Merit Award
The Jack, Will & Rob Center
Location
Camas, WA
Design Firm
The Felt Hat, Portland, OR
Design Team
Paul Mort (Principal in Charge), Nicole Misiti, Don Rood
Fabrication
Lee's Better Letters, Savoy Glass, Textura Press, Dean Frieman
Client
The Jack, Will & Rob Center
Consultants
Boora Architects
Photographer
Sally Painter
The Jack, Will & Rob Center was built to commemorate the lives of three young brothers who perished in an airplane crash on Thanksgiving 1999. It is a gift to the depressed mill town of Camas, Washington, where the boys grew up, providing resources and affordable instruction in music, art, and computer sciences as each boy had a particular gift in one of the three areas. The challenge for the designer was to give meaningful expression to each emotionally charged idea, in a manner empathetic to the context of each architectural situation and all on a tight budget. The challenge was actually an opportunity to make light-handed meaningful gestures that underscore the intent of the family, donors, and architects.
Jury Comment
"Graphic elements tastefully communicate the generosity and support of the community for this special project. Inspirational quotes are integrated into the architecture of the building in unconventional and unexpected ways."