2025 AIAVT Excellence in Architecture Design Awards

Honor Award in the Commercial / Institutional / Multi-Family / Mixed Use category goes to Bread Loaf Corporation for Middlebury Town Hall Theater Annex in Middlebury,Vermont.

This 9,000-square-foot addition and accompanying outdoor plaza nearly doubles the size of the 1884 theater. The original Town Hall Theater long served as a civic and cultural hub; however, increasing demand had outpaced the capacity of its single performance space. Rehearsals, set construction, and educational programs competed for time on the main stage, limiting performances and reducing efficiency.

The new Annex resolves these challenges by providing dedicated spaces for performance, learning, and production. The lower level houses a fully equipped scene shop that supports expanded production capacity and technical education. The ground floor hosts the Center for Learning & Engagement, with classrooms and flexible workshop spaces that accommodate 50– 100 people. On the upper level, an adaptable performance studio with bar, lounge, and balcony seating accommodates up to 100 guests, framing views of downtown Middlebury, Otter Creek, and the surrounding bridges.

An outdoor plaza set between the historic theater and new addition creates a welcoming space for up to 500 people. With a movable elliptical stage and infrastructure for food trucks and events, it serves both as a venue for outdoor performances and an informal gathering place for the community.

Jury Notes: “This project seamlessly blends historic and contemporary architecture through decisive interventions. The newly created courtyard serves as a unifying focal point, while the carefully chosen materials harmoniously connect different eras with balanced proportions.”

Architecture: Bread Loaf Corporation

Design Build Team: James Pulver, Project Architect, Carley Fazzone, Architectural Designer, Valerie Palmer, Architectural Designer, Amanda Gregware, Project Manager, John Johnston, MEP Project Manager, Frederick Bellucci, Estimator, Deborah Lowd, Coordinator, Cindy Knipes, Coordinator, Mark Harris, Superintendent; Civil Consultant - Otter Creek Engineering; Geotech Consultant - SW Cole Engineering, Inc.; Landscape Architect - Wagner Hodgson Landscape Architecture; Structural Consultant - Engineering Ventures, PC; Photos: Lenny Christopher Photography

Merit Award in the Single Family Residential category goes to TruexCullins Architecture + Interiors for the Black & White House in Burlington, VT.

This Burlington residence is defined by contrast, renewal, and connection to its surroundings. A circa-1900 Greek Revival overlooking Waterfront Park, the home was carefully restored at the street façade to honor its historic character, while a failing rear addition was replaced with a bold, contemporary counterpart. The design bridges two centuries and responds to two distinct contexts: its compact urban neighborhood and the expansive natural landscape of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks.

From the street, the home blends seamlessly with its neighbors; moving around back, it reveals a modern two-story addition with deep balconies and floor-to-ceiling glazing that captures sweeping lake views and daylight. The transition from white clapboard to slate-gray metal creates a striking black-and-white composition that reflects the home’s dual identity.

Sustainability was central to the design. A rooftop solar array meets most of the home’s electrical demand, while a high-performance envelope and airtight construction minimize energy use. Air-to-air Heat pumps, system automation, and efficient lighting further reduce loads.

Inside, natural wood, abundant sunlight, and strong indoor-outdoor connections create an urban oasis. Thoughtful window placement preserves privacy, while gardens and raised beds enrich the landscape. The result is a home that honors its history while embracing a resilient, modern future.

Jurors said: "Among the most sophisticated small residential projects in the selection, this entry was recognized for its restraint and sense of proportion. The design carefully maximizes livability while maintaining a respectful connection to its context. Thoughtful detailing between the original and the addition further reinforces the project's cohesive and sensitive approach."

Archtecture: TruexCullins Architecture + Interiors

Design Team: TruexCullins - Rolf Kielman, AIA, Architect, Josh Chafe, Associate, AIA; Interior Design: Redmond Interior Design; Landscape Architect: Wagner Hodgson Landscape Architecture; General Contractor: Northeast Craftsman; Structural Engineer: Artisan Engineering; Civil Engineer: Civil Engineering Associates; Photos: Ryan Bent Photography

Merit Award in the Single Family Residential category goes to Birdseye for the Atrium in Southern VT. 

Atrium is a single-family residence on 116 acres in Southern Vermont. The home stretches north to south along a high plateau parallel to the eastern Taconic ridgeline, embracing the unencumbered view. Composed of a main house, pool area, and pool house/office, the project is a study in manipulating building massing and landscape elements within a constrained building envelope to define a sense of place. Each aspect reflects intention, connecting the living experience to the landscape.

Clad in stained black cedar siding, the materiality transitions from two-dimensional to three-dimensional detailing, giving depth and scale to the lower-level elevations. The central staircase highlights the visual break of the main gable extrusion; a glass separation and cantilevered roof extension define the home’s entry, creating a warm “lantern effect” at night.

