Adaptive re-use project by Davy Architecture recognized for “Project of the Year- Public”

San Diego—Sept. 28, 2013—NewSchool of Architecture and Design (NSAD) faculty and alumni were part of a Davy Architecture team that won the award for “Project of the Year – Public” from the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS). The award recognizes the San Diego firm’s work designing a school that is one of a handful in the United States dedicated to educating homeless children.

The project involved an adaptive-re-use of the former San Diego Housing Commission office, which allowed for an expansion of the school’s capacity and range of services from its downtown location. The team, led by Davy Architecture principal Ric Davy, was recognized by the San Diego chapter of the SMPS in August. Team members with NSAD ties were Kurt Hunker, Director of Graduate Programs at NSAD and NSAD alumni Melina Aluwi and Jessica Gonzales. For the project, Hunker served as consulting designer. Gonzales was project manager through the permit phase, and Aluwi was project manager involved in construction administration through the project completion.

The project has also been nominated for an Orchid Award as part of the San Diego Architectural Foundation’s Orchids & Onions event being held Oct. 3. According to Davy Architecture, the Monarch School was designed to provide a range of educational and support services for 350 K-12 students, with room for expansion. The project involved complete gutting and overhaul of an existing two-story concrete tilt-up commercial warehouse building and a 2.2 acre site. The completed project includes parking areas, hardscape play space, a kindergarten playground and new landscape. Interior improvements include 18 offices, 20 classrooms, two resource centers, library, tutoring center, lobby, auditorium and several support spaces on two floors. The lobby and auditorium are double height spaces with skylights, allowing natural daylight to enter the building creating an inviting and comfortable environment for students, faculty and staff.

About Davy Architecture
Founded in 1984 by Eric Davy, Davy Architecture is an award-winning firm specializing in architectural design. The firm’s diverse portfolio includes commercial, industrial, K-14 education, civic, healthcare, and LEED certified facilities. By emphasizing client service, high quality design, and technical excellence, Davy Architecture has attracted and retained an experienced staff of professionals that includes 2 licensed architects, with over 40 years combined experience, and five LEED Accredited Professionals. Based in San Diego, Davy Architecture holds licenses to practice in Arizona, Colorado, and Nevada. Davy Architecture is a professional corporation, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) and Small Local Business Enterprise (SLBE).

About NewSchool of Architecture and Design
NewSchool of Architecture and Design (NSAD), founded in 1980, is located in San Diego, California. For the past two years, DesignIntelligence has ranked NSAD among the top 10 undergraduate architecture schools in the western United States in its publication “America’s Best Architecture & Design Schools.” NSAD is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS), a national accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. NSAD’s Bachelor of Architecture, Master of Architecture and Executive Master of Architecture programs are accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). NSAD also offers a pre-professional Bachelor of Arts in Architecture, along with a Bachelor of Science in Digital Media Arts, a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management, a Master of Construction Management and a Master of Science in Architecture. The school’s expanding global design education offerings include a new Bachelor of Interior Design program available in 2013–2014. For more information, visit www.NewSchoolArch.edu.

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