Masonry institute announces awards ATHENS, Ohio (May 3, 2007) -- Baker Center regulars may already be taking the building for granted, but one organization sees it in award-winning light.
The International Masonry Institute has awarded Baker University Center two Golden Trowel Awards, including its grand prize as best project in Ohio.
The grand prize award recognizes the terrazzo used on the floors throughout Baker, including the first-floor installation by artist Aminah Robinson. The art depicts scenes from Poindexter Village, one of the country's first federally funded housing developments, where Robinson grew up.
"The judges loved the design, detail and quality of the installation," said Tom Nagy, director of the Ohio office of the International Masonry Institute.
The other Golden Trowel is for "Best of Interior: Brick/Block/Stone." Nagy said the judges were struck by the stone fireplace in the Front Room and other uses of stone and tile on the walls of Baker.
Additionally, the exterior of the building earned a "special recognition" by the institute, an award that highlights superior design and construction of masonry.
"We knew we had a special building," said Richard Shultz, who oversaw the project for University Planning and Implementation. "We're proud that the institute is honoring a design that the university community is clearly enjoying as well."
Smoot Construction, WTW Architects and the Ardit Co., which laid the terrazzo floors, will share the award. The institute will recognize the winners at a banquet June 28 in Akron.
The new 183,000-square-foot center opened Jan. 2. It replaced the 1954 university center by the same name.
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Written by: Tom Bosco, a writer with University Communications and Marketing
Media Contact: Senior Director of Media Relations Sally Linder, 740-597-1793 or linders@ohio.edu
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