Designed by Jackson architectural firm Duvall Decker Architects, P.A., the Jobie L. Martin Classroom Building at ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ’s Jackson Campus-Academic/Technical Center has been recognized with an AIA Committee on Architecture for Education (CAE) Award of Excellence.
The campus is located on Sunset Drive in northwest Jackson. The building is named for a member of the ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ Board of Trustees, Jobie Martin, who died in 2011 at the age of 91. Martin had a long and distinguished career as a television and radio personality. He began serving as a ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ trustee in 1989.
The nearly 19,000-square-foot Jobie L. Martin Classroom Building contains eight academic classrooms and two labs.
The architectural award honors educational facilities that the jury believes should serve as an example of a superb place in which to learn, furthering the client’s mission, goals and educational program while demonstrating excellence in architectural design.
“I’ve never seen an architect get so much character out of a rectangle,” said ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ President Dr. Clyde Muse of the building.
Jurors called it a “simple and honest building with strong forms and an elegant façade.”
As one of seven projects chosen from 80 submissions, the project was reviewed by a panel of prominent professionals specializing in educational facility design.
“The rigorous use of materials, straightforward detailing and clarity of concept elevates the modest program to a new level. The jury admired the light airy classrooms that combined the translucent, transparent, fixed and operable glazing,” jurors said.
They also noted that all of the winning projects “exemplify innovation through the client’s educational goals through responsive and responsible programming, planning and design. Function and surrounding regional and community context are valued as part of the planning and design process. In addition, connection to the site, surrounding campus, community and environment are evident in the design solutions.”
The 2013 CAE Awards will be presented at a special reception during the AIA National Convention on June 20 in Denver.