NOMAtlanta names 2019 NSPIRE Awards winners, a celebration of diversity in design

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Juried architectural awards event specifically honors minority architects in Atlanta

By KaronCurbed Apr 12, 2019, 8:33am EDT

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Syntony Design Collaborative’s award-winning vision for a Sweet Auburn corner.

Noteworthy Atlanta architecture and design that exists now, is under construction, or might possibly one day happen was toasted last week at Monday Night Garage’s West End outpost.

The Atlanta Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects, or NOMAtlanta, turned out for an evening of entertainment as they celebrated the 2019 winners of the group’s NSPIRE Awards.

The juried awards, which specifically honor minority architects in Atlanta, celebrate excellence and diversity in design with three main categories: NSPIRE Design Awards, NSPIRE President’s Awards, and NSPIRE Awards of Distinction.

For the NSPIRE Design Awards, the winners are:

Built Category:

1st Place: Center for Civil and Human Rights by Marc Johnson

2nd Place: Atlanta Gas Light Resource Center by Goode Van Slyke Architecture

The Atlanta Gas Light Resource Center.

Historic Dedication (Preservation, Renovation, Restoration, Adaptation)

Category:

1st Place: Herndon Plaza Hotel Development by Syntony Design Collaborative

2nd Place: New Addition to Duke’s Historic Cameron Indoor Stadium by The Beck Group

3rd Place: Bankhead Bridge Regeneration by Studio SHAPE

Herndon Plaza Hotel Development by Syntony Design Collaborative.

Studio SHAPE’s idea for Bankhead Bridge activation.

Unbuilt Category:

1st Place: Quest Center for Change by Cooper Carry

2nd Place: Peace Preparatory Academy by Studio SHAPE

3rd Place: Atlanta West Deck by Fitzgerald Collaborative Group

Quest Center for Change by Cooper Carry.

Unbuilt Category Honorable Mentions:

Xpression Exploratory of South Memphis by Jay Davis

Herndon Plaza Hotel Development by Syntony Design Collaborative

126 Renaissance Condominiums by Goode Van Slyke Architecture

Student Category:

1st Place: Amalgam by Kennesaw State University NOMAS

Amalgam by Kennesaw State University NOMAS.

Village Voice Award (voted on by public):

Quest Center for Change by Cooper Carry

For the NSPIRE Awards of Distinction, the winners are:

Ivory Lee Young Jr. Community Pioneer: Quest Community Development Organization

Service to the Profession: Cheryl McAfee, CEO and principal for McAfee³ Architects

Diversity Pioneer: Bryan G. Houser of IHG Corporate

Woman of the Year: Nicole Hilton, founding partner and design architect of Cole Hil

Lifetime Achievement: Oscar Harris, FAIA, architect, author, artist and mentor

Given out at the discretion of the current president, NSPIRE President’s Awards were not included this year.

Ashley Hernandez of IHG (Intercontinental Hotel Group), current NOMAtlanta president, with Service to the Profession winner Cheryl McAfee and Desmond Johnson of Rule Joy Trammell + Rubio

Hernandez with Diversity Pioneer winner Bryan G. Houser and Johnson.

Hernandez with Woman of the Year winner Nicole Hilton and Johnson.

Oscar Harris goes to accept his award for Lifetime Achievement, with projects in his portfolio that include the iconic Centennial Olympic Park light towers, MLK Visitors Center, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport’s concourse atrium.