BAKERSFIELD, CA—Renfro & Cuningham announces the opening of the new Robert F. Kennedy High School (RFKHS) in Delano, California for the 2008-2009 school year.
The new campus is the third comprehensive high school for the Delano Joint Union High School District and is designed to accommodate approximately 1,800 students in grades 9 through 12. The design is a circular layout with 15 single-story buildings totaling 173,276 square feet. The buildings encircle an open and spacious central quad area that facilitates gatherings among students, faculty, and school administrators. Program elements consist of three general education classroom buildings, a science building, an Industrial Technology building, a Business/Engineering Technology building, a gymnasium, administration building, an outdoor eating shelter, cafeteria, and a Lecture Center that houses the school’s band and choir rooms. The Lecture Center also contains partitions, making it possible to divide the space to use at multiple times. State-of-the-art computer labs with built-in computer desks are included in each classroom building, offering students easy access and wireless internet and PC capabilities. The classroom buildings are grouped together on radial lines on the west side of the campus, while the school’s administration building and gymnasium sit on the east side. Built with a wood-frame and stucco exterior, the exterior of the campus buildings is colored with vibrant hues of sand and rust with a teal trim. The school’s mascot, a symbolic Thunderbird, is incorporated in ceramic tile patterns found throughout the campus.
Located on 45 acres of land and adjacent to one of the Bakersfield Community College District’s campuses, RFKHS represents a partnership between Delano Joint Union High School District and Bakersfield Community College District to promote higher education and joint-use facilities for both schools. Students and staff from both RFKHS and Bakersfield Community College have shared-use of RFKHS’ business classrooms and Industrial Technology building during specific times. RFKHS’ gymnasium facility and parts of the Lecture Center are jointly-used during RFKHS operating hours. As part of the joint-use agreement, RKHS students have direct access to the community college’s library. Thus, eliminating the need for the school district to build a library on the new campus and resulting in substantial cost savings.
The long-awaited high school on the West side of Delano opened on August 13, 2008. The Delano Joint Union High School District is hosted the Inaugural Ceremony last Tuesday, October 7, 2008 at the new campus.
Renfro & Cuningham designed Robert F. Kennedy High School in association with Ordiz Melby Architects of Bakersfield, California. Both firms worked with the Delano Joint Union High School District to design a new campus that blends beautifully with the surrounding community.
About Renfro & Cuningham
Renfro & Cuningham is the Bakersfield office of Cuningham Group Architecture, P.A. practicing in Kern County. The firm transcends tradition with architecture, interior design, urban design, master planning and conceptual design services that bring energy to the places people live, learn, worship, work and play. Our client-centered, collaborative approach incorporates trend-setting design and environmental responsiveness to create projects for a variety of client and market types. Founded in 1968, the firm is consistently recognized as a leader in the architecture industry and has grown to over 200 employees with offices in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Biloxi, Bakersfield, Madrid and Seoul.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN––International architecture firm Cuningham Group Architecture, P.A. announces the adoption of six urban design and planning projects.
The Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin Downtown Riverfront Plan was adopted by the City of Chippewa Falls late in 2007. Cuningham Group’s plan proposes downtown redevelopment and park amenities that reinforce urban form and riverfront features, connecting the city to its waterfront. The Wisconsin Chapter of the American Planning Association chose Cuningham Group’s Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin Downtown Riverfront Plan as the Chapter Award winner in the Urban Design Category, September 2008.
The City of Minneapolis adopted the Uptown Small Area Plan in February 2008. Cuningham Group’s plan focuses the most intense development in the project area’s center to reinforce a mixed-use core; it defines the edges of new development so that transitions between neighborhoods and the core are clear and predictable; and it shapes new development to create high quality public streets, parks, and open spaces.
The West Broadway Alive! Plan was approved by the City of Minneapolis in March 2008. The redevelopment will focus on reinvestment and redevelopment through a series of case studies to address development at the Mississippi River and west the length of the corridor.
Cuningham Group also prepared the Cedar Riverside Small Area Plan, adopted by the City of Minneapolis in April 2007.
In June 2008, the City of Minneapolis approved the Central Avenue Small Area Plan. The plan provides a vision for the future of a dynamic three-mile corridor in northeast Minneapolis. The corridor stitches together nine urban neighborhoods and is the link between downtown Minneapolis and northern suburbs.
The Stoughton Road Revitalization Project Plan was adopted by the City of Madison in July 2008. Cuningham Group provided the Land Use Plan and Design Guidelines for the client, which included the City of Madison Department of Planning and Development and a grassroots committee that also goes by the name Stoughton Road Revitalization Project. Neighborhoods USA—a national non-profit organization committed to building and strengthening neighborhood organizations—awarded the project the National Neighborhood of the Year Award in the Multi-Neighborhood Project Partnerships Category.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN––International architecture firm Cuningham Group Architecture, P.A. (Cuningham Group) was named as one of the 2008 Best Architecture Firms to Work For by Zweig White, a management consulting and research firm. This annual ranking of top architectural firms identifies, recognize and honor the best places of employment. Thirty architecture firms were selected based on their respective commitment in providing a positive work environment and job opportunities for their employees. Cuningham Group is ranked # 28.
Zweig White partnered with ARCHITECTMagazine and ArchitectureWeek to compile this annual ranking. ARCHITECTMagazine covers architecture news, business and technology solutions, continuing education, and other architecture resources for the practicing architect. ArchitectureWeek is the leading online magazine devoted entirely to design and construction.
