OCEAN GROVE, NJ—The New Jersey chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA-NJ) has recognized Ocean Grove, N.J.-based Shore Point Architecture with a design award for the design firm’s Springwood Center, a 27,500-sq.-ft., three-story, mixed-use property in Asbury Park, N.J.
Developed as a public-private joint venture between not-for-profit community organization Interfaith Neighbors and the City of Asbury Park, Springwood Center is located at 1201 Springwood Ave. and includes five storefronts, a police sub-station, restaurant, senior center and affordable housing units.
"Interfaith Neighbors wanted a building that was dramatic because they wanted to make a splash on the west side of Asbury Park," said Stephen J. Carlidge, president of Shore Point Architecture, which took home a Merit Award in the Built Open category for the design of the building. "They wanted everyone to say 'wow' when they saw this building. That was part of the reason for this design."
Constructed for $5.4 million, the building is comprised of steel and polished concrete block for the structure and fiber cement panels, glass and corrugated metal for the exterior finishes. Storefronts are capped by a canopy with canted planes that slope outward. Because sustainability was also important to Interfaith Neighbors and Asbury Park, Shore Point Architecture designed Springwood Center with green features and building materials, including soy-based spray foam insulation, bamboo flooring and fiber cement. The property features solar shading with window orientation and overhangs controlling the amount of direct sunlight coming into the building. The building roof is also designed to take solar panels and includes a white reflective surface that reduces cooling costs in the summer.
The AIA New Jersey Annual Design Awards program recognizes architectural projects that exhibit design excellence in the categories of open, residential, historic preservation and interior architecture designated for built and un-built projects.