2018 AIBD Award Winners

We’re filled with energy and excitement after coming back from the American Institute of Building Design’s Annual Meeting in Philadelphia last week! Not only are the AIBD conferences a wonderful time to connect with colleagues and gain fresh inspiration, but two of our founding members of Rocky Mountain Plan Company also received awards for their work.

Bernie Kern Wins the 2018 Designer of the Year Award

Bernie Kern of BBKern DESIGNS won the prestigious Designer of the Year Award, an honor presented by AIBD to the member who has made the most outstanding contribution to the Institute in the past year.

Bernie has been a leader in design and forward thinking for many years now, and he launched the AIBD High-Performance Homes Team in 2012, a committee that focuses on providing resources and education about building energy efficient, comfortable, and environmentally safe homes to designers, builders, and consumers. This work led him to take on a prominent role at the 2017 and 2018 International Builder Show.

In the High-Performance Building Zone at the Builder Show, Bernie and his team designed and created a Tiny House Lab, emphasizing innovation in energy efficient materials and high-performing wall and roof framing configurations.

Bernie also made himself available to college students during the 2018 Design and Build Day conferences at Weber State University and the University of Central Missouri, resulting in unprecedented national recognition for AIBD to thousands of professionals and students. 

You can read more about Bernie's work with the High-Performance Homes Team as well as find out about other AIBD Conferences and ARDA winners in the latest AIBD Magazine.

LGA Studios Wins for Best Conceptual Design

The American Residential Design Awards (ARDA) is the AIBD’s premier award program exhibiting design excellence in the residential building industry. It spotlights the most creative and innovative residential designers, builders, remodelers, architects, developers, land planners and interior designers in the nation and recognizes exceptional design.

LGA Studios won an ARDA for Best Conceptual Design for their work on a Modern Prairie style home, shown below. 

This home was designed for a close-knit active family. Between morning hockey practices, dance lessons, and gymnastics, these clients are always on the move, and they needed a home that fits their lifestyle and allowed them to make the most of their time together.

The site is located above an exclusive golf community, and this home backs up to the course. It’s one of only a handful of sites where the existing mature pine trees act as a privacy shield, enhancing the surroundings of this home by providing lovely forest views.

The natural setting nestled amongst the trees really allows the outdoor living spaces to shine—which was important to our clients—and this home features several courtyards and an expansive deck, providing space both for entertaining as well as play.

Entering through a nestled and naturally landscaped courtyard allows guests their first glimpse into the uniqueness of this home, and an open floor plan invites family and friends to gather in the gourmet kitchen or relax by the fire in the great room.

A modern and open staircase helps to connect yet buffer the family spaces from the living areas while providing a view of the golf course greenscape beyond. This space also provides a display area for the owners’ art collection.

The sprawling master suite and three additional bedrooms plus a study loft are ideal for the family to have privacy and retreat space, and the lower level provides plenty of space for a media center and fun and games.

This home has room to spread out and relax, using Prairie and Modern architectural touches to provide the perfect landing pad for this active family, and an ideal blend of indoor and outdoor living spaces.