I remember as a kid browsing the JCPenney catalog at Christmas time, noting the toys that I wanted Santa Claus to bring. I didn't always make a long list, but I had in mind the top things I wanted to see under the tree.
Today, we are inundated with catalogs from every store. Don't try to escape by e-mail, because the "special" sale e-mails come by the dozen, sometimes hourly. There isn't a specific one we wait for the mailman to deliver.
This month's issue, though, is one we hope you have watched for in your mail. The Architectural Portfolio, the industry's most recognized awards program for education design excellence, awaits you as you turn these pages.
It is designed to educate, to inspire and to be dog-eared for when you are planning construction and renovation projects on campus. This year showcases 148 projects from across the country.
The jury awarded the William W. Caudill Citation — named for the Houston architect, educator and author — to Booker T. Washington STEM Academy in Champaign, Ill. This LEED gold-certified school creates a STEM-centric learning environment where students gain skills to think critically, solve complex problems, and understand technology advancements. Architect for the project was Cannon Design.
This year's Louis I. Kahn Citation — named for the acclaimed American architect whose works were innovative and technical — was awarded to Richland College in Dallas. The jury recognized Perkins+Will for Sabine Hall Science Building's "collision spaces," which enable students and researchers to collaborate.
The jury also awarded four Special Citations: Joplin Interim High School, Joplin, Mo.; Kathlyn Joy Gilliam Collegiate Academy, Dallas; Northern Arizona University's Health and Learning Center, Flagstaff, Ariz.; and Santa Ana College's Early Childhood Education Center, Santa Ana, Calif.
We hope you are excited to get this issue, and that it will be one you continue to look forward to from year to year.
What do you think? Tell us in the comment box below.
