AIA Florida announces Wannemacher Jensen Architects as 2023 Firm of the Year along with other Design and Honor Awardees

AIA Florida has announced the winners of this year's Design and Honor Awards. The annual awards program highlights outstanding work across nine project categories in addition to bestowing Honor Awards to firms and individuals. 

This year, Wannemacher Jensen Architects was awarded Firm of the Year, while Done Yoshino of Yoshino Architecture received the James H. Anstis Lifetime Achievement Award and Marilys Nepomechie, who received the Gold Medal Award. AIA Florida President Beverly Frank shared, "Great design transcends international barriers, evidenced by our jury’s thoughtful deliberations to select this year’s honorees. I am confident these multi-faceted projects will serve as inspiration for our emerging architects as well as our seasoned professionals.”

View the complete list of this year's winners, along with a selection of project images.

UNBUILT CATEGORY

• Honor Award:KoDA (Kean Office for Design and Architecture), Mangrove House, Key Biscayne, FL
• Honor Award: Damien Blumetti Architect, Inc., Creek House, Sarasota, FL
• Honor Award: Damien Blumetti Architect Inc., Boat House, Osprey, FL
• Merit Award: Straughn Trout Architects, McFadden Nature Center Donalsonville, GA
• Merit Award: Guy Peterson | OFA Inc., design architect and Damien Blumetti, AIA, architect of record, Shadow Pavilion, Casey Key, FL

• Citation Award: Álvarez-Díaz & Villalón® | Architecture & Interior Design, Reactivating & Reconnecting San Juan, PR: The impact of inclusive and resilient design strategies in shaping its urban waterfront, San Juan, PR
• Citation Award: Cúre and Penabad, design architect and GFD Miami, architect of record, Project Peach, Miami, FL
• Citation Award: Halflants + Pichette, USF School of Architecture, Tampa, FL
• Citation Award: Architectural Studio, Plaza del Veterano Municipio de Villalba, Villabla, PR
• CItation Award: Touzet Studio, Sheperd Eco, Miami, FL

MASONRY

• Honor Award: Cúre and Penabad, Allora, Guatemala City,Guatemala

THEORETICAL AND RESEARCH - PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY

• Merit Award: Daniel Bolojan, Assoc. AIA, Machine Perceptions: Gaudi + Neural Networks,
• Citation Award: Diaz Paunetto Arquitectos LLC, Self Growing Lab, Brooklyn, New York

THEORETICAL AND RESEARCH - STUDENT CATEGORY

• Honor Award: Minami Guido, University of Florida, Ghost Machine: A Traveling Atlas
• Honor Award: Stephanie Roberts, University of Florida, Dwelling in Identity: Rituals of Exchange
• Merit Award: Edward Yara, University of Florida, Sewing Division: Exploring Architecture's Ability to Unite Within Boarders, Nogales, AZ and Sonora, Mexico
• Merit Award: Avery Dunavant, University of Florida, Pier Review, Jacksonville Beach, FL

HISTORIC PRESERVATION & RESTORATION

• Merit Award: Solstice Planning and Architecture, Umbrella House Façade Restoration, Sarasota, FL
• Merit Award: Wilder Architecture, Barbaricum, Ybor City, FL
• Citation Award: Rowe Architects Incorporated, St. Petersburg High School Historic Renovations, St. Petersburg, FL
• Citation Award: Hammond Design Group, LLC, Smokey Hollow Barbershop Historic Restoration, Tallahassee, FL

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE INTERIORS

• Honor Award: STORYN STUDIO FOR ARCHITECTURELLC, Salty Charlotte, Charlotte, NC
• Merit Award: Hive Architects Inc., Shibusa Interiors, Sarasota, FL
• Merit Award: Perkins & Will, City of Sunny Isles Beach Gateway Center, Sunny Isles, FL

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE NEW WORK

• Honor Award: [STRANG] Design, Wildwood Residence, Coconut Grove, FL
• Merit Award: Hive Architects Inc., Shibusa, Sarasota, FL
• Merit Award: Damien Blumetti Architect, Inc., Bay House, Sarasota, FL
• Citation Award: Sweet Sparkman Architecture & Interiors, Longboat Key Fire Station #92, Longboat Key, FL

• Citation Award: [STRANG] Design, Angel Oaks, Coconut Grove, FL
• Citation Award: Nichols Architects, Arlo Wynwood, Miami, FL
• Citation Award: Shulman + Associates, design architect and Wolfberg Alvarez, architect of record, Arts & Letters Garage, Miami, FL
• Citation Award: Guy Peterson | OFA Inc., Cherokee Park House, Sarasota, FL

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE RENOVATIONS & ADDITIONS

• Merit Award: Traction Architecture, Sunrise House, St. Petersburg, FL

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE SUSTAINABILITY

• Honor Award: Atelier Mey, House in a Garden, Coconut Grove, FL
• Citation Award: Arquitectonica GEO, Canopy Park, Miami Beach, FL

2023 HONORS AWARDS RECIPIENTS

• James H. Anstis, FAIA, Lifetime Achievement Award: Don Yoshino, FAIA
• The Gold Medal Award: Marilys Nepomechie, FAIA
• The Silver Medal Hillard T. Smith Community Service Award: Rebecca Talbert, AIA
• Honor Award for Social Advancement of the Profession: Craig Aquart, AIA
• Firm of the Year: Wannemacher Jensen Architects, Inc.

• The Anthony “Tony’ Pullara Chapter Award: AIA Florida Southwest
• Photographer of the Year: Zalmy Meyer­, AIA
• Associate Member of the Year: Shadia Jaramillo, AIA

OBJECT CATEGORY

• Rowe Architects Incoporated, Bat Houses
• STORYN STUDIO FOR ARCHITECTURE LLC, Bus Stop

Learn more about AIA Florida here.