For Immediate Release: May 2, 2008
HGA Wins FAB Award for Interior Design
Minneapolis, MN - HGA Architects and Engineers (HGA) has won a FAB Award for its dynamic interior design of the Walker Art Center Administrative Offices in Minneapolis. Sponsored by the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Northland Chapter, the 5th annual FAB Awards program recognized HGA in the Government/Institutional category.
The offices for 70 staff members fit within the shell of the Walker's kinetic, metal-clad addition along heavily traveled Hennepin Avenue.
Inspired by the concept of Scherenschnitte-meaning literally "scissor-cutting"-the offices express a visual energy as if cut and folded from paper. Form and angle, light and color, play off each other to reflect the creative energy of art itself. Windows-angled, cut and folded within deep wall recesses-project sunlight across straight-edge, gallery-white walls in warm swatches. Pocket conference rooms, seating areas, a lunch room, kitchen and other support spaces also angle outward from recessed spaces of the building's thick walls.
The white palette provides a clean, cool backdrop to an interior that is anything but neutral. Sheer curtains in alternating color panels of wines, blues and yellows cover the executive offices' full-length corridors windows. Built-in bookshelves with recessed backlighting seemingly float above file drawers. White and black furniture contrasts with a red reception sofa popping out of the background. Works by Kelly, Ruscha, LeWitt, and Warhol punctuate the gallery-like walls.
The nationally recognized jurors lauded the inventive interpretation of Scherenschnitte to connect the workspaces to the architecture. Additionally, they praised the colorful drapery panels and strategic furniture selection to support interior spatial flow.
The HGA design team included Dan Avchen, FAIA, principal-in-charge; John Cook, AIA, project architect; Eric Amel, Associate AIA, project designer; Tao Ham, Ph.D., IESNA, lighting designer; Kathryn Zwicky, PE, mechanical engineer; and Benjamin Gutierrez, electrical engineer.
The jurors included Randy Brown, FAIA, of Randy Brown Architects, Inc., Omaha, Nebraska; John Mack, FIIDA, AIA, of HLW, New York City; and Suzanne Tick of Suzanne Tick, Inc., New York City.
HGA Contact: Julie Luers (612) 758-4000 e-mail JLuers@hga.com
Media Contact: Susan Evans, Evans Larson (612) 338-6999 e-mail susan@evanslarson.com