Pennsylvania AIA honors designers of Evo & Cira Green, Millennium Hall and Piazza at Schmidt’s
Erdy McHenry Architecture, a firm known for innovative solutions-based design approach, has won the 2016 Firm of the Year Award, the highest award given to a design firm by the American Institute of Architects Pennsylvania Chapter. They were honored for being “a principle force in consistently producing distinguished architecture.”
“Today our office, and truly our profession, finds itself at the precipice of change, facing new and unknown challenges,” said Dave McHenry, FAIA, principal of Erdy McHenry. “Looking back at our built work, we feel confident that our design approach has positively impacted the lives and communities of so many of our users. For us, each project is a new chance to explore our clients’ aspirations in partnership with talented collaborators and tradespeople throughout the building industry.”
Scott Erdy, FAIA, principal of Erdy McHenry commented, “We are mindful of our firm’s Philadelphia roots, wherever we work. In a city where themes of architectural expression and meaning have been posed by visionaries long before our time, we are proponents for a new Philadelphia School, where young firms can explore craft and programmatic expression that may be unique to Philadelphia, but ultimately will have a broader positive influence.”
The now-20-person firm was founded in Erdy’s attic 17 years ago with one employee. A project for the Southern Poverty Law Center jumpstarted the firm; it subsequently earned an AIA Gold Medal and the cover of Architecture Magazine. The firm received the Silver Medal from AIA Philadelphia in two consecutive years, in 2016 for the Food Security Collaborative at Ohio State University and in 2015 for re-envisioning the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Design building. It has garnered more than thirty awards overall from design, construction and community groups.
Widely known for Drexel University’s Millennium Hall, the Piazza at Schmidt’s, and EVO Student Residence/ Cira Green at Cira Centre South, Erdy McHenry recently completed Holly Pointe Commons at Rowan University and has a number of projects under construction or in design, including the Axalta Coating Systems Global Innovation Center; VUE32, a seventeen story residential tower at Drexel University; and a 640,000 SF GSA Design Excellence project that includes the renovation of the FBI’s Philadelphia field office.
About AIA Pennsylvania
Founded in 1909, AIA Pennsylvania is the state-wide component of The American Institute of Architects. AIA Pennsylvania is governed by a Board of Directors representing eight local AIA chapters across the Commonwealth. AIA PA serves approximately 3,000 members. Visit www.aiapa.org.
About Erdy McHenry
Erdy McHenry Architecture focuses on solutions-based design creating buildings that are recognized for their functionality, programmatic responsiveness, and social and environmental responsibility. Located in the heart of Northern Liberties, Erdy McHenry provides architecture, interior design, master planning, strategic facilities planning, programming, graphic design and project management services. Founded in 1999, the firm has won more than thirty design awards for built and unbuilt projects. Visit www.em-arc.com.
