San Diego firm’s urban projects receive national recognition
SAN DIEGO — AVRP Skyport Studios is pleased to announce it has earned two 2017 Gold Nugget Awards of Merit for projects in Downtown San Diego. The firm’s award-winning projects include Urban Discovery Academy, a downtown school recognized in the Best Educational Project category, and Seaport San Diego, developed by Protea Waterfront Development and designed by AVRP Skyport in collaboration with Gafcon, AECOM and BIG, honored as a Best On-the-Boards Mixed-Use Project. The awards ceremony will be held this evening at the San Diego Convention Center as part of the annual Pacific Coast Builders Conference. Earning two Gold Nugget Awards of Merit demonstrates that AVRP Skyport is among the nation’s top urban architects.
The Gold Nugget Awards is considered one of the Nation’s largest and most prestigious design competitions. It recognizes outstanding planning and design in 49 categories including residential, commercial, retail, and mixed-use. Winners this year were chosen from over 600 worldwide entries. The Gold Nugget Grand Award winners will be announced at the ceremony and will emerge from the Merit Awards in each category.
Doug Austin, FAIA, Chairman, Founder and CEO of AVRP Skyport Studios, says, “We are so pleased that the PCBC judges chose to recognize these projects, especially Seaport San Diego. 1HWY1 has done a stellar job assembling an outstanding team and making this project about San Diego.”
Seaport San Diego. Courtesy of AVRP Skyport Studios
Yehudi “Gaf” Gaffen, CEO of Protea Waterfront Development, LLC and the 1HWY1 team, says, “I believe Seaport San Diego will be significant and transformative for our city. This project is about the whole San Diego community—from the fishermen to the Seaport Village tenants to the Downtown hotel owners and retailers—really, anyone who calls San Diego home. We addressed their needs in this project.”
About AVRP Skyport Studios
AVRP Skyport Studios strives to find and develop an original idea that drives the creative process for each project. Principals Douglas H. Austin, FAIA; Christopher T. Veum, AAIA, IIDA; Randy Robbins, AIA, LEED AP; and Frank Wolden represent award-wining portfolios inspiring developers and civic leaders to think beyond traditional boundaries, infusing each project with experiential community connections. Celebrating 40 years of creativity and accomplishment in 2016, the firm and its principals have earned nearly 150 design awards. For more information, visit www.avrpstudios.com.
