Local architectural firm wins three awards in statewide contest

Design competition, judged by a three-person panel, drew 293 entries

Richter Architects, a Corpus Christi-based architectural firm, won three design awards in the 2002 TSA Design Awards program sponsored by the Texas Society of Architects (TSA).

The annual design awards competition drew 293 entries from 122 architectural firms across the state. The number of entries was one of the highest in the history of the awards program that honors excellence in design.

The competition is open to projects designed by Texas architects anywhere in the world and projects by any architect built within Texas.

A panel of three nationally prominent architects judged the entries. The identity of the competing architects was revealed only after the winners were chosen. Eleven awards were given to eight firms.

Richter Architects of Corpus Christi joins a hand full of architectural firms in the state to have won three TSA Design Awards in a single year. Richter Architects’ winning projects were:

Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz International Center, Corpus Christi
The jury commented that the project "has a scale that really works with the location ... it’s about celebrating movement, water, and boat(s) ... it’s actually playful and the architect(s) (were) very successful in really making the most out of it."


Texas Department of Transportation Kenedy County Safety Rest Area, Kenedy County
The jury commented "a remarkable project ... a wonderful use of a very simple structural element that ... works great for the building ... it fits perfectly into the tree limbs and elements of the little swath of land ... through lighting and composition ... it’s a wonderful place."

Mustang Island Episcopal Conference Center, Mustang Island
The jury commented "it’s a project geared toward dealing with issues of sustainability in a really successful way ... love the idea of the (recycled) material ... successful architects take materials and instead of using them as faux materials (they) used them for their inherent integrity ..."

The jury consisted of Chris Sharples of ShoP/Sharples Holden Pasquarelli in New York City, Annie Chu of Chu + Gooding Architects in Los Angeles, and Mark Sexton, AIA, of Krueck & Sexton in Chicago.


The design awards were presented during the TSA’s 63rd annual convention Oct. 24-26 in Austin.


The winning projects were featured in Texas Architect, an award-winning magazine published by the Texas Society of Architects. Founded in 1939, the Texas Society of Architects has more than 4,000 members statewide.