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    Aug 28
    0

    Housetrends Article Includes RWA Project

    By | News
    In the November/December issue of Housetrends, on newsstands now, a new house designed by RWA Architects is included in an article that highlights the lower levels of several homes in the Cincinnati area. The article refers to RWA’s project as “Sunny Disposition,” and focuses on the many features that make the lower level of the home equally important as its other levels. The number of families that spend a substantial amount of time in their basements continues to increase, and they’re placing a high priority on making the lower level an extension of the home. The article not only highlights this trend, but emphasizes the ways RWA’s design maximizes function for the homeowner.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Aug 28
    0

    Cincinnati Preservation Award

    By | News

    RWA Receives a 2011 Cincinnati Preservation Association (CPA) Award.

    Every year, the CPA’s Preservation Awards Ceremony recognizes outstanding accomplishments in local preservation activities in various categories and this year, on November 13, 2011, RWA received 1 of only 2 residential awards handed out in the “Rehabilitation” category.  A CPA award is given to buildings in the Cincinnati area that have been substantially restored or rehabilitated and comply with the Secretary of the Interiors Standards for Rehabilitation.

    The award-winning project involved a whole-house renovation of the 1926 Tudor Revival Style home, “Lilybanks,” in Hyde Park.  Having already undergone many renovations, additions and utility upgrades, it was imperative to the new Owners that all of the remodeling fit seamlessly with the “Tudor Revival Style” of the existing house.  So, with that goal in mind RWA, working alongside the Owners, who felt passionately about maintaining the integrity of the original house, and the construction team, set out to come up with all of the best possible solutions.

    These solutions included both big and small design decisions such as painted cabinets with leaded glass, layered crown mouldings, paneled walls, and honed white marble slab countertops in the Kitchen.

    Wainscot subway tile, hexagon floor tile and one-piece carrara marble slabs were implemented into Master Bathroom.

    Throughout the house, interior doors, hinges and hardware were salvaged and reused.  The original stair was brought back to the basement while cabinets that were not original to the house were removed.  Also, all original leaded glass windows and exterior doors were removed, repaired and refinished.  Certainly posing the biggest challenge, the house was completely rewired, received all new plumbing and a new geothermal HVAC system with virtually no visual impact to the first, second and third floors.

    All of these decisions and changes resulted in a home that is ready to move into the future, but is defiantly holding onto it’s past, ensuring it’s character, durability and sustainability.

     

    Aug 28
    0

    RWA Wins Four Awards at 3rd Annual AIA Cincinnati CORA Awards

    By | News

    Text reads: Showcasing the finest in residential architectural design, the 3rd annual AIA Cincinnati’s CORA Awards (Congress of Residential Architecture) was held on Tuesday evening, April 19, 2011 at The Phoenix in Downtown Cincinnati.  The focus of the awards ceremony was to give public attention to local registered Architects.  Throughout the course of the evening, twelve projects were recognized with one of the following awards: Best Overall, Honor, Merit, and Honorable Mention.  Prior to the night of the awards ceremony, the winners were selected out of forty-three submittals by a distinguished panel of jurors, nationally recognized in the field of residential architecture and chaired by Baton Rouge architect Kevin Harris, FAIA.  For the third year in a row, RWA Architects was an award recipient, this year receiving two Merit Awards in the categories of Addition or Remodel (over 3,000 square feet) and Residential Interior and two Honorable Mentions in the categories of Addition or Remodel (under 1,000 square feet) and New Custom Home (3,000 – 6,000 square feet).  RWA is once again honored to be recognized, affirming our status as a leader in residential design service.

    Merit Award
    Addition or Remodel
    Merit Award
    Residential Interior
    Honorable Mention Award
    Addition or Remodel
    Honorable Mention Award:
    New Custom Home

    Aug 28
    0

    1st LEED Platinum Home in the City of Cincinnati achieved by RWA

    By | News

    Recently completed, the home has been certified to the highest level by the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Homes program for its high-performance design and sustainable construction. The home is not only the first of its kind in the city, but also among the best in the country. It earned 112 points, exceeding the minimum of 102 required for Platinum certification. In order to achieve this prestigious rating, a wide variety of green strategies are featured in the home including:

    • geothermal heating and cooling
    • PV solar panels
    • rainwater reclamation cisterns
    • energy efficient lighting
    • native, drought-tolerant vegetation
    • water conserving fixtures
    • locally harvested, sustainable materials
    • FSC certified lumber
    • recycled construction waste
    • low-VOC finishes

    The homeowners, who are committed to green living, chose to build a sustainable home to have a healthier and more comfortable place to raise their growing family, as well as to reduce their impact on the environment in their daily lives. As the owners of a LEED Platinum home, they can take advantage of a 15-year 100% tax abatement offered by the City of Cincinnati, in addition to many federal tax incentives.

    RWA Architects would not only like to congratulate our client, but also the team that contributed to the achievement of the LEED Platinum rating especially:

    Camery-Hensley Construction, General Contractor
    Green Building Consulting, LLC, LEED for Homes Provider
    Homes +, Inc., LEED Green Rater

    As the proven leader in residential design and home building technology, RWA Architects would like to discuss your project and the steps you can take to make your home more sustainable. With six AIA Architects and seven LEED Accredited Professionals on staff, RWA is your team for green design and a sustainable lifestyle.

    Aug 28
    0

    RWA Wins 2010 CORA Award

    By | News

    Showcasing the finest in residential architectural design, the 2nd annual AIA Cincinnati’s CORA Awards (Congress of Residential Architecture) was held on Tuesday evening, April 20, 2010 at The Phoenix in Downtown Cincinnati.  The focus of the awards ceremony was to give public attention to local registered Architects.  Throughout the course of the evening, fourteen awards were given out in the following categories:  Honor, Merit, and Honorable Mention.  Prior to the night of the awards ceremony, the winners were selected out of forty-eight submittals by a distinguished panel of jurors, nationally recognized in the field of residential architecture and chaired by Minneapolis architect Dale Mulfinger, FAIA.  For the second year in a row, RWA Architects was an award recipient, this year in the category of New Custom Home (under 3,000 square feet).  While RWA may have the reputation of designing larger scale homes, this award allows us to spread the word that we are fully capable of meeting our clients needs and wants, no matter what the size of the project.  RWA is once again honored to be recognized, receiving an Honorable Mention for the design of this weekend retreat in Indiana.