The historic preservation movement in Detroit seems to be finally making some progress. There are two winners in this year’s competition from the city. The Julius Melchers Residence & Carriage House in Detroit’s Indian Village by McIntosh Poris Associates and The Smithgroup earned another honor for the Rose and Robert Skillman Branch Library. The house was originally commissioned by painter Gari Melchers for his father, Julius T. Melchers, the sculptor. It was designed by Donaldson and Meier in 1896. The senior Melchers carved the elaborate gable-end of the large central dormer. Julius Melchers was named an Honorary Member of the Michigan Chapter AIA in 1908. It is also the second honor for the Skillman Branch Library. The jury noted that it was "an important and beautiful structure that has been brought back to life with an adept and sensitive restoration."

Smithgroup, Inc. has a second honor award on this year’s list. The Boll Family YMCA is prominently located in Downtown Detroit. This is its second design award and the jury was taken with the way the architecture "invites you in and allows its internal functions to animate the streetscape."

Three projects come from the education field: Cass Technological High School by TMP / TYJP Joint Venture in Detroit and the A. Alfred Taubman Student Services Center at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield. The aforementioned Dana Building at the University of Michigan completes the school related buildings list. All three Impressed the jury with their place-making qualities.

Sport facilities, as a building type with their large footprints and complex programs, are not usually the first thing that comes to mind in design award programs but this year there are two that list Rossetti as the design architect. Several firms worked together to create Ford Field Stadium. The Architect of Record is the SmithGroup. The design architect for the warehouse portion is Kaplan McLaughlin Diaz from California. Rossetti is solo architect for the Palace of Auburn Hills North Entry Addition. The Palace was designed by Rossetti and won an award in 1988. The jury noted that "This energetic, sculptural addition has been flawlessly and seamlessly integrated into the existing arena." Ford Field also earned kudos for its integration into the city.

Lear Corporation World Headquarters and Technology Center Complex in Southfield was done by Albert Kahn Associates, Inc as the architect of record with HKS, Inc. as design consultant. This project rehabilitates a 52-acre brown field site that once was dotted by tool, die, wood and machine shops, the master plan and site redevelopment efforts created an expansive green inner-core capable of supporting 500,000 square feet of office space.

The Steel Award is a subsection of the Building Category and it recognizes creative use of steel in its design. The Pozios Retail Center in Macomb Township was designed by Constantine George Pappas AIA Architecture/Planning to take advantage of steel's inherent qualities for structure and ornamentation.

Clifton & Dolores Wharton Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing has been singled out for the Twenty-five Year Award as a building that has withstood "the test of time." Harley Ellis Devereaux designed the facility in response to a complex program and challenging site. "The interiors provide a warm understated environment for artist and patron drama."

Two projects were cited in the Interior Architecture Category. The Ronnisch Construction Group Headquarters in Royal Oak was designed by biddison architecture + design and the TDR Orthodontists in Birmingham by Victor Saroki & Associates Architects PC. With the creative use of materials both architects turned bland spaces into elegant working environments.

Victor Saroki & Associates Architects PC is also being singled out for the Architecture Firm Award. This award acknowledges an architecture firm that has consistently produced distinguished architecture for at least ten years. Living and working in Birmingham has given them the opportunity to design more than sixty buildings there. The firm sets high standards with their performance. Their designs have been recognized by over 50 design awards, over 50 articles on design, including articles in many national publications.

The American Institute of Architects Michigan, headquartered in the historic Beaubien House across from the Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit, established its awards program to bring to public attention the value and importance of architectural excellence and to recognize those whose notable achievements encourage all to make excellence in architecture the standard.