IBE Projects Win 2008 GSA Design Awards

Washington, DC - April 8, 2009
In March, the General Services Administration presented 18 Design Awards to projects which represent "the best of the best" of the federal projects designed and constructed by GSA. IBE was recognized for its contribution on two of the honored projects: the Wayne Lyman Morse U.S. Courthouse in Eugene, OR and the U.S. Land Port of Entry in Donna, TX.

In addition to receiving an Honor Award in Architecture, the Wayne Lyman Morse U.S. Courthouse was recognized with an Honor Award in Art in Architecture and Construction Excellence and a Citation in Graphic Design/Signage. IBE worked with the architecture firm Morphosis during the schematic design phase on this 267,000 SF federal courthouse project.

The U.S. Land Port of Entry received a Citation in Architecture|On the Boards. IBE collaborated with Hodgetts + Fung Design and Architecture, providing full MEP services. This approximately 53,000 SF project, located between Donna, Texas and Rio Bravo, Mexico on a 38-acre site, will feature several sustainable elements, including maximizing energy efficiency and the use of: retention ponds for storm water quantity control, native drought resistant vegetation, clerestory windows and sunscreens to diminish heat gain, skylights for daylighting, high content fly ash concrete and local and recycled materials. The project is part of the GSA/Customs and Border Patrol "Port of the Future" program and features modular design and systems components that help to address issues posed by the remote location.

Held every two years, the GSA Design Awards Program has a broad number of categories that encompass virtually every way design professionals contribute to the quality of the federal workplace and leave an enduring imprint on America's built environment. The entries are juried and selected by professional private sector peers. For this awards cycle, IBE founder/partner Alan Locke was chosen to serve as a jury member representing the field of engineering.

For more information on the 2008 GSA Design Awards, click here to download the program brochure (PDF) containing information on all the winning projects.