PLAN Studio now setting sights for International Stage


(Rochester, NY) 250SOUTH, one of the latest additions to Rochester's skyline, was selected by the 2010 American Institute of Architects (AIA) New York State Design Awards Jury for a Design Excellence Citation. The Award will be presented to the Rochester firm PLAN Architectural Studio, PC (PLAN Studio) at the New York State AIA Convention on October 15th in Buffalo.

The building, previously cited for a Rochester AIA Design Excellence Award as well as a National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) Award of Excellence, is now in the running for recognition at the 2010 World Architecture Festival (WAF) in Barcelona, Spain.

"This is significant for PLAN Studio and for the Rochester design community." says Mark Pandolf, Principal and Business Director at PLAN Studio. "It is very rare for a project outside of New York City to win a State Award because of the amount of high-caliber firms located in Manhattan."

Pandolf can only recall one other project from Rochester in the last 20 years to win such an award. Due to the high-profile international projects with extraordinarily large budgets that are submitted each year by New York City firms, the field is one of the most competitive in the world.

Christopher Lopez, Principal and Design Director at PLAN Studio agrees, "We are very excited to be recognized in such a prestigious arena, and our next venue for 250SOUTH is the WAF in Barcelona."

250SOUTH, which has been entered under the New and Old Category for adaptive re-use projects, was recently selected by Paul Finch, WAF Program Director, as a 'Pick-of-the-Day', a lead-in promotional feature for the festival.

With thousands of entries from over 80 countries, the WAF organizes the largest architectural awards program in the world and is designed to celebrate and showcase the work of the international architectural community. Unlike other award competitions, the WAF Awards are unique in that they involve short-listed architects presenting their projects live to the public to a star-studded international judging panel.

"Just to be participating in such an event is unbelievable, we will be rubbing elbows with and competing against some of the most respected architects in the world," explains Lopez.

Quick Facts:

250SOUTH: Mixed-use building located at 250 South Avenue in the Washington Square District.

PLAN Studio: PLAN Architectural Studio, PC is an award-winning professional consulting firm founded in Rochester in 2003 that specializes in architecture, planning and historic preservation.

Mark A. Pandolf, AIA, LEED AP: Mark Pandolf is a Principal and the Business Director at PLAN Studio.

Christopher P. Lopez, AIA, AICP: Chris Lopez is a Principal and the Design Director at PLAN Studio.

AIA Rochester: American Institute of Architects Rochester Chapter.

AIA NYS: American Institute of Architects New York State Chapter.

WAF: World Architecture Festival is an international design competition held in Barcelona, Spain.

More information can be obtained from:

PLAN Studio: Christopher Lopez 585.454.4230
AIA Rochester: www.aiaroch.org
AIA New York State: www.aianys.org

World Architecture Festival: www.worldarchitecturefestival.com
Jo Reid, PR Manager
T +44 (0) 20 7269 9348
E jo.reid@fd.com

Tilly Shirlaw, PR Executive
T +44 (0) 20 7269 9352
E tilly.shirlaw@fd.com

Paul Finch, Program Director
T +44 (0) 20 7728 4591
E paul.finch@emap.com


IMAGES ARE AVAILABLE FROM PLAN STUDIO

by RDDC.org