Architects and designers were honored in the ninth annual awards sponsored by the Florida chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art.
The Palm Beach recreation center, an updated privately owned park near Town Hall and a restored landmarked estate in the Estate Section have earned honors in the ninth annual juried competition sponsored by the Florida chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art.
Addison Mizner Medals were presented to architects and landscape designers during a presentation on Oct. 23 at The Colony. The awards honored projects in Florida and outside the state — among them several designed by Palm Beach-based firms — in a wide range of categories.
Architect Stephen Boruff of Stephen Boruff AIA Architects & Planners in West Palm Beach was honored in the civic category for the design ofthe Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center at 340 Seaview Ave.
On board::Mandel Rec Center support group names six board members
The Mediterranean-style, 17,000-sqare-foot center opened in December 2019 and replaced a facility that had stood on the site for more than 30 years. The planning process that led to the final design was the result of many months of effort, Deputy Town Manager Jay Boodheshwar told the Daily News this week.
“The building that exists today, which was so deserving of this award, (went through) one of the most public development processes that the town has ever gone through. There was a lot of community input and community meetings that involved both the architecture and what would go on inside the building. I think kudos go out to the community, which was so very involved in this process,” Boodheshwar said.
He added: “A community building like the rec center is very important from a functional standpoint because of all the programming that goes on in it. But being in Palm Beach, the architectural value is also so important. This award certainly verifies that we hit the mark on the architecture.”
Preservation of landmarked estate wins award
Architect Kristin H. Kellogg of Smith Kellogg Architecture won her medal in the residential historic preservation category for an extensive restoration project at a landmarked lakeside estate at 174 Via Del Lago. Designed by the late architect Marion Sims Wyeth, the estate of nearly 3 acres — with its 1934 house and extensive gardens — is known as Southwood.
Kellogg and her team carried out the restoration for then-homeowner Beatrice Tollman, who heads the Red Carnation Hotels Collection, which includes The Chestfield. Tollman sold the estate in March for a recorded $57 million.
From the archives:Landmarked mansion sells for $57M in Palm Beach’s Estate Section: deed
Kellogg, whose firm specializes in preservation projects, said last week that such work requires “humility” on the part of a design professional “because you have to respect the original architect and the structure.”
Much of the project, she added, would never be noticed by a visitor to the house or gardens because it involved structural work or the replacement of systems such as wiring or plumbing.
Particularly challenging, she added, was the research and design that went into creating custom-made glass doors and windows that meticulously replicated the originals.
Kellogg credited the contributions of contractor Woollems Inc. to the project. The head of that company, Palm Beacher Jim Woollems, in February is expected to receive the inaugural Legacy Award from Florida chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art at a February dinner at the Norton Museum.
Private park in Palm Beach honored
Architect Gerard J. Beekman of Madison Worth Architecture designed the other Palm Beach project honored during the ceremony — a renovation of Earl E.T. Smith Park across from Town Hall at the corner of Peruvian Avenue and South County Road. It was entered in the “garden room” category.
See photos:Preservation Foundation marks 40th anniversary with rededication of park
With a center fountain and pergolas covered in bougainvillea, the renovation of the park was underwritten by Palm Beach resident Sam Lehrman. Owned by the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach, the park is a “privately owned public space,” said foundation CEO Amanda Skier.
“We are profoundly grateful to Sam Lehrman for making this project possible and assembling the team that carried it out,” Skier said.
Two other Palm Beach firms earn recognition
Three other awards were presented to two Palm Beach firms for their projects outside of the town.
Fernando Wong Outdoor Living Design, headed by designer Fernando Wong, earned the award in the landscape architecture category for a project at The Surf Club in Miami Beach
Fairfax & Sammons Architects won two awards — one in the multi-family residential category for a project on J Street in Lake Worth Beach; the other in the renovations and additions category for the re-do of an apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City. Anne Fairfax, whose partner in the firm is her husband, Palm Beach Architectural Commission Alternate Member Richard Sammons, served as master of ceremonies at the awards presentation.
Belt of Hollywood also earned an award for craftsmanship for its bronze work in a West Palm Beach home.
Two other projects in Palm Beach County were honored. Portuondo Perotti Architects of Miami earned an award for the design of a residence in Wellington, while Stella Art Conservation LLC of West Palm Beach was recognized for its restoration of a painting, “The Conversation,” in West Palm Beach.
Other awards went to firms in Coral Gables, Miami, Naples, Vero Beach and Atlanta.
Read about previous winners: Mizner Awards honor Palm Beach projects and firms
The awards jury consisted of Palm Beach landscape designer Jorge Sanchez; decorator Amanda Lindroth, who has an office in Palm Beach; and architect Duncan Stroik, who teaches architecture at the University of Notre Dame.
More than 40 submissions were received in the fields of architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, urbanism, craftsmanship and fine arts, said chapter President Gerald Buxbaum. Entries were judged “blind,” meaning that no professionals’ names were attached to the projects during the review process, officials said.
The organization offers educational workshops, on-site drawing sessions and lectures as part of its programming. The group also produces publications and videos of its members’ work.
All of the winning entries can be viewed at the organization’s website, FLClassicist.org/awards.
*
Darrell Hofheinz is a USA TODAY Network of Florida journalist. Help support our journalism. Subscibe today.
dhofheinz@pbdailynews.com
@PBDN_hofheinz