AIA Award-Winning West Virginia Projects Emphasize Green

Among the projects honored by the West Virginia Chapter of the AIA to recognize the best building design projects of 2007 were The Erma Byrd Center for Public Higher Education and Brickstreet, a former shopping center converted into an office building.

Aluminum architectural products manufactured by YKK AP help bring daylight into two major West Virginia building projects recently honored among the state’s outstanding architectural achievements.

The West Virginia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects presented the awards last month to recognize the best building design projects of 2007.

The Erma Byrd Center for Public Higher Education, a 33,000-square-foot facility located in Beaver, W.Va., was among three Honor Award winners.

Brickstreet, a former shopping center converted into an office building, located in Charleston, W.Va., was among four Merit Award winners.

“Sunlight gleams throughout the interior of the Erma Byrd Center,” the Charleston Gazette said in a recent article on the award designation.

YKK AP curtain wall and storefront systems were installed at the Center to bring natural light into the interior. YKK AP Thermashade sunshades were also used as part of the exterior detailing.

The Erma Byrd Center houses eight universities, colleges, technical institutes and community schools. The center’s mission is to make higher education accessible to all West Virginians.

Judges credited BrickStreet for turning “an innocuous, 'big box' retail shell into a light-filled office building” that brings “daylighting deep into the interior workstations and offices.” BrickStreet used YKK AP aluminum curtainwall to allow for a largely glass exterior that provides the interior with natural lighting. YKK AP Thermashade sunshades control and direct the sunlight.

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