Inside, the first floor centers on a two-sided fireplace dividing the living and dining rooms. A single-story flat-roofed volume houses the pantry, kitchen, and porch, while a secondary structure across the pool contains the lounge and office. Warm interiors of clear oak floors and walls, exposed beams and column wraps of knotty oak, and precise trim details complete the home.

Jurors said: "This project distinguished itself among the residential entries through its refined elegance and purposeful siting. Thoughtful interior design choices further enhance and celebrate the home’s strong connection to its natural surroundings, resulting in a cohesive and harmonious living environment." A small anecdote: For those who don’t know, Savannah is a very flat city, and the jury was quite envious of this project and our region's topographic opportunities 

Architecture: Birdseye

Design Team: Brian Mac, Andrew Chardain; General Contractor: Maverick Construction; Structural Engineering: Artisan Engineering; Landscape Architect: Wagner Hodgson Landscape Architecture; Civil Engineer: Long Trail Engineering, P.C.; Photos: Eric Petschek

Merit Award in the Historic Preservation / Adaptive Re-Use / Rehabilitation category goes to R. Edwards & Co. for Memorial Hall in North Calais, VT. 

This project involved the full historic rehabilitation of the previously condemned three thousand four hundred square-foot two-story assembly use building from 1885. A contributing structure in the National Register-listed North Calais Village Historic District, the building, built as a Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) meeting hall in 1885, sits on a promontory overlooking Mirror Lake in north-central Vermont.

The project team was tasked with fully rehabilitating the seasonal use building, while also providing much-needed accessibility upgrades (especially important for the 2nd floor assembly space), to provide new restrooms, modernize the kitchen, and, most especially, replicate and reconstruct the old two-story covered porch which was taken down in the 1980s.

The existing foundation was repaired and partially replaced, and the first-floor structure, falling apart and covered in mold, was replaced entirely, which involved lifting the entire building approximately six feet in the air, where it sat on cribbing for months while the foundation and first-floor structural work were completed.

Funding for the work was provided by both state and federal historic preservation funding sources, so care was needed to comply with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. 

Jury Notes: “This project stood out as the most compelling example among the historic preservation entries, with the jury noting its thoughtful response to challenging constraints. The design skillfully balances restoration and adaptive reuse, remaining faithful to the building’s original architectural character while introducing new life and purpose.”

Architecture: R. Edwards & Co.

Architect: Ryan Edwards, AIA; General Contractor: Spates Construction, Inc.; Structural Engineering: Engineering Ventures, PC; Photos: Curtis B. Johnson

Merit Award in the Small Projects category goes to McLeod Architects for Off the Beaten Track in Squam Lake, NH

This award recognizes three successive years of shelters built during intensive eight-day design-build projects, built with college and university students from around the country. The three projects recognized here, completed in June of 2023, 2024, and 2025, involved designing, pre-fabricating, delivering, and installing the structure in just eight days. Each team of students, together with the architects and builders, lived and worked in a rustic location on Squam Lake.

The three recognized projects are: 

2023 – A composting outhouse on Loon Island in the middle of pristine Squam Lake. All wood used in the superstructure was grown, harvested, milled, and seasoned on the shore of Squam Lake.

2024 – A work/storage shed for boats, set adjacent to an existing boathouse on a point of land, at a 127-year-old camp for families. This structure is made entirely of 2x4s and shelters both boats and the boat house staff.

2025 – A caretaker’s cabin, placed on an old tent platform on a point of conserved forest land, owned by New England Forestry Foundation and managed by a local conservation and education non-profit. Like the privy, all wood used was grown, harvested, milled, and seasoned on the shore of Squam Lake.

Jury Notes: “This project is praised for its clarity, modest scale, and thoughtful design-build execution. The careful attention to detail and collaborative process serve as an exemplary model, demonstrating the value of scale, craft, and educational benefit in design-build projects.”

Architecture: McLeod Architects

Team: John McLeod, Stephen Kredell, AIA; Stephen Poston, AIA (as individual volunteer instructors); Alex Carver, builder (as individual volunteer instructor);Client: 2023: Webster Land Corp.; 2024: Rockywold-Deephaven Camps, Inc.; 2025: Squam Lakes Assoc.; Photos: Design Assembly/ McLeod Architects

Merit Award in the Pro-bono/ Volunteer/ Unbuilt category goes to Vermont Integrated Architecture for the Yellow House Community - Carriage Barn Renovation in Middlebury, VT.

On a corner lot in a walkable downtown neighborhood, a new two-building residential facility for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who need 24-hour support has taken root. A historic home renovated in 2019 accommodates several residents and caregivers, while the gut renovation of the 1900s carriage barn—completed in 2022—expands the number of adults who can call this place home. Transforming this outbuilding into a light-filled, accessible, net-zero living space honors its historic context while providing a desperately needed community resource.