The entire list is available online at The Zweig White Best Firm to Work For Summit website.
Cuningham Group was also named as one of the 2008 Hot Firm List of Fastest Growing Firms by Zweig White. Zweig White identified 200 fastest growing architecture, engineering, and environmental consulting firms for its annual ranking. This annual list features A/E and environmental firms that have outperformed the economy and competitors to become industry leaders. Cuningham Group is ranked #118.
The complete list is available in the November 3, 2008 issue of The Zweig Letter and online at The Zweig Letter Hot Firm Conference website.
About Cuningham Group
Cuningham Group transcends tradition with architecture, interior design, urban design and planning services for a diverse mix of client and project types. Our client-centered, collaborative approach incorporates trend-setting architecture and environmental responsiveness to create projects that weave seamlessly into the urban fabric. Founded in 1968, the firm is consistently recognized as a leader in the architecture industry and has grown to over 200 employees in offices in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Las Vegas, Biloxi, Madrid and Seoul.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN––International architecture firm Cuningham Group Architecture, P.A. announces that John Cuningham, FAIA is the 2008 recipient of the American Institute of Architect’s (AIA) Louis Lundgren Award.
The Louis Lundgren award recognizes individuals for their dedication to the profession of architecture through volunteer excellence in our communities as well as in AIA nationally and locally.
John Cuningham is the founder of Cuningham Group Architecture, P.A. and has been practicing architecture since his graduation in 1962. However, Cuningham is the first to point out, “I’m not as interested in the single building as I am in the community. Being a good architect — doing good architecture — has to do with being in service to society,” he says. “The kind of architecture that interests me is the kind that builds community.”
Cuningham has demonstrated his commitment to the community in a variety of ways, including facilitating efforts to revitalize the riverfront; actively participating in sustainable architecture for more than a decade; hosting a public affairs program addressing the quality of life in the metro area, now in its tenth year; celebrating 40 years in business by having the entire firm participate in Habitat for Humanities’ “A Brush with Kindness”; and hosting an employee-sponsored “creative exhibition” with proceeds donated to local charities.
Cuningham’s commitment to the revitalization of the riverfront includes hosting an international design charrette in the mid-1990s to find a creative and comprehensive approach for completing an 80-acre portion of the riverfront. The results of the charrette helped influence some of the development seen today and were recorded in a book entitled, The Minneapolis Riverfront: Vision and Implementation.
Cuningham and the firm have incorporated sustainable principles into their work for more than a decade. In 1997 the firm was commissioned by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) to write the first monograph on Sustainable Design. This document is still used by architects as part of fulfillment of their continuing education obligations.
The firm-sponsored Urban Currents program is a monthly breakfast forum designed to educate, enthuse and motivate members of the Twin Cities metropolitan area to make meaningful change in our communities. Each month a prominent influential speaker addresses a timely and engaging topic with members of the community.
His employee-sponsored “Creative Exhibition” raises awareness for creative talent and the many forms its takes. In its sixth year, all funds raised by the exhibition’s silent auction are donated to local charities.
Cuningham has always embraced learning and has enjoyed the opportunity to teach and lecture on what he loves most –– architecture. John taught architectural design for 18 years at the University of Minnesota School of Architecture. In addition to various lectures and presentations on topics from Sacred Spaces to Sustainable Design, he has also been involved in the academic community through the following: Co-Chairman, University of Minnesota 75th Anniversary (1987-1988); Guest Juror, University of Minnesota (1988, 1991, 1992, 1993); Member, University of Minnesota Alumni Board (2004-Present); Chair, Ralph Rapson 90th Birthday Celebration, University of Minnesota (2005); and Board Member, Academic Affairs Committee, Long Range Planning Committee Member, Operations Committee Member and Guest Lecturer, Minneapolis College of Art and Design (1985-2006).
Cuningham has made significant contributions to the American Institute of Architects and the profession by serving on a number of committees and juries, including Program Chairman, AIA Minnesota (1967, 1979, 1991, 1992); Chair, Nebraska Honor Awards (1978); Regional Urban Design Assistance Team (RUDAT) (1977), Louisville, Kentucky (1979), Rockford, Illinois (1980), International Master Plan, St. Helen’s, Liverpool, England (1981); and Chapter Board Member, AIA Minnesota (1983).
About Cuningham Group
Cuningham Group® transcends tradition with architecture, interior design, urban design and planning services for a diverse mix of client and project types. Our client-centered, collaborative approach incorporates trend-setting architecture and environmental responsiveness to create projects that weave seamlessly into the urban fabric. Founded in 1968, the firm is consistently recognized as a leader in the field of architecture and has grown to over 200 employees in offices in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Biloxi, Bakersfield, Madrid and Seoul. For more information, please visit www.cuningham.com.
LOS ANGELES, CA – California Distinguished School Award winner, Watts Learning Center Charter School, is celebrating a permanent new home 11 years after receiving its initial charter and surviving in makeshift facilities. From a simple start in a one-room bungalow, the school is now recognized as one of the city’s best charter schools based on academic performance.
The new school was designed by Cuningham Group Architecture, P.A. (Cuningham Group,) one of the country’s leading architecture firms with a national reputation for sustainable educational facilities.
