Plan New Hampshire is pleased to announce the 2010 recipients of Merit Awards for Excellence in Planning, Design and Development of the built environment. These projects were recognized and celebrated at a dinner held on March 31 at The Derryfield Country Club in Manchester.

Awards were given to projects in New Hampshire that have been completed since 2005 and not only exemplify excellence in sustainable planning, design and development, but went above and beyond in the areas of smart growth principles, sustainability, social responsibility and/or creative approaches to partnership and collaboration.

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2010 Award Recipients

The Sullivan Construction Headquarters building in Bedford, NH. 258-260 South River Road, LLC, Owner.

The Sullivan Construction building combines high quality and sustainably energy-efficient renovation with preservation of key components of the old structure, and when approved by the USGBC (pending) will the be the first “Platinum certified”, Commercial Interiors Building in the US. In addition, the Sullivan team has used this building as an education tool for the public, their clients, and potential clients.

Noted the jury: “Not only was this a skillful transformation of an existing structure to permit a 'new' building in an existing fabric, their strong educational program 'spreads the wealth' to the community.”

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The Greenlands Development at Horseshoe Pond (last occupied by Greenlands Power Equipment and originally part of the Page Belting complex) in Concord. Weston Solutions, Owner.

Weston Solutions were true visionaries to be able to turn this blighted property - on a brownfields site - into the site of a LEED-certified building to be proud of. During the construction of the building, students at NHTI's Architectural Engineering Technologies program were able to experience design and construction in a real-life situation, and Weston Employees were included in the entire process.

The building is close to walking and biking trails, as well as bus service (local and beyond) and visiting employees stay in the nearby hotel so that vehicles are not necessary. The building itself has many “green” features, including a real-time energy monitor in the lobby and a green roof garden.

The jury found this project to be an “innovative, environmentally thoughtful design on a brownfields site.” In addition, the “project reinforces the successful redevelopment of a mixed use urban location.”

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Cross Roads House, Portsmouth. Cross Roads House, Inc., Owner.

Cross Roads House provides emergency shelter and social services for thousands of individuals and families each year. Before this project, the shelter was a collection of inefficient buildings dating back to the 1920's.

The project is a new building, providing more privacy, opportunities for segregated populations (ie men, women, families), is handicapped-accessible, and can seat up to 60 people at a time at meals. It is safer, healthier, and significantly less expensive to operate.

The project brought together diverse people and organizations throughout the Seacoast community in partnership from local fundraising events to corporate donations and individual giving. Individuals and organizations helped on move-in day.

The jury saw this project as a “dignified and supportive environment for people in need of temporary housing [and an] excellent example of community collaboration.”

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Monadnock Mills No. 2 and No. 6, Claremont. Wainshal Partners, Owner.

Considered the most important buildings in Claremont's historic mill district, these two buildings now form one rehabilitated structure that successfully maintains the integrity of the old features while incorporating modern necessities. In addition, site elements connect the building with the river and also with other parts of the mill district.

This mixed-use project (restaurant and hotel, office spaces)with convenient pedestrian access forms a critical mass that should energize existing and future development. As stated in the application:

The project exemplifies a classic public/private development with the three building owner/tenants working with the City to expand the boundaries of the project to include stronger pedestrian connections, vibrant public spaces, improved infrastructure, and pedestrian safety. The project took an abandoned area of the downtown and provided an opportunity for additional jobs.

The jury commented that this is a “high quality restoration that turned a serious liability for the town into an asset [and] reinforces the fabric and vitality of downtown Claremont.”

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Form Based Code Project, Dover. City of Dover and Summit Land Development, co-owners.

Adopted in 2009, Dover has the first Form Based Code in the state of New Hampshire. Yet even while it was being formulated, Summit Land Development saw the possibilities in its philosophy, and proposed a development that would eventually exemplify what a new approach to zoning could and would produce.

Form Based code (or Smart Code of New Urbanism) reflects, in part, how early development of New England towns actually happened, with density in the centers and “rings” of lesser density and then more rural going away from the core. With Form Based Code)(FBC), each section has different regulations, but the most important characteristic is that new buildings and their uses are in sync with what is already there – keeping to the “rhythm” of the neighborhood. In Dover, this meant that new buildings would be consistent with what was already there in Dover – in look and feel, setbacks – even, to a certain extent, materials used.

This particular project was an in-fill of mixed uses and demonstrates that it can be done and done well. It brings new vitality to an underutilized section of town, and the Dover FBC is flexible enough to allow an array of services in future projects necessary to residents and workers alike.

The jury found that this project was “an innovative rethinking of the purpose and mechanics of zoning and that it is noteworthy for presenting an example of theory in practice.”