The Vale Living with Lakes Centre in Sudbury will be doubly recognized during the 2015 Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) Awards.
The OAA is bestowing the centre with a Design Excellence Award, as well as the Sustainable Design Excellence Award. The centre has an opportunity to win a third award, the People’s Choice Award, which will be announced during the awards gala on May 8 in Hamilton.
Projects submitted for consideration were weighed by the following criteria: creativity, context, sustainability, good design/good business, and legacy.
The Vale Living with Lakes Centre, which was designed by J.L. Richards and Associates, is home to the Co-operative Freshwater Ecology Unit, whose scientists conduct research into the stressors that may affect the health of aquatic ecosystems throughout the North, including climate change, invasive species, urban development, trace contaminants, loss of biodiversity and excessive exploitation.
Completed in 2011, the centre has garnered a number of other accolades, including a Green Building Wood Design award from Wood WORKS!, an Award of Excellence from Canadian Consulting Engineer Magazine, and a Holcim Award for Sustainable Construction.
The Deer Clan Longhouse, built in Crawford Lake in Halton, received an honourable mention for Design Excellence. The facility was designed by Brook McIlroy, which has an office in Thunder Bay.
Voters can cast their ballots for their favourite design at www.oaa.on.ca/the%20oaa/about%20the%20oaa/2015-people-choice-awards.