“Environmental sustainability is a high priority concern of our school staff and governing board. Within budget constraints, Cuningham Group addressed all concerns by maximizing energy conservation which delighted us, met our concerns and exceeded our expectations” according to Gene Fisher, the school’s CEO and Founder.
The two-story facility houses 340 students in nine classrooms and includes sustainable features such as a solar hot water system, solar panels, natural lighting and ventilation from operable windows, green roofing materials, drought tolerant landscaping, and a timed lighting system.
“Our design goal was to reflect the mission of Watts Learning Center as a beacon of hope for the Watts community of Los Angeles. We wanted the school to be a center of community and reinforce the importance of a world-class education for children of low-income, inner-city families,” said John Quiter, AIA, LEED®A.P., Principal-in-Charge of the project for Cuningham Group.
The new facilities opened to accommodate increased enrollment in September 2008. Grand opening ceremonies on November 18, 2008 included a ribbon-cutting ceremony, music by the school’s colorfully attired choir and speeches by Los Angeles Mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa and State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jack O’Connell.
About Cuningham Group
Cuningham Group® transcends tradition with architecture, interior design, urban design, master planning and conceptual design services that bring energy to the places people live, learn, work, play and worship. Our client-centered, collaborative approach incorporates trend-setting design and environmental responsiveness to create projects for a variety of client and market types. Founded in 1968, the firm is consistently recognized as a leader in the architecture industry and has grown to over 200 employees with offices in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Biloxi, Bakersfield, and Madrid.
Minneapolis, MN –– Cuningham Group Architecture, P.A. (Cuningham Group), a leader in hospitality design as well as interior design, urban design and planning services, recently received two Hospitality (HOSPY) Awards for its dramatic expansion of Isleta Casino & Resort in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Cuningham Group won in the “Best Boutique Hotel” and “Best Hotel Lobby” categories for Isleta.
The 2008 5th Annual HOSPY Awards are given by The Las Vegas Chapter of NEWH, (the Hospitality Industry Network) to recognize deserving individuals (designers, architects, builders and general contractors) and firms in the hospitality industry for extraordinary achievements in architecture, design and development. A special panel of distinguished judges from around the country visited Las Vegas in September to evaluate the entries and the awards were presented during a dinner gala at the Wynn Las Vegas Resort & Casino in October.
The new Isleta Casino & Resort has more than 200 hotel rooms and suites boasting luxury amenities, as well as 24-hour café, steakhouse and Asian bistro, indoor and outdoor pool, state-of-the-art fitness center, full-service water-themed spa, children’s’ activity center and more than 30,000 square feet of ballroom and meeting space.
The new facilities’ iconic design attracts both leisure and business guests. Some of the more unforgettable architectural experiences include a stunning glass atrium; an outdoor “Spa Jar” in the shape of Isleta Pueblo pottery; a uniquely round meeting room; and a striking, barrel-vaulted, convention space. Cuningham Group Vice President Thomas Hoskens, AIA, LEED® A.P. said that “the poetry of the landscape” and rich cultural history of the Pueblo of Isleta inspired the new hotel.
“Three essential metaphors influenced the architecture of Isleta Casino & Resort: adobe, feathers and the beautiful pottery produced by the Pueblo,” said Hoskens. “Adobe is the basic form-giver of historic Pueblo buildings. Here it is undulated and layered to bring out the shapes of the functional building forms. The feather is used as a major form-giver to the sun-screening device in the spectacular atrium while pottery pieces were abstracted, scaled and used as major landmark elements for the entry. Pottery is also the inspiration for the dramatically oversized Spa Jar.”
Perhaps the most dramatic of these components is the atrium – a soaring, seven-story, 90-foot glass wonder greeting guests as they enter the hotel: “The open-air atrium celebrates the verticality of the red-rock walls, which are highly textural by design. The water feature along the walls adds a touch of elegance and appears to flow from the atrium to the exterior Spa. This offers a connection to nature and a sense of mystery and exploration for guests,” said Hoskens.
This sense of exploration permeates the guest experience at Isleta Casino & Resort, says Hoskens. “A path is woven into a series of visually exciting spaces wandering diagonally through restaurants, retail, bar and eateries, all punctuated by landscaped courts and skylights.”
The new facilities enhance Isleta’s existing, popular, 300,000-square-foot casino, Isleta Eagle golf course and clubhouse, Isleta Fun Connection and the scenic lake and fishing areas. Isleta General Manager Rodney Ferguson called the new hotel architecture “stunning and dramatic.”
“Guests will enjoy the unique Spa Jar – a private, semi-sheltered outdoor spa in the shape of native pottery where guests will enjoy refreshments and relaxation. Isleta will offer something for everyone from the business traveler to families. We’re proud to position ourselves as a true destination resort,” Ferguson said.
Cuningham Group engaged Pueblo of Isleta, the casino owners, in master planning the expansion of its existing facility through a design process that included visioning and chartering sessions. “We interpreted the client’s vision, extracted metaphors from the region and the site, and then translated those into distinctive, timeless, modern forms,” said Hoskens. “The result is both authentic to the Pueblo and attractive to guests. Cuningham Group and Pueblo of Isleta expect inspiring levels of success from the new facilities.”
As with all its designs, Cuningham Group considered the environment before specifying products and materials. “Smart decisions from the onset maximized water, site, air and building conditions that reinforced a sustainable building design,” Hoskens said.
