AACC Building Rakes in the Awards

Original Nov. 14, 2022
Updated June 7, 2023

Which part of Anne Arundel Community College’s Health and Life Sciences Building is the best part? Students might say the high-tech simulation labs or light-filled study spaces (or yes, the Chick-fil-A), but according to a growing list of accolades, many think it’s the building itself.

AACC is celebrating a variety of awards given to various entities that worked on the project, from design to final construction touches:

• Oct. 25, 2021: Building Congress & Exchange Craftsmanship Award – Exterior Building Panels
• December 2021: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
• Aug. 25, 2022: American Institute of Architects Northern Virginia Chapter – Design Merit Award. The jury appreciated the way in which the project was "contextual without mimicry" and was a "beautiful expression" that acknowledged and celebrated the sciences through its thoughtful design details.
• Oct. 20, 2022: American Institute of Architects Potomac Valley Chapter, PV Award – Recognizing the best project exemplifying elements of the AIA’s Framework for Design Excellence. The jury noted, “We found this to be a compelling design solution inside and out. … Beyond its beauty, this project went further than any other in pursuing each aspect of the AIA Framework within the constraints of the budget.”
• Oct. 20, 2022: American Institute of Architects Potomac Valley Chapter – Award of Merit in Institutional Architecture
• Oct. 25, 2022: Building Congress & Exchange Craftsmanship Award – Architectural Suspended Wood Ceilings
• Oct. 25, 2022: Building Congress & Exchange Craftsmanship Award – Specialty Finishes
• Oct. 25, 2022: Building Congress & Exchange Craftsmanship Award – Architectural Millwork
• Oct. 25, 2022: Building Congress & Exchange Craftsmanship Award – Overall Building Winner
• Nov. 9, 2022: American Institute of Architects Chesapeake Bay Chapter – Honor
• Nov. 9, 2022: American Institute of Architects Chesapeake Bay Chapter – Sustainability Design Award
• April 20, 2023: 2023 Green GOOD DESIGN® Award
• May 10, 2023: IIDA Mid Atlantic Premiere Design Award – Higher Education

“These recognitions really demonstrate the wonderful collaboration with the project and our partners’ excellence,” AACC President Dr. Dawn Lindsay said. “I know our students benefit greatly from the intentional design, sustainable elements and adaptability in HLSB. It truly has become an integral hub for our campus community.”

The building, which opened October 2021, is a 175,000-square foot, three-story, state-of-the-art learning environment equipped with the latest technology that helps future professionals respond to the needs of their community. And despite the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, construction impressively stayed on track, starting in May 2018 and finishing at the initial end date of June 2021.