2024 Citation Award

WMAIA 2024 Design Awards
CITATION AWARD

Kuth Ranieri Architects, Franklin, MA

This new, municipal swimming pool and bathhouse replace aging facilities at a public park deep in the hills of Buckland, MA. The new facility includes aquatic opportunities for all ages. Designed on a tight budget, facilities are kept to a functional minimum, orienting the project toward the pool and relocating programs like showers and changing rooms to outside the shell.

The long, slab-on grade building frames views toward the fully accessible pool, which includes a shallow zone for non-swimmers and a deeper end that orients toward views of an abutting stream. The building includes a reception/first aid, restrooms, storage, and pool mechanical room. A palette of natural building materials, including local black locust siding, and off-the-shelf components defines the building’s modest character. Sustainability features include extended eaves, a photovoltaic array, native plantings, and durable materials. The $2.1M project was funded through state grants, town funding, and a substantial fundraising effort.

Photos by Ben Gancsos Studio

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WMAIA 2024 Design Awards
CITATION AWARD

Dodson & Flinker, Florence, MA

Mt. Tom North Trailhead Park is a new public park in Easthampton, MA, created on a formerly residential property on Mt. Tom’s northern slope. The client, the City of Easthampton, collaborated with a large group of partners and stakeholders that were critical to the success of the project, including the Kestrel Land Trust, Pascommuck Conservation Trust, PARC/Conservation Partnership Grant Programs, and the Department of Conservation and Recreation.

The project transforms a disturbed former house-lot into an expansive habitat area, while also addressing limited access to the trail network of Mt. Tom from Easthampton side. A facilitated public process informed the design. The park includes a parking area, a 2,000 ft length, FSTAG accessible trail, planted pollinator-friendly meadow and shrubland areas, an overlook and rest areas with benches and picnic tables, educational and directional signage, and trailhead connections to adjacent trail systems on Mt Tom and Kestrel Land Trust’s “Little Mountain”.

Photos by Dodson & Flinker

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WMAIA 2024 Design Awards
CITATION AWARD

Bonham & Douglas Architects, Northampton, MA

For over 130 years, the 800-seat Academy of Music Theatre has been a cornerstone of cultural life in the community and has visually heralded your arrival to the heart of downtown Northampton.

Outside, our design introduces a marquee canopy that harmoniously integrates with the existing building facade, creating a covered outdoor gathering space and establishing a prominent entrance. Inside, decorative paint and plaster were beautifully reinvigorated and seating and pathways were reconfigured for increased accessibility. A sense of grandeur was reinstated with the installation of a new two-tier chandelier, which had been missing above the main seating area for over six decades.

The revitalization of this historic venue provides a safer, more comfortable, and more resilient building to ensure this dynamic community resource will continue to thrive for generations to come.

Photos by Leigh Chodos

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WMAIA 2024 Design Awards
CITATION AWARD

Ko-LAB Architecture, South Hadley, MA

The Sunderland Riverside Park Kayak Kiosk and Restroom Renovation were initiated to provide library patrons with the ability to check out kayaks and enjoy access to the Connecticut River. Over time, the project evolved to include not only a place for the kayaks, but a storage area to replace the existing shed for the park maintenance equipment, storage for Sunderland Youth Baseball, and a renovation of the existing restroom facilities.

The project combined the kayak storage program into a pavilion with a maintenance and storage shed at the rear and a roof canopy providing a shaded area for people to picnic or watch the baseball games. The three kayak storage boxes double as seating and picnic tables between the boxes provide a place for community gathering.Both projects were a community effort funded by the Town of Sunderland with CPA (Community Preservation Act)and ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds.

Photos by Sean Kernan

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