The ALA recently held its 12^th annual Design Awards and recognized excellent use of architecture. Among the many awards given out the Don Erickson Presidential Award, named for the association’s founder and first president, was given to DLR Group, Chicago. Metea Valley High School in Aurora, DLR Group’s project, provided students with exposure to natural light while still maintaining a safe environment for high schoolers. The project was recognized for the materials used and the quality of light in the project.

“This year’s projects surpassed our expectations,” said Peg McLean, ALA Executive Director. “We found them to be innovative in use of space, sustainable materials, technical proficiency and artistic excellence.”

The Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facility in Hong Kong won the Merit Award for the unbuilt category.

A full list of award winners is available below.

2010 ALA Design Award Winners 

Presidential Award

Metea Valley High School, Aurora, Ill.
Category: Institutional
Firm: DLR Group, Chicago

Gold Award

The Metea Valley High School in Aurora, Ill. was awarded the Presidential Award.

Category: Commercial
Stacey’s Prom, Bridal and Lingerie, Urbandale, Iowa
Firm: INVISION Architecture, Des Moines, Iowa

Category: Residential I
Gabriel Residence, Highland Park, Ill.
Myefski Architects, Inc., Evanston, Ill.

Category: Religious
First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple, Chicago
Bailey Edward Architecture, Chicago 

The Silver Award under the institutional category was given to the Oconomowoc Arts Center in Oconomowoc, Wis.

Category: Residential I
Cortland Residence, Chicago
Nicholas Clark Architects, Ltd., Chicago 

Silver Award
Category: Residential II
Whiteline Lofts, Des Moines, Iowa
INVISION Architecture, Des Moines, Iowa 

Category: Interior Architecture
University of Illinois at Chicago Daley Library Oasis, Chicago
Bailey Edward Architecture, Chicago 

Category: Commercial
Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum, Waterloo, Iowa
INVISION Architecture, Des Moines, Iowa 

Category: Residential I
Sawyer Pool House, Sawyer, Mich.
Nicholas Clark Architects, Ltd., Chicago 

Category: Residential I
Private Guest/Pool House, Manakin Sabot, Va.
Fraerman Associates Architecture, Inc., Highland Park, Ill. 

Category: Institutional
Oconomowoc Arts Center, Oconomowoc, Wis.
Plunkett Raysich Architects, Milwaukee, Wis. 

Category: Institutional
Langston Hughes Elementary School
SMNG-A Architects, Ltd., Chicago 

Category: Religious
Holy Name Cathedral Accessibility Projects, Chicago
Jaeger, Nickola & Associates, Ltd., Architects, Park Ridge, Ill.

Category: Residential II
Circle 118 Townhomes, Cleveland, Ohio
RDL Architects, Shaker Heights, Ohio 

Category: Renovation
Building 13 Renovations, Naval Station Great Lakes, Ill.
Johnson Lasky Architects, Chicago 

Category: Residential I
Boomerang House, Edina, Minn.
Conway & Schulte Architects, Minneapolis, Minn. 

Category: Unbuilt
Aurora River Edge Music Pavilion, Aurora, Ill.
Muller & Muller, Chicago 

Merit Award

Category: Renovation
Weas Development Office, Milwaukee, Wis.
Plunkett Raysich Architects, Milwaukee, Wis. 

Category: Interior Architecture
Trainor Glass Design Center, Chicago
Linden Group, Inc., Orland Park, Ill. 

Category: Renovation
Tepper House, Champaign, Ill.
Scott Murray Architect, Urbana, Ill.

Category: Residential I
Sonoma Valley Ranch, Santa Rosa, Calif.
Tigerman McCurry Architects, Chicago 

Category: Commercial
Rock River Water Reclamation District, Rockford, Ill.
Larson & Darby Group, Rockford, Ill.

Category: Religious
Prince of Peace Missionary Baptist Church, Kansas City, Mo.
Williams Spurgeon Kuhl & Freshnock Architects, Kansas City, Mo. 

Category: Residential II
Metternich Lodge and Visiting Artist Studio, Saugatuck, Mich.
SMNG-A Architects, Ltd. 

Category: Unbuilt
Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facility, Hong Kong, China
Myefski Architects, Inc., Evanston, Ill. 

Category: Institutional
Hoffman Estates Police Station, Hoffman Estates, Ill.
SRBL Architects, Deerfield, Ill.

Category: Institutional
Hoffman Estates Fire Station #24, Hoffman Estates, Ill.
SRBL Architects, Deerfield, Ill.

Category: Institutional
Gilmour Academy-Athletic Complex, Gates Mills, Ohio
Holtzheimer Bolek + Meehan Architects, Chagrin Falls, Ohio 

Category: Renovation
737 West Willow Street, Chicago
Sullivan Goulette & Wilson, Chicago