About Cuningham Group Architecture, P.A.
Cuningham Group, currently celebrating its 40th anniversary, transcends tradition with architecture, interior design, urban design and planning services for a diverse mix of client and project types. Our client-centered, collaborative approach incorporates trend-setting architecture and environmental responsiveness to create projects that weave seamlessly into the urban fabric. Founded in 1968, the firm is consistently recognized as a leader in the field of architecture and has grown to over 200 employees in offices in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Biloxi, Bakersfield, Madrid and Seoul. For more information, please visit www.cuningham.com.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN – International architecture firm Cuningham Group Architecture, P.A. (Cuningham Group) announces that Breck Chapel of the Holy Spirit in Golden Valley, Minnesota is the recipient of the 2008 AIA Minnesota 25-Year Award. The Award recognizes projects completed at least 25 but not more than 50 years ago and was established to recognize architectural projects that have withstood the test of time. Projects are judged on both their original condition and their current condition.
John Cuningham, FAIA, LEED® A.P., founder of Cuningham Group and John Quiter, AIA, LEED® A.P., the firm’s current Chairman of the Board, were hired to design a new chapel shortly after a 1979 fire destroyed Breck School’s existing chapel. As the new Chapel design took shape, Breck opted to move to a new 42-acre campus, and the school envisioned the new Chapel as a central, multi-functional space that would serve as the heart of its new campus. The desire was for a simple, strong and stable form that would be sacred and spiritual.
The Chapel design is an inspirational balance between historical and contemporary design – traditional church motifs used in a non-traditional building layout. The architecture incorporates many of the elements of historic Anglican Church design with a plan that is reflective of a more contemporary liturgy, that of gathering communally around the altar. At the time it was built, the 22,000-square-foot, 1,100-seat Breck Chapel was Minnesota’s largest Episcopal worship space, though no seat is located farther than 60 feet from the altar. The Chapel exists and functions today almost exactly as built in 1982 and continues to be a spiritual and cultural center for the Breck community – both past and present.
The award jurors were impressed by the agelessness of the building. “The materials are rich and simply detailed,” commented one juror. The relationship between the plan, section and elevation was clear and, coupled with the quality of the daylighting and flexible separations between gathering space and gallery, the interior spaces were seen by the jury as “compelling and very successful.” Noting the period in which the project was designed, one juror commented, “the project shows restraint to build a timeless building in the 1980s.”
Cuningham Group will be recognized for the honor at AIA Minnesota’s Annual Awards Celebration on December 5, 2008. The 25-Year Award was established by AIA Minnesota in 1981. This is the second time Cuningham Group has received the award. In 1999, the Cable Natural History Museum was honored with the recognition.
About Cuningham Group
Cuningham Group® transcends tradition with architecture, interior design, urban design and planning services for a diverse mix of client and project types. Our client-centered, collaborative approach incorporates trend-setting architecture and environmental responsiveness to create projects that weave seamlessly into the urban fabric. Founded in 1968, the firm is consistently recognized as a leader in the field of architecture and has grown to over 200 employees in offices in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Biloxi, Bakersfield, Madrid and Seoul. For more information, please visit www.cuningham.com.
Los Angeles, CA –– Cuningham Group Architecture, P.A. was recently recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in L.A. for 2008 at an awards reception hosted by the _Los Angeles Business Journal _at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles. The final rankings were revealed at the lunch gathering to a crowd of nearly 500 business professionals.
“We are pleased that Cuningham Group Architecture was selected for this special honor particularly in our 40th anniversary year,” said Cuningham Group President, Tim Dufault. “Our firm is rich in exceptional and diverse talent and we strive to provide an inspiring environment in which to nourish it.”
Award-winning Cuningham Group Architecture, P.A., is well-known for their pioneering, environmentally-conscious and innovative designs. This focus on sustainable design has remained a constant throughout the firm’s development as it has offered architecture, interior design, urban design and planning services to the housing/mixed-use, retail/restaurant, hospitality, entertainment, education, civic, corporate and worship markets. Cuningham Group has earned many awards and respect as one of the most significant architecture firms in the country.
The survey and awards program was designed to identify, recognize and honor the best places of employment in Los Angeles County, benefiting the region’s economy, its workforce and businesses. The Best Places to Work in L.A. list is made up of 70 companies split into three groups: 5 small-sized companies (15-24 employees), 50 medium-sized companies (25-249 employees) and 15 large-sized companies (250 or more employees). Cuningham Group Architecture, P.A. was named one of the Best Places to Work in L.A. in the medium-sized company category.
To be considered for participation, companies had to fulfill the following eligibility requirements:
- Have at least 15 employees in Los Angeles County;
- Be a for-profit or not-for-profit business;
- Be a publicly or privately held business;
- Have a facility in Los Angeles County; and
- Be in business for one full year.
Companies from every industry entered the two-part process to determine the Best Places to Work in L.A. The first part consisted of evaluating each nominated company’s workplace policies, practices and demographics. This part of the process was worth approximately 25% of the total evaluation. The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure employee engagement. This part of the process was worth approximately 75% of the total evaluation. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final ranking. Best Companies Group, a professional firm located in Harrisburg, PA, managed the overall registration and survey process and also analyzed the data and used their expertise to determine the final rankings.
About Cuningham Group Architecture, P.A.