Design considerations emphasize dignity and inclusion, with a fully accessible main floor and patio, accessible appliances, wide staircases, and a landing with a window seat. As an Infill development in a walkable neighborhood, its residents are easily able to engage with their community. Well-being is supported through abundant natural light, open living space, large windows, non-toxic materials, and garden areas. Carbon-conscious strategies include adaptive reuse, all-electric systems, solar panels, and salvaged materials. The result is a healthy, low-energy, welcoming home where exposed timbers, historic details, bright accents, and spaces for art and plants create a sense of delight.

This project impressed the jury: "with its clear, community-driven mission and well-considered site planning. By embracing simplicity and a thoughtful layout, the design achieves strong results that directly support its social purpose, making it especially worthy of recognition."

Architect: Vermont Integrated Architecture, P.C.

Andrea Murray, Principal, Stefan Richter, Project Architect; Sellers Treybal Structural Engineers, PC; Smith & McClain - Contractor; Jackman's of Bristol, Inc. MP Design/Build; Otter Creek Engineering, Inc. - Civil Engineer; Photos by Ryan Bent Photography

Citation Award in the Single Family Residential category goes to Birdseye for TeglHus in Southern VT. TeglHus was also a winner of the 2025 Peers' Choice Award.

This six thousand seven hundred square foot single-family residence in Southern Vermont is a zero-carbon, all-electric home supported by a 20 kw ground-mounted PV array. Composed of three gable structures clad in hand-molded, Danish clay tiles with Corten metal features, TeglHus is inspired by the adjacent neighboring building, an 1816 Federal-style, red brick home.

The “C” shaped plan of the combined house and guest house forms an exterior courtyard of outdoor programming, including outdoor eating, barbecue, firepit, and two covered seating areas. The Corten lath reveals the backside of the brick tile detail, giving a glimpse of the brick tile attachment.

The interiors are organized and anchored by a custom oak staircase, a central, two-sided fireplace of Danish hand-molded brick, and custom-designed cabinetry throughout. Floors of select white oak and walls of lime plaster, combined with flush door jambs and door slabs of white oak, create a quiet experience. The great room is vaulted and clad in select white oak.

The Jury notes: “The outstanding material selection for this project reflects an impressive level of craft and a deep connection to the narrative of place. Together, these qualities make the material palette especially deserving of special recognition.”

Architect: Birdseye

Design Team: Brian Mac, FAIA, Peter Abiles, AIA; Interior Design: Brooke Michelsen Design; General Contractor: Vermont Barns; Landscape Architect: Wagner Hodgson Landscape Architecture; Engineering Ventures: Bob Neeld; Civil Engineer: MSK Engineers; Environmental Engineer: Zero Energy Design; Photos: doublespace Photography

2025 Peers Choice Award Winner: Two Step by SideHill Design in Barnard, VT.

Two Step is a single-family home built on 19 acres in a small Vermont village. The project consists of two gabled buildings, identical in profile, on a hillside meadow. The structures, the home and a garage, are minimalist versions of the Vermont vernacular, stripped down to highlight the beauty of the gabled form. The buildings have matching open corners, which give them a sculptural quality. In the home, the opening houses a corner of floor to ceiling windows, pulling the view into the living space. The garage opening houses a large screened porch, facing out toward the meadow.

The two buildings are intentionally offset, framing the outdoor spaces and curating the home's view corridors. The garage is carefully sited to block views of neighboring structures, creating a private courtyard and directing the views from the open corners towards the meadow. The layout of the home is simple and direct. Stepping in the front door, visitors encounter a large wooden staircase, framed by a large bookcase, which leads up to two bedrooms on the second floor. On the main level, the primary suite and home studio are to the right of the front door, with private views out to the woods. To the left is an office and the main kitchen/living/dining area. This area was designed to minimize disruption to the view, which is highlighted by the corner window, visible from the entire space. A large pantry has ample room for the family to store canned goods from their garden, and the soapstone island faces out towards the dining and living area, encouraging an open flow in the space. A wood stove sits in front of the living room corner of floor to ceiling windows, playfully mixing the interior and exterior views.

Sustainability is integral to Two Step's design. The building is clad in eastern white pine, and designed to allow for self-sufficient heating. In addition to views, the buildings' corner openings each hold a large storage area for firewood. Together, the storage areas hold over 5 cords of wood, providing ample storage for the efficient wood stove, which provides substantial heat for the home throughout the winter. A cold weather heat pump, robust insulation (R-40 walls and R-60 roof), and a thermally separated building envelope ensure the family stays cozy during the Vermont winters. Additional sustainability measures include an HRV system, dual electric heat pump hot water heater, and a battery backup generator. No fossil fuels are used on site.

Architecture: Sidehill Design 

Builder: H+H Custom Builders, Ben Halley; Structural Engineer: Engineering Ventures; Landscape Architect: Jack Rossi Landscape Architecture; Civil Engineer: Brad R. Ruderman & Associates; Photos: Ryan Bent Photography