The North American Copper in Architecture Awards program recognizes excellent uses of copper in residential, educational, and government buildings.
From a new copper-clad university building to a restored 100-year-old copper roof, 15 unique and creative buildings from the U.S. and Canada earned a spot among the 2019 North American Copper in Architecture (NACIA) award winners.
The NACIA awards program, organized by the Copper Development Association (CDA) and the Canadian Copper & Brass Development Association (CCBDA), recognizes and promotes building projects in the U.S. and Canada for their outstanding use of architectural copper and copper alloys.
“The 2019 winners display a great balance of innovative wall cladding structures and historical restoration projects, which is very indicative of the architectural trends we’re seeing across North America,” said Stephen Knapp, the director of the Strip, Sheet, & Plate Council for the CDA. “Copper is truly one of the most versatile and sustainable building materials available. As the Green building trend continues, we expect to see the material increasingly utilized to achieve various certifications and environmental goals.”
For example, the design team for Arizona State University’s LEED Platinum-seeking building, the Biodesign Institute C, specified the metal specifically for its eco-friendly properties. The 2019 NACIA award winner is wrapped in a screen of thousands of perforated, naturally finished copper panels that contribute to the building’s energy efficiency and sustainability targets.
Additionally, tens of thousands of pounds of copper were used by the award-winning firms to complete nine wall-cladding projects, five roofing restoration projects, and one interior ornamental application; these include five educational buildings, four government facilities, two residences, a museum, a performing and visual arts center, a retail complex, and a community center. In total, five Canadian and 10 U.S.-based projects received an award in 2019.
Since its launch in 2008, the NACIA awards program has awarded 144 projects across three categories: New Construction, Restoration, and Ornamental Applications. All submissions are judged and reviewed by a panel of copper and architectural experts based on building design, use of copper and technique throughout the project, copper installation, and when applicable, historic renovation. This year’s award-winners include the projects shown above.
The Copper Development Association is the information, education, market, and technical development arm of the copper, brass, and bronze industries in the U.S. Learn more at www.copper.org.