RICHMOND, Va. — The Branch Museum of Architecture & Design proudly introduces the first recipients of its new Virginia by Design Awards.
The Virginia by Design Awards highlight excellence in design, visionary thinking, patronage and the transformative role of design in shaping the built environment.
“Virginia is rich with unrecognized design talent and visionaries,” says The Branch Museum of Architecture and Design Executive Director Penny Fletcher. “We’ve created this annual awards program to showcase outstanding contributions to Virginia’s built environment.”
The awards will be presented on Friday, April 13, 9 am-12:30 pm at The Branch Museum. An exhibition featuring the award recipients will be on display at The Branch, Tuesday, April 24-Sunday, June 10.
The Prize for Public Interest Design specifically celebrates a creative project that has transformed its surroundings, whether a setting, neighborhood or community. This year, the award goes to the The Elizabeth River Project. Honorable mentions in this category were given to the T. Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge, the Historic Pole Green Church Foundation, and ARC Park in Richmond.
About the Potterfield Bridge
Recently opened, the Potterfield Bridge has been a wildly successful recreational amenity, destination, and focus of the social and cultural life of Richmond, providing a unique experience and river perspective that previously did not exist, as well as connecting the two sides of the city – helping to establish “one” Richmond. The 1,700-long shared-use, non-motorized pathway rests on the blackened steel structure of a 1901 Vepco levee, a hydro power dam that once harnessed power for riverfront industry along the James River. The project team included the city of Richmond, owner; Howard Shockey & Sons, Inc., general contractor; Hargreaves Associates, lead design firm; VHB, civil engineer; Moffatt & Nichol, structural engineer; and AECOM, construction manager/owner’s representative. The firms, all with offices in Richmond, completed the 17-month project on time.
The bridge has already picked up several other awards including:
- Best Project Award — Landscape/urban development | ENR Mid-Atlantic
- Project of the Year — Transportation | American Public Works Association, Mid-Atlantic Chapter
- Public Works Project of the Year | American Public Works Association
- Engineering Excellence Merit Award — Special Projects | American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC ) of Virginia