Press Release
Tuesday January 15, 2013
Lavallee Brensinger Awarded Two AIA NH Excellence in
Architecture Awards
Lavallee Brensinger Architects received Honor Awards for Excellence in Architecture at the New Hampshire Chapter of the
American Institute of Architects’ 29th Annual Awards Banquet on January 11 for the Hillsborough County Superior Court North
in Manchester, NH, and the City of Manchester Department of Public Works Administration Building.
A jury comprised of representatives from the Rhode Island architecture community selected award recipients that exemplify
excellence in overall design, including aesthetics, clarity, creativity, appropriate functionality, sustainability, building
performance, and appropriateness with regard to fulfilling the client’s program.
The Hillsborough County Superior Court North renovation championed solid urban planning and meet every measure of new
court design. The existing interior was completely removed and the building’s image and presence was refreshed by introducing
natural light throughout the space.
Granite veneer removed from the facades was repurposed to clad the new stair towers, and as pavers for the public lobby
plaza. All existing furniture and some architectural components, totaling 41.3 tons, were salvaged and repurposed to Spanish
Town, Jamaica. The facility is on-track to receive a LEED Silver Certification, and has been awarded the Governor’s “Excellence in
Energy Efficiency Award.”
The jury commented that they “enjoyed this simple, but elegant, addition and rehabilitation” while the “restrained and
elegant glass addition succeeds in transforming this ‘background’ building into a truly civic structure that befits its function as a
courthouse.”
In addition to Hillsborough County Superior Court North management and staff and Lavallee Brensinger Architects, other
project team members included: TFMoran, civil engineering; Foley Buhl Roberts & Associates, structural engineers; RDK
Engineers, mechanical/electrical/plumbing/fire protection engineers; and TLT Construction, construction manager.
The City of Manchester Department of Public Works Administration Building sets a new standard for design excellence and
commitment to the employees and citizens of the City of Manchester.
Prior to the project the Department of Public Works (DPW) was housed in a 50 year-old building, which was unsuitable for any
function and was beyond its useful life. Employee work areas were ill equipped, dark, dingy, and devoid of any of the necessary
modern amenities for this type of facility.
The goal of this project was to provide a new consolidated facility for all DPW needs for the next 50 years. DPW divisions,
including highway, engineering, facilities, and parks and recreation, previously located in three separate buildings, where
reunited under one roof.
This new building, part of a three-block campus project, is a safe, healthy, collaborative, and energy-efficient work environment,
and revitalizes a central city neighborhood.
“This building is a wonderful addition to a previously disenfranchised urban district,“ said the jury. “The architects successfully
transformed a utilitarian building type into an elegant civic statement using a high level industrial aesthetic. The building
placement creates a strong street edge and expresses the transformational potential of design in the public domain. The jury
universally applauded the quality of the interior spaces and the simple, but effective, use of natural light. Quite simply, this
building elevates the functional to the extraordinary.”
In addition to Department of Public Works management and staff and Lavallee Brensinger Architects, other project team
members included: Foley Buhl Roberts & Associates, structural engineers; RDK Engineers, mechanical/electrical/plumbing
engineers; and Harvey Construction, construction manager.
Hillsborough County Superior Court North, Manchester, NH
City of Manchester Department of Public Works Administration Building, Manchester, NH
For more information, visit www.lbpa.com.