Cuningham Group, currently celebrating its 40th anniversary, transcends tradition with architecture, interior design, urban design and planning services for a diverse mix of client and project types. Our client-centered, collaborative approach incorporates trend-setting architecture and environmental responsiveness to create projects that weave seamlessly into the urban fabric. Founded in 1968, the firm is consistently recognized as a leader in the field of architecture and has grown to over 200 employees in offices in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Biloxi, Bakersfield, Madrid and Seoul. For more information, please visit www.cuningham.com.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN––International architecture firm Cuningham Group Architecture, P.A. announces the opening of the rejuvenated Watertown-Mayer High School and Middle School in time for the 2008-2009 school year.
Cuningham Group worked with the District to accomplish their vision to update their existing spaces and add new space to meet the needs of a growing region. The resulting design dramatically transforms the school’s face and helps it shine as a center of community.
Currently serving 500 students, the High School was designed to accommodate a future total enrollment of 700. This was accomplished by remodeling 61,000 square feet of the existing facility and adding an additional 110,000 square feet, essentially doubling its size.
Cuningham Group’s design of the updated High School creates a more campus-like atmosphere and instills a sense of respect for the students. The reconfigured space provides a variety of learning settings and maximizes the learning potential of every square foot by providing small group learning areas and opening up circulation nodes to provide commons areas.
Included in the efforts are a welcoming grand staircase entryway, new administration area, a new gymnasium, and a 600-seat performing arts center. A geothermal well system was implemented throughout, promoting energy efficiency and reducing heating and cooling costs.
The Middle School received extensive infrastructure upgrades including technology, roofing, lockers, fire sprinklers and a new cooling system utilizing the geothermal wells.
The decision to update the facility through additions and remodeling versus building an entirely new structure demonstrated the District’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and a desire to reduce the project’s impact on the environment.
Watertown-Mayer High School and Middle School will welcome students through the new front door on the first day of school, September 2, 2008.
About Cuningham Group
Cuningham Group® transcends tradition with architecture, interior design, urban design and planning services for a diverse mix of client and project types. Our client-centered, collaborative approach incorporates trend-setting architecture and environmental responsiveness to create projects that weave seamlessly into the urban fabric. Founded in 1968, the firm is consistently recognized as a leader in the field of architecture and has grown to over 200 employees in offices in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Biloxi, Bakersfield, Madrid and Seoul. For more information, please visit www.cuningham.com.
July 1, 2008, Albuquerque, NM –– Cuningham Group Architecture, P.A. (Cuningham Group), a leader in hospitality design as well as interior design, urban design and planning services, has announced the opening of Isleta Casino & Resort. A dramatic expansion of Isleta Casino & Resort, the new facility has more than 200 hotel rooms and suites boasting luxury amenities, as well as 24-hour cafe, steakhouse and Asian bistro, indoor and outdoor pool, state-of-the-art fitness center, full-service water-themed spa, children’s’ activity center and more than 30,000 square feet of ballroom and meeting space.
The new facilities’ iconic design will attract both leisure and business guests. Some of the more unforgettable architectural experiences include a stunning glass atrium; an outdoor “Spa Jar” in the shape of Isleta Pueblo pottery; a uniquely round meeting room; and a striking, barrel-vaulted, convention space. Cuningham Group Vice President Thomas Hoskens, AIA, LEED® A.P. said that “the poetry of the landscape” and rich cultural history of the Pueblo of Isleta inspired the new hotel.
“Three essential metaphors influenced the architecture of Isleta Casino & Resort: adobe, feathers and the beautiful pottery produced by the Pueblo,” said Hoskens. “Adobe is the basic form-giver of historic Pueblo buildings. Here it is undulated and layered to bring out the shapes of the functional building forms. The feather is used as a major form-giver to the sun-screening device in the spectacular atrium while pottery pieces were abstracted, scaled and used as major landmark elements for the entry. Pottery is also the inspiration for the dramatically oversized Spa Jar.”
Perhaps the most dramatic of these components is the atrium – a soaring, seven-story, 90-foot glass wonder greeting guests as they enter the hotel: “The open-air atrium celebrates the verticality of the red-rock walls, which are highly textural by design. The water feature along the walls adds a touch of elegance and appears to flow from the atrium to the exterior Spa. This offers a connection to nature and a sense of mystery and exploration for guests,” said Hoskens.
This sense of exploration permeates the guest experience at Isleta Casino & Resort, says Hoskens. “A path is woven into a series of visually exciting spaces wandering diagonally through restaurants, retail, bar and eateries, all punctuated by landscaped courts and skylights.”
The new facilities enhance Isleta’s existing, popular, 300,000-square-foot casino, Isleta Eagle golf course and clubhouse, Isleta Fun Connection and the scenic lake and fishing areas. Isleta General Manager Rodney Ferguson called the new hotel architecture “stunning and dramatic.”
“Guests will enjoy the unique Spa Jar – a private, semi-sheltered outdoor spa in the shape of native pottery where guests will enjoy refreshments and relaxation. Isleta will offer something for everyone from the business traveler to families. We’re proud to position ourselves as a true destination resort,” Ferguson said.
Cuningham Group engaged Pueblo of Isleta, the casino owners, in master planning the expansion of its existing facility through a design process that included visioning and chartering sessions. “We interpreted the client’s vision, extracted metaphors from the region and the site, and then translated those into distinctive, timeless, modern forms,” said Hoskens. “The result is both authentic to the Pueblo and attractive to guests. Cuningham Group and Pueblo of Isleta expect inspiring levels of success from the new facilities.”
