Freelon Wins National AIA Educational Facility Design Award for BRITE
lmyers@freelon.com
919-941-9790
05/17/2010
Research Triangle Park, NC - May 15, 2010 – The American Institute of Architects (AIA) awarded The Freelon Group a 2010 Educational Facility Design Award for the design of the Biomanufacturing Research Institute & Technology Enterprise (BRITE) Center at North Carolina Central University’s Science Complex in Durham, NC. The AIA’s Committee on Architecture awarded the BRITE Center its highest honor, the Design Excellence Award. The Freelon Group served as design lead, laboratory planner and lead programmer for BRITE; O’Brien/Atkins Associates of Durham served as Architect of Record.
The BRITE Center is one of three 2010 Excellence winners; nine academic and learning environments were recognized by the AIA jury. According to the AIA announcement, the purpose of the awards program is “to identify trends and emerging ideas, honor excellence in planning and design, and disseminate knowledge about best practices in educational and community facilities.”
Opened in 2008, the 52,000 square foot BRITE Center is one of 3 learning environments in North Carolina’s Biomanufacturing and Pharmaceutical Training Consortium (BPTC), a collaborative statewide effort to provide career training to establish the state as a premier provider of skilled workers at all levels for the growing biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry. The BRITE Center’s distinctive design, daylight-filled research spaces and flexible laboratories are helping the University recruit world-class research faculty and attract students from across the state who are interested in biotechnology careers.
“The planning and design for BRITE goes far beyond a conventional academic science building,” said Tim Winstead, AIA, LEED AP, a Freelon Principal and Director of the firm’s Science and Technology Group. “To meet the goals of the statewide economic initiative, we worked in close collaboration with project partners from state government, foundations, the university and the biotechnology industry. The challenge for all of us was to deliver a real-world research and manufacturing environment by integrating both elegant design and innovative technology.”
According to Charlie Nelms, Chancellor of North Carolina Central University (NCCU), “Our goal from the start was to provide BRITE students with an education experience unmatched by other institutions. Freelon Group’s innovative design helps us fulfill that goal beyond all expectations, and gives us and our students a strong competitive advantage.”
Dr. Li-An Yeh, Director of BRITE, said “Our faculty, students and staff are very lucky to be in such a creative and beautiful building conducting their teaching, research and learning. We are thrilled to have the Center’s design team recognized by the AIA with this award.”
Funded by the GoldenLeaf Foundation, the BRITE Center is located two miles from Research Triangle Park, one of the world’s largest biotech centers. The Golden LEAF Foundation was created in 1999 to administer one half of North Carolina's share of a master settlement agreement with cigarette manufacturers. The Foundation is a nonprofit devoted to advancing the economic well being of North Carolinians and to transforming the state’s economy.
The BRITE’s classroom, laboratory and office space adjoins the Mary Townes Science Building, also designed by The Freelon Group. The AIA Educational Facility Design Excellence Award is the fourth award honoring the BRITE Center design.