PHOTO: Robert Benson, Robert Benson Photography
-- Duda/Paine Architects has been awarded the Marble Institute's 2007 Pinnacle Award of Excellence for its design of the 175,000-square-foot First Citizens Bank headquarters in Columbia, SC. The highly coveted honor, which is given to projects whose beauty, creativity, ingenuity, and craftsmanship exemplify professional mastery in the use of natural stone in commercial and residential environments, was bestowed to the firm in recognition of the building's exquisite exterior stone work.
Honoring the client's wishes for a timeless, prominent civic structure, Duda/Paine designed the bank's prized limestone cladding and highly articulated bronze-colored mullions to complement the historic Main Street setting and state capitol building. To accomplish this task, the 83,000-square-foot exterior wall was designed with 18,000 square feet of glass and 65,000 square feet of Portuguese Golden Beach Limestone.
"We are pleased to accept this award, demonstrating that it is possible to not only create a modern building that looks as if it has been there for a hundred years, but to do so with style," said Turan Duda, Partner of Duda/Paine Architects. "The end result is a high performance curtain wall with redundant weepage systems that has historic look, but acts and performs with youth and vigor."
Keeping within the historic theme, Duda/Paine designed the building's lobby with a major public stairway highlighted with local artisan crafted bronze railings. The parking garage was also placed underground to keep from taking away from the building's antiqued ambiance, while leaving room for the beautifully crafted public garden plaza in the its foreground.
Duda/Paine was also honored for its design of the bank's public garden park plaza with a Columbia Choice Design Award, which recognizes designs that improve the environment and the overall quality of life in the city. The space now functions as a city park, popular gathering spot, and venue for both public and private events, such as corporate functions, wedding receptions, and local festivals.
About Duda/Paine Architects
Duda/Paine Architects LLC is a design-architecture firm with an international portfolio of corporate, commercial, and institutional commissions. Established in 1997, the award-winning firm has worked on over 50 design projects ranging from urban and institutional master plans, signature towers, and large mixed-use complexes to arts centers, medical facilities, and corporate headquarters.
Contact: Great Ink Communications, Roxanne Donovan/Alex Paulyson/Carolyn Philipps, 212-741-2977
