to how you felt about children and scouting," she said. "Architecturally, it seemed to capture the essence of scouting."

Mike Leidemann writes regularly about Honolulu architecture.

You can e-mail him at mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com or call 525-5460.

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The Kapi'olani Park Bandstand was designed as a visually free-standing pavillion with no apparent supporting structures. It's a modern interpretation of a Victorian building.		The Puahou Science Learning Center blends modern technology with the traditional architectural character of the surrounding campus; the Science Lecture Hall is pictured.

AIA winners

Here are the winning projects, their architects and comments from jurors.

Awards of Excellence

• Aloha Council Boy Scouts of America; CJS Group Architects. "Extremely appropriate design solution ... terrific response to location in a wet Hawaiian valley ... wood detailing enhances great visual experience."
• Kapi'olani Park Bandstand; Stringer Tusher Architects. "Bold statement by city and county ... elegant architectural detailing invisibly integrating technical requirements of lighting and sound."
• Punahou Science Learning Center; John Hara. "Exemplary work melding architecture that has spirit of place with technology and environment for the purpose of learning and discovery."
• Honolulu Academy of Arts Expansion; John Hara. "Incredibly difficult site deftly interpreted ... amazingly simple but strong concept of movement through space ... scale and proportion mastery."
• Hawai'i Convention Center; Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo. "Very successful solution to an extremely challenging and controversial site ... natural way finding inherent in the design ... captures the essence of Hawaiian environment."

Awards of Merit

• Kailua Beach Park Canoe HAlau and Pavilion; Arthur Kimbal Thompson. "Simple, clear solution reinforced by its detail ... nice play of materials and textures enhances clarity of concept."
• Kapolei Civic Center; Kurt Mitchell, Kober/Hannsen/Mitchell. "Broke new ground within a given architectural vocabulary for O'ahu's second city ... the architect's design will mature gracefully over time."
• Kuhio Beach Park Expansion; Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo. "Achieves a much-needed stitch between Kalakaua Avenue and Kuhio Beach ... a great improvement to an ordinary city sidewalk."
• Diamond Head residence; Peter Vincent & Associates. "Refined island character ... interiors at peace with the architecture ... subtle and understated."
• AIA Honolulu Office Renovation; Ferraro Choi & Associates. "An example of quality design with a low to almost nonexistent budget ... creative and efficient detailing."