MOUNT VERNON — The Cornell College fine arts renovation project of Armstrong Hall and Youngker Hall, including Kimmel Theatre, has received an honor award for excellence in architecture in the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Central States Region Awards.
McWethy Hall, the first building completed in the fine arts project, received an honor award from the AIA Iowa chapter.
All projects were designed by Herbert Lewis Kruse Blunck (HLKB) Architecture of Des Moines. Armstrong Hall, built in 1938, was renovated in 2002-2003 for the music and theater departments. Youngker Hall opened in 2003 featuring a new 266-seat, state-of-the-art theater. McWethy Hall, which opened in 1909 as Cornell’s first gymnasium, was renovated for the art department and reopened in 2002.
HLKB won six of the 16 AIA Central States Region Awards, including three merit awards and two citation awards. An honor award is the highest recognition. The Central States Region covers Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma. In the AIA Iowa chapter awards, HLKB received seven of the 11 design awards, including all four of the top honor awards.
Other campus projects completed by HLKB include renovations to Law Hall and Cole Library, the new Marie Fletcher Carter Pedestrian Mall and improvements to Bowman-Carter residence hall.
