AIA Chicago 2021 Small Project Awards Winner - Citation of merit
Chicago, Illinois / June 2020 – On June 26th, 2020, The American Institute of Architects (AIA), Chicago Chapter announced the winners of its annual Small Firm / Small Project Awards Program, which recognizes high-quality work from small architectural firms and exceptional small local projects. The goal of this award program is to raise public awareness of the value that architects bring to small projects and to promote small practitioners as a resource for design excellence. All projects were designed by firms with 10 or fewer full-time or full-time-equivalent employees at the time of submission. Designed by Chicago architecture firm 34-TEN, the Newport Coffee House is an interior build-out of an existing commercial space in the heart of downtown Evanston. The design of the 2,100 sf space was inspired by the owner’s interest in precision coffee crafting in a minimalist setting and with an innovative workflow for the baristas. “The minimalist concept helped conceptualize the space,” notes 34-TEN Founding Principal, Josh Hutchison, “this inspired the design of the coffee bar, the organization of the equipment, and the clean aesthetic. Additionally, the design team wanted to emphasize the Swedish heritage of the owners to counterbalance the sterility inherent with the laboratory concept. This was accomplished by referencing Scandinavian design precedent and detail.”