Fort Worth, Texas, (December 8, 2020) — The Fort Worth Chapter of the American Institute of Architects announced the winners of their 2020 Excellence in Architecture Design and Studio Annual Awards on November 17. VLK Architects received the Merit Award for the design of Allen ISD STEAM Center.

Each year AIA Fort Worth’s jury of notable, regional architects collaborates to review the various exceptional architectural, urban design, and unbuilt projects submitted by chapter members. The 2020 Jury included Sara Lopergolo, from Selldorf Architects, John Ronan, from John Ronan Architects, and Mark Wellen, from Rhotenberry Wellen Architects.

The purpose of the awards program is to encourage and recognize distinguished architectural achievement and to honor the architects, clients, and consultants who work together to improve the built environment and for their role in shaping the quality of life through design excellence. The jury determines each winner with some historical considerations used as a guide. AIAFW also recently included new sustainability considerations and guidelines to align with the AIA National Design Awards program. These updates include a design for integration, community, ecology, water, economy, energy, wellness, resources, change, and discovery.

“Receiving this award from AIA Fort Worth is very meaningful to our firm,” said Sloan Harris, CEO, and Partner of VLK Architects. “The Allen STEAM Center is an opportunity that is rare in our profession – a program that demands innovative design, a client that pushed a forward-thinking vision and gave our team a blank sheet to deliver on that vision, and a site that lends itself to incredible outdoor learning opportunities in a very diverse environmental setting. We thank Allen ISD for the partnership and AIA Fort Worth for the recognition!”

The Allen ISD STEAM Center design provides a foundational system, purposely created to promote curiosity, cultivate future-ready skills, and prepare students for success. The center offers specialized areas such as engineering and robotics labs, computer labs with maintenance programs, science and physics labs, math-specific classrooms, and architecture and interior design studios. Collaboration areas, shared spaces, and huddle rooms are situated throughout the facility to provide various places for groups to collaborate on projects. Josh Wilson, AIA, Project Architect for VLK Architects, was heavily involved in design and construction.

“We are honored to receive this AIAFW Merit Award for the Allen ISD STEAM Center,” Wilson said. “Allen ISD leadership and administration had a grand vision for this campus, and it was so gratifying to partner with them to produce this unique facility.”

To see the full list of 2020 AIAFW Excellence Awards Recipients, click here.

About AIA Fort Worth: AIA Fort Worth is a professional organization of architects from North Texas that promotes the value of architecture to the public and works to unify the membership in service to and the profession’s growth.

About VLK Architects: With offices in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, El Paso, and Houston, Texas, VLK Architects provides architecture, planning, and interior design services to automotive, educational, corporate, and institutional clients throughout Texas. For more information, please visit http://www.vlkarchitects.com.

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