Now in its 58th year, the Gold Nugget Awards have raised the bar for innovative architecture, planning, and construction concepts that solve fundamental building industry needs.
Typically presented at the conclusion of PCBC, the Pacific Coast’s regional conference and trade show for real estate development, the top projects were honored during a virtual ceremony June 16, ahead of the in-person event that will take place Oct. 4 to 7 at the Omni La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California.
Jurors selected merit winners and one grand winner in over 50 categories, including single-family production, multifamily, affordable, mixed-use, custom homes, commercial, office, renovations, and site planning, out of roughly 600 U.S. and international entries.
This year’s Gold Nugget jury was made up of the industry’s top designers, planners, and builders: Ike Balmaseda, partner at IDEArc Architecture & Planning; Mollie Carmichael, principal at Zonda; Debra Falese, president at Woodley Architecture Group; Laurie Ford, principal at Lomonaco Investments; John McManus, founder of The Builder’s Daily; Anne Postle, president at Osmosis Architecture; Chelsea Richardson, principal, vice president at Jeffrey DeMure + Associates; and Symone Strong, assistant editor at Multifamily Executive and Builder magazines.
“For everyone, Gold Nugget is the place to take inspiration from design, planning, and development achievements that range from a jewel box custom home to lavish destination environments to affordable housing to intricate infill neighborhoods and leading-edge prototypes,” says Lisa Parrish, judging chair and Gold Nugget ceremonies administrator. “It’s the place to see today’s trends and predict tomorrow’s, with categories that stay in tune with the times.”
In response to emerging trends from the pandemic, “Best Home-Work Space,” “Best Health/Wellness Design Solution,” and “Best Community Amenity” were a few of the specialty categories added this year. Plus, the coveted Multifamily Community of the Year was split into two categories based on the project’s size, with the first awarded for under four stories and the second for four stories and above.
Market-rate development Alexan Kendry in Montclair, California, was awarded Multifamily Community of the Year: Up to Four Stories. The three- and four-story tuck-under building development sits on a 7-acre, L-shaped site and consists of five residential buildings with 211 units and an 8,500-square-foot amenity building.
Builder Trammell Crow Residential and designer Architecture Design Collaborative took inspiration from the area’s rich history of citrus farming. As a result, the buildings have a “modern agrarian aesthetic” and are situated on the site to create a series of courtyards with vegetable gardens and a pocket park.
“Of all the four-story and under multifamily projects, the judging panel admired this one the most because of the façade and its use of color and the project’s L-shaped site plan that considers the pedestrian experience,” noted one judge during the deliberations.
Jackson in Seattle’s historic Central District was recognized for Multifamily Community of the Year: Four Stories and Above. The property by developer Vulcan Real Estate, architect Runberg Architecture Group, builder Exxel Pacific, and interior designer Vida Design includes 532 apartments, with 107 units reserved for households earning 65% to 90% of the area median income.
With a goal to cultivate community, the site is organized to provide significant landscaped open space, including a large public plaza and a mid-block area aligned with a previously vacated street right of way. The façade incorporates a palette of colors and different fractal patterns and textures, while the interior spaces pay homage to the neighborhood’s artistic contributions to the city.
“Judges unanimously voted the 532-unit Seattle Jackson project as Multifamily Community of the Year for its cohesive, purpose- and mission-driven solution to downtown density’s connective, community-centered answer to urban sanctuary,” stated one juror. “We were taken in by the design’s intentionality, its cadence of small zones, and its expansive sweep of inclusiveness and intimacy, throughout the circulatory exterior and in interior spaces.”
In addition to the two communities of the year, the jurors were drawn to multifamily projects and concepts that provided high density on small lots, were thoughtful with their exterior spaces, utilized existing structures, and ultimately established a sense of community for residents.
“For architects, planners, builders, designers, and developers, Gold Nuggets shine as the repository of the best work in our business—as judged and appreciated by the best eyes in our business,” adds Parrish. “While entering is easy, winning is hard, so whether it’s the first time or 58th in the Gold Nugget spotlight, taking a merit or grand is undeniably sweet.”
Here’s a roundup of 12 multifamily developments that garnered Gold Nugget grand awards. View the full list of winners across all the categories here.
Multifamily Community of the Year, Up to Four Stories: Alexan Kendry, Montclair, California
Builder: Trammell Crow Residential; Architect: Architecture Design Collaborative
Multifamily Community of the Year, Four Stories and Above: Jackson, Seattle
Builder: Exxel Pacific; Developer: Vulcan Real Estate; Architect: Runberg Architecture Group
Best Multifamily Housing Community, Under 15 du/acre: Hermosa Village, Leander, Texas
Builder: Cadence McShane Construction; Developer: Impact Developers; Architect: Humphreys & Partners Architects
Best Multifamily Housing Community, 30-60 du/acre: The Altan, Los Altos, California
Builder: Lola; Architect: Dahlin Group Architecture Planning
Best Multifamily Housing Community, 60-100 du/acre: Mason on Mariposa, San Francisco
Builder: GL Builders; Developer: Related Companies of California; Architect: David Baker Architects
Best Student or Faculty Housing: The Grad San Jose, San Jose, California
Builder: Swenson Builders; Developer: AMCAL Swenson; Architect: Swenson Architecture
Best Mixed-Use Project: One Paseo, San Diego
Builder: Western National and Whiting Turner; Developer: Kilroy Reality; Architects: TCA Architects, Ware-Malcomb, and Gensler
Best Age-Qualified Senior Living Community: Viamonte at Walnut Creek, Walnut Creek, California
Builder: Cahill Contractors; Developers: Sequoia Living and Greenbrier Development; Architect: HKIT Architects
Best Service-Enriched Senior Living Community: The Watermark at Napa Valley, Napa, California
Builder: Deacon Construction; Developer: Oppidan Investment Co.; Architect: SmithGroup
Best Infill Site Plan Solution: Robinson Landing, Alexandria, Virginia
Builder/Developer: Robinson Landing Development Entities; Architects: KTGY and Shalom Baranes Associates
Best Health/Wellness Design Solution: Lakehouse, Denver
Builder/Developer: NAVA Real Estate Development; Architects: Stantec and Muñoz + Albin Architecture and Planning
Best Design for Energy Efficiency: Solis, Seattle
Builder: Cascade Built; Developer: SolTerra; Architect: Weber Thompson
To see the full list of grand and merit winners, please visit the PCBC website.