As with all its designs, Cuningham Group considered the environment before specifying products and materials. “Smart decisions from the onset maximized water, site, air and building conditions that reinforced a sustainable building design,” Hoskens said.
About Cuningham Group Architecture, P.A.
Cuningham Group, currently celebrating its 40th anniversary, transcends tradition with architecture, interior design, urban design and planning services for a diverse mix of client and project types. Our client-centered, collaborative approach incorporates trend-setting architecture and environmental responsiveness to create projects that weave seamlessly into the urban fabric. Founded in 1968, the firm is consistently recognized as a leader in the field of architecture and has grown to over 200 employees in offices in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Biloxi, Bakersfield, Madrid and Seoul.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN – International architecture firm Cuningham Group Architecture, P.A. announces the opening of three projects in the first half of 2008 with an additional thirteen projects scheduled for completion before the end of the year.
Rainforest Cafe in Cairo, Egypt opened in March 2008. The two-story restaurant in Cairo’s CityStars Mall includes a 500-seat restaurant, full service kitchen, a feature juice bar, and retail area. The project team consisted of Cuningham Group plus an international group of professionals, consultants and vendors, many of whom had historic involvement in the design and construction of other Rainforest Cafe venues. Since 1992, Cuningham Group has been involved with the design of more than 35 of the rainforest-themed restaurants.
PlayOn – a new concept developed by LA Weight Loss Franchise Co. to promote exercise and develop skills through the use of video game technology and healthy eating – opened in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania in April. Cuningham Group provided space planning and interior design for the 4,500-square-foot facility, which accommodates programs that cater to “mommy and me” and is intended to grow with children until approximately age 13, at which point it will supplement their high school exercise programs. LA Weight Loss hopes this prototype project will expand to multiple locations.
Cuningham Group was also the Architect of Record for the National Museum of Crime and Punishment (NMCP) that opened in downtown Washington DC in May. DC’s newest interactive museum, the NMCP’s mission is to provide guests of all ages with a memorable insight into the history of crime, crime fighting and solving, and the consequences of committing a crime in America through a captivating interactive, entertaining, and educational experience. The 28,000-square-foot tenant improvement project spans three floors and also provides studio space to host the renowned crime fighting TV series, America’s Most Wanted (AMW). The museum is owned and operated by Orlando businessman John Morgan in partnership with John Walsh, host of America’s Most Wanted.
Also in May, Renfro & Cuningham, Inc. successfully completed lease tenant space improvements for a 7,500-square-foot, six provider medical office building in Santa Clarita, California. The efficient approach to designing this project resulted in low costs and a shortened project schedule – the client, Kaiser Permanente , provided 20 weeks for programming through completion of construction documents with Renfro & Cuningham completing the work in 12 weeks without requiring the client to expedite the process.
About Cuningham Group
Cuningham Group® transcends tradition with architecture, interior design, urban design and planning services for a diverse mix of client and project types. Our client-centered, collaborative approach incorporates trend-setting architecture and environmental responsiveness to create projects that weave seamlessly into the urban fabric. Founded in 1968, the firm is consistently recognized as a leader in the field of architecture and has grown to over 200 employees in offices in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Biloxi, Bakersfield, Madrid and Seoul. For more information, please visit www.cuningham.com.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN – On June 4, 2008, Thomas L. Hoskens, AIA, LEED® A.P., Principal of international design firm Cuningham Group Architecture, P.A., participated in the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) Asia 2008 in Macau, People’s Republic of China. Hoskens moderated and participated as a panel member on the session entitled, “Signature Series: Building Excitement—Asian Style and Beyond.” The panel discussion focused on a visual tour of gaming projects through the eyes of design professionals. Led by Hoskens, the session focused on existing, under construction, and proposed gaming projects around the region and beyond. Panelists also discussed and evaluated objectives, best practices and lessons learned that are applicable to expansion or new construction projects.
“The future of casino resorts lies in the design of ‘experience architecture’ and the use of architectural storytelling to create unique environments. Like the Vegas of today, the resorts of the new millennium will be multidimensional experiences, where each guest becomes part of the action,” says Hoskens.
Throughout its history of designing gaming and resort destinations, Cuningham Group’s stature in the industry continues to grow. The firm’s success in designing creative and profitable gaming resort environments represents a full array of casinos, hotels, theaters, convention centers, restaurants, retail venues, parking structures and support facilities.
G2E Asia 2008 is the largest and most important gaming exhibition and conference in Asia. This year’s conference offered a rare opportunity to experience the latest gaming products from the region’s largest selection of manufacturers and suppliers, the newest trends in Asian and global gaming, and educational sessions led by industry leaders from around the world about how to compete competitively on a global scale. Organized by Global Gaming Expo (G2E), the world’s premier gaming event organizer, G2E Asia offered an unparalleled opportunity to see and learn about the dynamic and growing gaming industry in Asia.
About Cuningham Group
Cuningham Group transcends tradition with architecture, interior design, urban design and planning services for a diverse mix of client and project types. Our client-centered, collaborative approach incorporates trend-setting architecture and environmental responsiveness to create projects that weave seamlessly into the urban fabric. Founded in 1968, the firm is consistently recognized as a leader in the architecture industry and has grown to over 200 employees in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Las Vegas, Biloxi, Madrid and Seoul.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN – International architecture firm Cuningham Group Architecture, P.A. announces that four of its projects received awards in the first half of 2008.
