The 13th Annual IIDA New England Design Awards took place on the 16th of September and was an excellent example of how industry events can still be professional and entertaining in a time of social distancing. You could see truly how much thought and effort the committee put into organizing the awards show. And while we did not get to enjoy seeing our industry friends face-to-face, we were still able to appreciate some of the beautiful designs our colleagues have created over the past year.
This year had a record number of entries, so to streamline the event, only the top three finalists in each category were featured. As always, student entries kicked off the show with talented and creative conceptual renderings, showing a promising and exciting future for the world of design. Professional entries included categories such as Education, Community & Culture, Healthcare, Hospitality, and, of course, Best in Show. All featured entries were stunning spaces that took our breath away. Year after year, this event continues to impress and enthrall, as it helps to showcase the beauty of Boston and New England design, and gives credit to the talented teams that work on these projects.
TRIA was overjoyed to have two projects nominated as a finalist and winner in the Research Lab Category. PureTech Health was a runner up, and Generation Bio won the category! For Generation Bio, judges highlighted an effective plan, the use of transparency between lab and office, and a modest yet confident design. A holistic and integrated approach between lab and office to promote collaboration and discovery is a fundamental characteristic of our design philosophy, and we are glad that this concept shined through in our design. One of the ways we incorporated continuity was through the use of glass walls, allowing science to be on display. Collaboration was another key component of the design, which was highlighted by incorporating neighborhood seating and central collaboration zones of technology-enabled conference rooms.
A huge thank you to the IIDA New England Design Awards Committee for putting on another wonderful event. We are already looking forward to next year!
Before you go, check out the Electronic Event Booklet and ‘Winners Look Book’!