NAHB seeks senior housing design awards nominations

The National Association of Home Builders' Seniors Housing Council has announced the call for entries for the 2004 Best of Seniors Housing Design Awards competition. The awards program, now in its 13th year, recognizes architectural and interior designs that have brought quality, innovation and spirit to the senior housing industry.

The competition is open to project owners, builders, developers, remodelers, operators, architects, land planners, interior designers and marketing/advertising firms that serve the growing 55-plus market.

Judging

A panel of noted professionals in the 55-plus senior housing field, including builders, architects, designers and gerontologists, will judge entries and present gold and silver awards to current and "on-the-boards" projects in various housing categories, including active adult, continuing care, retirement communities, assisted living and special needs. The number of categories has more than doubled to 66, with expanded categories for senior multifamily and aging-in-place design.

"We have increased the number of categories because of the diversity of product type on the market today," said Quincy R. Johnson III, chairman of the 2004 Design Awards Committee and president of Boca Raton, Fla.-based Quincy Johnson Architects.

"While many builders are building single-family product, a large percentage of older Americans are moving into seniors apartment communities. By adding multifamily and other new categories, we are giving builders, developers and other industry professionals more opportunities for recognition while promoting the value of quality design," he said.

Criteria

In addition to design, projects will be judged on their ability to solve market-specific constraints of seniors' housing, such as marketability, budget, challenging sites and diverse programs. The Best of Seniors Housing Design also has separate categories for community center, common area, interior design, model merchandising and more.

Gold and silver awards will be given in each category. The deadline for entries is Oct. 10. Award winners will be announced at an awards presentation and recognition luncheon in January 2004 during the NAHB International Builders' Show in Las Vegas, a convention that drew a record 92,000 people in 2003. Award-winning projects will be exhibited prominently at the International Builders Show, displayed on the NAHB Web site and featured in the NAHB Seniors Housing Council's quarterly industry magazine, "Seniors' Housing News."

The call for entries brochure, which includes entry application, rules and a list of categories, is available online at www.nahb.org/seniorsdesignawards.

The NAHB Seniors Housing Council provides information, education, networking and recognition opportunities for its members and represents NAHB on seniors housing issues.