Washington Technology Magnet Middle School in Saint Paul, Minnesota was recognized as “Fresh, Artistic and Brilliant” — FAB — by the Northland Chapter of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA). The Chapter named Cuningham Group’s dramatic renovation of the Saint Paul Public Schools’ facility co-winner of a FAB Award in the Government/Institutional Category.
The largest project in Cuningham Group’s 40-year history — Epic Systems Corporation — took home the prestigious top honors of “Project of the Year” and “Best Green-Built Project” as given by Madison, Wisconsin’s In Business Magazine for its Commercial Design Awards. Located in Verona, Wisconsin, Epic Systems Corporation is a fast growing medical software company. Its new 385-acre campus headquarters was envisioned as a reflection of its spirit of innovation and quality and to date comprises 1.5 million square feet of built environment.
Finally, two urban design projects by Cuningham Group garnered state and national recognitions. The Wisconsin Chapter of the American Planning Association chose Cuningham Group’s Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin Downtown Riverfront Plan as the Chapter Award winner in the Planning Category. And Neighborhoods USA — a national non-profit organization committed to building and strengthening neighborhood organizations — awarded the Stoughton Road Revitalization Project in Madison, Wisconsin the National Neighborhood of the Year Award in the Multi-Neighborhood Project Partnerships Category. Cuningham Group provided the Land Use Plan and Design Guidelines for the client which included the City of Madison Department of Planning and Development and a grassroots committee that also goes by the name Stoughton Road Revitalization Project.
About Cuningham Group
Cuningham Group® transcends tradition with architecture, interior design, urban design and planning services for a diverse mix of client and project types. Our client-centered, collaborative approach incorporates trend-setting architecture and environmental responsiveness to create projects that weave seamlessly into the urban fabric. Founded in 1968, the firm is consistently recognized as a leader in the field of architecture and has grown to over 200 employees in offices in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Biloxi, Bakersfield, Madrid and Seoul. For more information, please visit www.cuningham.com.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN – Minneapolis-based Cuningham Group Architecture, P.A. (Cuningham Group), known for its pioneering “green” designs, celebrates 40 years of award-winning design excellence in 2008. Cuningham Group will commemorate the milestone on July 18th by bringing all 200-plus employees from around the country to Minneapolis to team with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity on its program, “A Brush with Kindness,” designed to revitalize and restore a Minneapolis neighborhood. Additional anniversary programs include team-building events, a 40-year retrospective and vision for the future as well as the introduction of “Our Clients, Our Projects, Our Lives,” a mission statement reaffirming Cuningham Group’s commitment to helping revitalize the planet through environmentally responsible design.
Cuningham Group founder, John Cuningham, FAIA, NCARB, LEED® A.P., has dedicated his career to progressive and sustainable projects worldwide. In 1968, Cuningham established the firm’s first headquarters in his house. By 1971, Cuningham Group had already distinguished itself by winning its first award. Cuningham recognized and emphasized the importance of sustainability from the outset, making him a pioneer in the movement. This focus on green design has remained a constant throughout the firm’s development as it has offered architecture, interior design, urban design and planning services to the housing/mixed-use, retail/restaurant, hospitality, entertainment, education, civic, corporate and worship markets. Four decades later, Cuningham Group has earned innumerable awards and respect as one of the most significant architecture firms in the country.
“I’ve always felt that people were our greatest assets,” said Cuningham. “They’re our assets both because of their skills and passions, but also because we believe in collaborating. We work together to create environments that sustain our communities, enhance our lives, create beauty and add value.”
40 Years of Award-Winning Design
Cuningham Group has won top design and planning awards since 1971. Awards have been bestowed from organizations as diverse as the fields they represent, including the Minnesota Environmental Initiative, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, American Institute of Architects Minnesota, Interfaith Forum on Religion, Art and Architecture, American Association of School Administrators, Urban Land Institute, The League of Minnesota Cities, American Zoo and Aquarium Association, Themed Entertainment Association, and Council for Educational Facility Planners International, among many others.
“We are fortunate to have great people who are talented and understand what it means to work with clients in collaboration, to listen to their needs and help them achieve their goals,” said Timothy Dufault, AIA, LEED® A.P., who was named the company’s president in January 2007.
Sustainability
Cuningham Group is committed to monitoring and reducing the global footprint of humans and helping to reach carbon neutrality. Cuningham Group’s Minneapolis office is located in a 120-year-old building that was originally the home of a mattress factory – part of the historic building renovation wave in the late 1970s and 1980s which became a way of recycling and reusing buildings. Presently, the firm is studying how to cut energy use in the building by 40% and is designing its new Los Angeles location office to be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certified.
The firm’s Green committee was formed almost 15 years ago when it performed its first environmental footprinting exercise in 1994, implementing plans to reduce the firm’s corporate and personal impact on the planet. Cuningham Group is also an active member in the clean earth-focused 2030 Challenge which asks the global architecture and building communities to adopt specific measures that will help slow the growth rate of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and then reverse it over the next ten years.
“John Cuningham chartered this course for the organization when he founded it in 1968,” said John Quiter, AIA, NCARB, LEED® A.P., Chairman of the Board. “It is rewarding to see how far we have been able to take it.”
