Shaping communities through design excellence. This article recognizes the winners and entrants in the AIA Honolulu 66th Annual Design Awards.
Awards of Excellence
Kūlanihāko‘i High School – Award of Excellence, Institutional | Hawai’i Energy Award for Excellence in Energy-Efficient Design | The Mayor’s Choice Award
Photos: Olivier Koning; Travis Rowan Photography
Firm: G70
Client: State of Hawai‘i Department of Education
Contractor: Nordic PCL Construction, Inc.
Location: Kihei, Maui, Hawai‘i
Buildings can have an impact on our consciousness, whether we realize it or not. With that in mind, Kūlanihāko‘i High School, in Kihei, was designed with “forward thinking,” says Charles Kaneshiro, AIA, President, G70 Design, in Honolulu. “We wanted to build something special for the students.”
The result is a LEED certified building, pursuing a Living Building Futures – Net Zero Building certification. “It’s like LEED on steroids.” Kaneshiro says.
The 50-acre campus operates completely off-grid, with net-zero energy. It is integrated into the surrounding environment from the landscaping to the aluminum trellises over 2-story classroom buildings to reduce temperatures. It’s even designed with awareness to where the sun rises and sets, and to provide shade from the warm Kihei sun, to naturally reduce heat in the buildings.
“You’ll notice a 10-degree drop in temperature,” Kaneshiro says. “You’ll see the students hanging outdoors, because it’s quite comfortable, like being under the shade of a tree.”
Other features of the campus include a stormwater retention system that prevents the school from flooding by using a large retention basin.
The state-of-the-art, multi-million-dollar campus opened in 2023 and currently has about 800 students. The master plan allows for double that, with each classroom building able to accommodate about 400 students.
Though it may look expensive, the campus was not designed beyond any other high school Department of Education budgets, says Kaneshiro.
“That was the mantra. We have to do it within a standard high school design budget. (The DOE) didn’t spend any more money (on this campus) than if they built any standard concrete block school.”
Awards of Merit
806 Iwilei Affordable Housing & Resource Center – Award of Merit | Community Impact Award, Residential
Photos: Hawkins Biggins; Olivier Koning
Firm: G70
Client: City and County of Honolulu, Department of Land Management
Contractor: Allied Builders System
Location: Honolulu, O‘ahu, Hawai‘i
This adaptive reuse affordable housing project showcases a blend of design sensibility and sustainability. The four-story mixed-use building integrates 27 apartments with essential community services and resources. Notable features such as natural ventilation, solar tube skylights, and biofilter planters highlight the project’s responsible and thoughtful approach to sustainability.
Civil Beat Plaza – Award of Merit, Commercial/Industrial
Photo: Adam Taylor Photography
Firm: G70
Client: Withheld per owner’s request
Contractor: Nordic PCL Construction, Inc
Location: Honolulu, O‘ahu, Hawai‘i
Located in the walkable community of Kaimukī, this build incorporates retail, restaurant, and office spaces as well as ample parking, a shaded plaza, and safe loading zones for vehicular circulation.
Source: https://www.hawaiibusiness.com/american-institute-architects-aia-honolulu-design-awards-2024/