The recently completed Iowa City Public Works (ICPW) facility has been named 2021 Project of the Year in the Small Cities/Rural Communities category by the American Public Works Association (APWA). APWA, a not-for-profit organization, presents national awards related to Public Works projects, including buildings, public transportation, and more. Building projects are judged against several criteria, including safety performance, community relations, sustainability, and construction management techniques.

At first glance, Muscatine, Iowa appears to be a small and unassuming community, but there is more to this Mississippi River town than meets the eye. For over 60 years, the Stanley Center for Peace and Security has called Muscatine home. The Center brings together journalists, scholars, and diplomats from around the globe to drive policy change related to nuclear disarmament, mass violence prevention, and climate change solutions.  

The Zweig Group has ranked Neumann Monson the second-best architecture firm to work for in their 2021 national employee experience survey. The Zweig Group “Best Firms to Work For Awards” is the largest employee experience survey in the architecture, engineering, environmental, planning, and construction (AEC) industry. The program evaluates AEC firms on culture, workplace practices, employee benefits, retention rates, professional development, and more—from both management and staff perspectives. Awards were given in multiple categories based on firm size and discipline.

We are pleased to announce our status as a Just Organization. The Just Program, provided through the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), assesses company culture in areas related to equity and social justice. In 2020, an undeniably challenging year of our nation, we used Just to look inward and make a difference externally.

We are proud to announce that the Unitarian Universalist Society (UUS) Facility in Coralville, IA received the Iowa Impact Award. This award, presented by the Iowa Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), recognizes projects that benefit “social, humanitarian, community, or environmental causes.” As the name suggests, the AIA Impact Award encourages architects and their clients to make a positive impact on the community—and we are thrilled AIA Iowa has recognized this project’s success.  

According to the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the built environment accounts for 40% of greenhouse gas emissions, placing an immense responsibility on architects in the fight against climate change. However, with that responsibility comes the tremendous opportunity to create a positive, enduring impact on the planet.

Today, we can finally announce some exciting news: Market One earned the COTE Top Ten Award. Each year, the Committee on the Environment (COTE), an American Institute of Architects (AIA) committee, recognizes ten projects from around the country for their commitment to sustainable design excellence. These projects are as beautiful as they are energy–efficient, and we are proud to say Market One has been recognized as such.  

Market House is featured in the Spring 2021 issue of Iowa Architect Magazine (page 28). The article touches on the thoughtful contrasts of materiality that was used to create an exterior that is both different from its surroundings, but also complimentary. The five-story mixed-use building is located in the eclectic and historic Northside neighborhood of Iowa City and brings new prominence and vitality to a previously underutilized corner lot.

Wood Design & Building Magazine has recognized 111 E. Grand with a Wood Design & Building Award. The awards program is an opportunity to pay homage to design and construction teams that are embracing wood architecture as a solution to the many challenges that they are faced with – from environmental to urban density. Submissions were accepted from Canada, the United States, and internationally, adding value to the diversity of wood building application examples.

This month Alyanna Subayno, Intern Architect, attended the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) annual conference, October 14-18. Here’s what she shared with us about this year’s virtual conference: