Design Pittsburgh Awards and Beaux-Art Ball at Carnegie Music Hall

Design Awards and Beaux-Arts Ball

Pittsburgh has long been noted for its storied architecture. Several examples of this are the Allegheny County Courthouse, Carnegie Museum and Music Hall, Pitt’s Cathedral of Learning, and PPG Place. One organization that has helped play a role in continuing the city’s tradition of architectural excellence is the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Friday evening AIA Pittsburgh celebrated with its 41st annual Design Pittsburgh Awards and 125th anniversary of the local chapter and its Beaux-Arts Ball at Carnegie Music Hall and foyer in Oakland. 

The awards celebration started in the music hall and the celebration followed in the foyer. Pittsburgh radio host and voice talent extraordinaire Larry Richert was the emcee for the awards part of the evening. He delivered a funny and insightful program. Winners in different categories were announced with photos of their projects displayed on a large screen above the stage. A big emphasis of the various projects is sustainability. Another insight learned was that women have been a part of Pittsburgh architecture and the AIA since its inception. An additional fun fact is that there was a singing architect in the 1940’s who even recorded some of his songs. 

“Design Pittsburgh is a yearly opportunity to give the public a chance to gain a new perspective into our built environment,” said Michelle Fanzo, Executive Director of AIA Pittsburgh. “We invite people to look deeper than the facades or house fronts, into how the building work[s] and make[s] them feel. This year is a big anniversary for the community so we are looking not only at our present award winners, but to our past and to the future of architectural design in our region. What might we look like in another 125 years?”

William Bates has been a pillar of strength for the AIA and was the recipient of the chapter’s Benno Award for Lifetime Impact.

One of the big awards of the night was the Benno Award, a Lifetime Impact Award named after one of the region’s most highly regarded architects, Benno Janssen. This year’s recipient is William Bates, who is a Professor of Architecture at Carnegie Mellon University and a past President of AIA. The Benno Award winner is chosen by the AIA’s Board of Directors. Most of the other awards were chosen by a group from Detroit’s AIA chapter. There was also a People’s Choice award which was voted on by the public. The night’s venue, Carnegie Music Hall, won the People’s Choice Award for its recent renovations by Gensler. Several other interesting award winners were Second Avenue Commons (DLA+), Dancing Gnome Brewery (Margittai), Flats on Forward (Bohlin Cywinski Jackson), Terrace Commons (LGA Partners), and Lawrence Hall (mossArchitects). See all the winners here. After the awards presentation, attendees could view award nominee projects on the second floor foyer and also draw their own future vision of Pittsburgh on a large mural.

The variance may have been denied, but the costumes met with approval (pictured: l. to r., Mahshid Ghaeeni and Jason Andrews ).

Attendees to the award’s ceremony and Beaux Arts Ball were encouraged to wear something of a fun design. Many sported headpieces of various architectural designs. One attendee, model Joanna Wentling, wore a dress designed by her fellow attendee, couturier Brian David Jones, which was made from the red seat cushion upholstery that had been replaced in Carnegie Music Hall’s renovation. Wentling initially wore the dress in this Spring’s Ecolution Fashion Show. 

The lady in red (Joanna Wentling) and her dress’ matching designer (Brian David).

Carnegie Museum’s food service contractor, Culinaire, did an amazing job with the various buffet stations. Food stations included a charcuterie display supplemented by cheese, vegetables, hummus, and more. Other offerings were jumbo shrimp cocktail; chicken and pepper skewers; angus beef, black bean, and crab cake sliders. Later in the evening several delectable dessert displays were set out including mini French fruit tarts, various cake and icing mini parfaits, mini cakes, and various chocolates. DJ Joseph Costa got the crowd dancing with some lively jams and spinning lights. The event was produced by Ronda Zegerelli and Acrobatique.

A sumptuous buffet.

It was a fantastic evening of celebrating grand architecture both large and small, networking, food, drinks, and fun. For more information on the Pittsburgh chapter of the American Institute of Architects visit their website.

A different kind of hat dance.

The delectable dessert display with more coming.

Enthusiastic CMU architecture students running the future of Pittsburgh mural table.

Story and photos by Rick Handler, executive producer of Entertainment Central.

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