ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, December 1, 1996 TAG: 9612030053
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: 3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MAG POFF STAFF WRITER
Two Roanoke architectural firms have been cited for their designs of school building renovations.
Sherertz Franklin Crawford Shaffner Inc. took three honors for its design of Wasena Elementary School in Roanoke.
One of them was from the Virginia School Boards Association, which also cited Motley & Associates for its plans for Fort Defiance High School in Augusta County. They were among six winners from among 28 entries submitted by 15 architectural firms.
The judges wrote that Motley & Associates' design of Fort Defiance represented "very capable handling of a difficult program with additions and renovations occurring in many different areas. The architect was able to bring together a total well-conceived project in a most economical manner."
The Wasena Elementary School design by Sherertz Franklin Crawford Shaffner, the judges said, illustrated "a good example of adaptive reuse of old and new facilities. This redesign showed extreme sensitivity on the part of the architect in keeping the integrity of the old building."
The entries were displayed before more than 1,000 school board members, superintendents and other educators who attended the association's convention in Williamsburg last month. The competition was based on creativity, innovativeness and cost-efficiency.
Sherertz Franklin Crawford Shaffner was also recognized with a 1996 "award for excellence in architecture from the Virginia Society of the American Institute of Architects for the Wasena renovation. It was presented in November at the society's annual "building Virginia" conference in Richmond.
Wasena Elementary was also selected for inclusion in "American School & University's 1996 Architectural Portfolio of Award-Winning and Other Outstanding School and University Buildings." The publication has been produced annually for 14 years.
The publication recognized 120 projects, including 29 elementary schools, throughout the nation. The competition was based on architectural solutions, expandability, integration of technology, flexibility and quality of interior space and sense of community.
Patrick Shaffner, president of the firm and director of the project, will present certificates of the design award at a meeting of the Roanoke School Board Dec. 10.
Wasena Elementary, which reopened in the fall of 1995, was the last of seven city elementary schools renovated by the firm in a project that began in 1987.
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: 1. Motley & Associates was honored by the Virginiaby CNBSchool Boards Association for the firm's plans for Fort Defiance
High School in Augusta County. 2. Sherertz Franklin Crawford
Shaffner took three honors for its design of Wasena Elementary
School in Roanoke. 3. Show are the school's atrium (above) and a
view of the west end of the school. color.