Two local education facilities, the EIT's Trades and Technology Training Centre and the hall entrance at Napier Girls' High School, have continued Hawke's Bay architects Paris Magdalinos Architects' (PMA) prominence at the New Zealand Institute Gisborne/Hawke's Bay Architecture Awards 2011.
PMA received an award for public architecture and sustainable architecturefor the EIT trades centre and a public architecture award for the Napier Girls' High School new hall entrance.
The company has now amassed more than 60 regional awards and two national awards since it started in 1989.
Senior architect Ezra Kelly said the latest award wins had added significance because they are both highly respected local education institutes.
"The EIT continues to grow with the addition of the trades centre and it was a great opportunity to design an education facility that is regarded as a model of both 21st century learning environments and sustainability," Mr Kelly said.
Design features of the $8 million trades centre included high specification mechanical extraction systems that maintain a high level of interior air quality in the workshop area, efficient energy use, water conservation, use of natural lighting and renewable building products coupled with a flexible learning environment.
Another environmental consideration was minimising construction waste, with 84 per cent by weight of waste building materials diverted from landfill.
The formal entranceway at Napier Girls' High was designed as a gathering space for students, staff and guests.
The design also had to accommodate a display area for the school's renowned 4.2m x 4.8m high mural painting by Rita Angus, which paid tribute to the girls of the school who were tragically killed in the Napier earthquake of 1931.
"The major technical challenge was to provide a display wall and entrance that faced to the north-east aspect, and as the mural was already showing signs of deterioration, reducing the UV exposure to protect the painting was vital," Mr Kelly said.
