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Program recognizes design excellence; 7 area businesses among city honorees

Seven west Chandler businesses are among recipients of a new city award that pays tribute to architectural excellence.

Owners and architects of the selected buildings were saluted at a dinner Oct. 21, the inaugural event in what city officials hope will be an ongoing series of annual recognitions.

According to Chandler officials, a seven-member Architectural Excellence Committee spent six months evaluating more than 100 projects.  Eighteen finalists were recognized at the dinner. The committee was established by members of the Chandler City Council in April.

Projects were judged on design, landscaping, use of materials, site planning and relationship to surroundings.

“Over the years, we have developed a reputation of having the highest quality design in our commercial and industrial projects,” said Chandler Mayor Boyd W. Dunn.

“This program allows us to showcase the success of that design and further promote design excellence for all projects.”

At the dinner, Dunn presented awards in three categories:

The Merit Award recognized achievement in design and was awarded to projects displaying a high standard of architectural quality.

Outstanding design was the basis for the top honor of an Architectural Excellence Award, a designation reserved for projects that stand out from a group of otherwise meritorious projects.

Benchmark Awards recognized exceptional achievement in design for projects that set a standard for future award winners.

All of the awards were for projects that received certificates of occupancy during 2002.

Award categories include industrial buildings, commercial retail, commercial office, redevelopment projects, open space and public/semi-public facilities.

The awards were designed by Valley artist Bridget Cherie Harper and are constructed of celadon-blue, slip-cast porcelain on a black marble base.

Benchmark Awards were awarded as follows:

Commercial Retail Category: Casa Paloma Center, 7131 W. Ray Road.

Open Space Category: The Village at Chandler Fashion Center, 3155 W. Chandler Blvd.

Public/Semi-Public Category: St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church, 3450 W. Ray Road.

Architectural Excellence Awards:

Commercial Retail Category: Lowe’s at Chandler Pavilions North.

Industrial Category: Milky Way Hangar, 4148 W. Milky Way.

Merit Awards:

Commercial Retail Category: Harley-Davidson of Chandler, 6895 W. Chandler Blvd.

Commercial Office Category: Charles Schwab Building, 2121 S. Price Road.

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