At all levels in the firm, Cuningham Group employees are involved as leaders in their communities and in the architecture profession. At the organizational level, Cuningham Group is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and a founding member of the Los Angeles Green Building Council. Two members of Cuningham Group’s Environmental Resources Team were chosen to write the first National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) monograph on sustainable design in 1997. Currently, architectural Intern, Amelia Doyle, is serving as the National Chairperson of Emerging Green Builders organization.
In 2008, Cuningham Group is set to unveil several “green” project designs, including three buildings being considered for LEED® silver certification.
“As we look to the future, we continue to strive to be knowledgeable resources to our clients,” said Cuningham. “We will collaborate with them to make holistic green design decisions that not only positively impact the planet and the communities in which we build but that provide other returns on their investment.”
About Cuningham Group
Cuningham Group® transcends tradition with architecture, interior design, urban design and planning services for a diverse mix of client and project types. Our client-centered, collaborative approach incorporates trend-setting architecture and environmental responsiveness to create projects that weave seamlessly into the urban fabric. Founded in 1968, the firm is consistently recognized as a leader in the field of architecture and has grown to over 200 employees in offices in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Biloxi, Bakersfield, Madrid and Seoul. For more information, please visit www.cuningham.com.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN – Judith P. Hoskens, REFP, LEED® A.P. director of the education studio for Cuningham Group Architecture, P.A., has been elected president-elect of the Council of Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI). Ms. Hoskens will assume this leadership position at the Council’s annual conference held in San Diego, CA from Sept. 29 to Oct. 2, 2008.
An active member of the Council for the past 16 years, her duties have ranged from chair and jury member for the annual Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture to president of the Midwest/Great Lakes regional chapter. She has been chair of the jury for National School Building Week and served on the 2004 and 2005 James D. MacConnell Award juries. She currently serves as at-large representative for the Council.
As president-elect, Ms. Hoskens wants to be accessible to the membership and “to inspire all those with whom I come in contact to enthusiastically embrace CEFPI’s vision and move our goals forward.”
In a 30-year career focused on educational facility planning, Ms. Hoskens has first-hand experience listening to and translating client goals and needs into unique building solutions. The outcome of her efforts can be seen in schools around Minnesota as well as locations throughout the US and overseas. Her articles have appeared in numerous publications and professional journals, and Ms. Hoskens was also a key contributor to Schools that Fit, a book dedicated to creating schools that helps learners succeed in educational environments that meet their unique needs.
Ms. Hoskens was also part of a national team of experts in educational facility planning, smart growth and school community issues that completed a document – commissioned jointly by CEFPI and the Environmental Protection Agency in 2004 – that examines integrating state-of-the-art current and best practices of smart growth issues with effective educational facility planning principles. Of significant note, Ms. Hoskens was the recipient of the 2002 CEFPI President’s Award, which is given annually to the individual who distinguishes him/herself in service to the Council and to the field of educational facility planning.
About CEFPI
The Council of Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI) is the only professional organization whose principal purpose is improving the places where children learn. CEFPI embraces all stakeholders who are interested and committed to building healthy, safe, high-performing school facilities and stronger communities. The Council functions as the convening organization to share knowledge, experiences and best practices of planning, designing, building, renovating and maintaining learning environments that anchor a community and enhance student achievement. For more www.cefpi.org.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN – Cuningham Group Architecture, P.A. announced that David Hyde has been promoted to Associate Principal and Sara Rothholz Weiner and Ken Svendsen has been promoted to Associates in the internationally known design firm.
David Hyde serves as a Project Designer for the firm’s Resort Hospitality Studio. He has 16 years experience in architecture and has a solid understanding of the development of complex programs and the evolution of those programs into designs that serve the users, enhance the built environment and create an experience. As a design team leader, Hyde brings a comprehensive design initiative to each new project with renewed vigor and passion. His experience includes conceptualization and planning of destination resorts, convention, mixed-use retail entertainment, and urban design projects within the United States and Asia.
Sara Rothholz Weiner, Associate AIA, LEED® A.P., serves as the firm’s C3 studio marketing leader and is responsible for developing and creating opportunities to expand the studio’s position in the corporate, civic and cultural markets. Weiner has extensive experience serving and collaborating with private and public sector clients for over 15 years. The touchstone of her approach is designing workplace environments that promote a client’s business objectives, support and enhance corporate culture, and provide sustainable and delightful spaces.
Ken Svendsen, AIA, is a Project Architect for Renfro & Cuningham, the Bakersfield, California office of Cuningham Group Architecture, P.A. practicing in Kern County. A licensed architect in California and Wisconsin, Svendsen’s responsibilities have included project management, contract administration, and providing budget estimates. His management responsibilities encompass day-to-day direction of architectural design projects including programming, schedule, budget, cost, control and serving as client liaison. His portfolio includes residential, commercial, institutional, and education projects.
About Cuningham Group
Cuningham Group® transcends tradition with architecture, interior design, urban design and planning services for a diverse mix of client and project types. Our client-centered, collaborative approach incorporates trend-setting architecture and environmental responsiveness to create projects that weave seamlessly into the urban fabric. Founded in 1968, the firm is consistently recognized as a leader in the architecture industry and has grown to over 200 employees in offices in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Las Vegas, Biloxi, Madrid and Seoul.