Veterans' Square
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News
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James K.
Blackwood, AIA, President of
Blackwood Associates, Inc.
was awarded by the
WV American Institute of Architects a
"Citation in Recognition for Exceptional
Civic Commitment by the Architect"
for Veterans' Square in Fairmont, WV |
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Stated by Juror
Mike O'Brien, a Professor from the Department of Architecture at Virginia
Tech, at the recent award ceremony in Charleston, regarding the Veterans'
Square in Fairmont, West Virginia:
Recognition:
"A substantial reconstruction of a four story, 65,000 square foot department store that had fallen into disrepair since being abandoned twenty years ago.
The project involved working with three entities, a local city government, a non-profit community service group, and a developer from Charleston, Senator Brooks McCabe, to substantially reconstruct this prominent corner of the downtown district into office space, parking structure and a public plaza.
This project stood out to the jury as a particularly civic-minded act. This is the kind of project an architect probably invests many more hours than are available in a fee. The kind where many hours are spent in meetings, presenting to community groups to build support for the project. When complete, the result is more than the removal of a derelict property from the city, the result here is the rebirth of a humble piece of this streets history.
The jury noted the humble approach to the street façade restorations and congratulates the architect on what seems to be an appropriate level of restraint.
Facing the plaza, the architect had a bit more freedom, turning what was a party-wall side into a "front."
The jury noted this was a heroic effort to preserve this part of the Fairmont's fabric, the plaza is a gift to the city for generations. I've come to understand that Jim Blackwood of Blackwood Associates had worked on this project for nine years, donating many hours to make sure it happened. The jury deeply appreciated this
as a kind of community investment and so recognizes the project with a special citation."
Jim Blackwood, Kenton Blackwood,
and all members of the Blackwood Associates, Inc. staff involved on this
community project would like to express their appreciation to the WVAIA
and Jurors for this
recognition. We encourage all visitors to our beautiful city to
visit the Veterans' Square and Plaza in downtown Fairmont.
Learn
more about Veterans' Square...
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