The American Institute of Architects in NH (AIANH) recently awarded Keene State College and architect Perkins + Will of Boston, MA with an Honor Award for the new Keene State College Living & Learning Commons for the 2017 Excellence in Architecture Awards Program. The first-year residence hall is the school’s first living learning community.
According to jurors the project was beautiful and exemplified restraint and playfulness which were themes of this years competition. They also were impressed by the core of the facility – the “hub”, which is a three story vertical social space which connects to three simple residential wings.
The AIANH Excellence in Architecture Awards Program was instituted in 1983 for the purpose of providing public and professional recognition for architectural projects of design excellence by New Hampshire architects. Each entry is judged on the following criteria: overall design excellence including aesthetics, clarity, creativity, appropriate functionality, sustainability, building performance, and appropriateness with regard to fulfilling the client’s program.