Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Design Awards topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Palo Alto ARB names six winners for 2020–2024 design awards; motion carries 4-0
Summary
The Architectural Review Board selected six projects from a 28-project shortlist as the 2020–2024 ARB design award winners, approving the list 4-0 and directing staff to notify winners and plan an awards event.
The Palo Alto Architectural Review Board on Feb. 20 approved six projects as winners of the 2020–2024 ARB design awards and directed staff to contact winners and arrange an awards event.
Chair Rosenberg moved the motion to approve the winners and it passed unanimously, 4-0. The vote totaled yes: Board Member Balte; Board Member Hirsch; Vice Chair Chen; Chair Rosenberg.
The six projects the board approved as award winners are the Mercedes Benz dealership (as submitted by a board member; location noted in materials), 3215 Porter Drive, 3705 El Camino (Wilton Court), 588 Webster Street, Nobu (620 Emerson Street) and Sushi Roku. Board members said they narrowed the original list from 79 projects down to 28 for this award cycle and then winnowed that list during multiple meetings and a slide presentation at the Feb. 20 hearing.
Board discussion focused on design qualities, consistency of materials, landscape relationships and the site-specific context of each shortlisted project. Several board members advocated for particular projects for different reasons: some praised minimalist restraint and proportion, others emphasized reuse or the indoor–outdoor relationship. The board also discussed the idea of an “honorable mention” for a well-executed reuse project (a tenant-improvement conversion) but ultimately moved forward with six winners.
Staff, represented by Steven and Claire, said winners will be contacted and staff will coordinate a ceremony (the last awards were presented in the City Hall lobby); staff will also gather display materials from winners and explore displaying project images on lobby monitors and in the community.
A formal motion was made and seconded; the board voted 4-0 to approve the six winners and authorized staff to notify the winners and proceed with event coordination.
