Ballinger Receives AIA-NJ Merit Award for Design of Rutgers University's New Jersey Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (Oct. 28, 2014) – The New Jersey chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA-NJ) has awarded Philadelphia-based architectural design firm Ballinger with a Merit Award for its imaginative design of the New Jersey Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, a building that will serve as Rutgers University’s focal point for interdisciplinary collaboration between the school’s departments of food science, nutrition, public policy, pharmacy, exercise science and sport studies, genetics, agriculture and health sciences research.

“At Rutgers University, Ballinger has created an extremely compelling design that sets an example for educational institutions in New Jersey and beyond,” said Kurt Kalafsky, AIA, president of AIA-NJ. “The design of the New Jersey Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health focuses on sustainability, but the sustainable features of the building also elicit joy from an aesthetic perspective. From a human participation point of view, the building is incredibly appealing.”

The New Jersey Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, which not only brings together researchers of many departments, but also serves as a community gathering place through a pre-school, conference areas, labs and community areas, includes wet and dry laboratories, shared instrumentation space, computing facilities, faculty and administrative offices, a computer server room, “smart” lecture halls and classrooms (with smart board technology), and flexible spaces to accommodate the changing needs of the program.

Designed to LEED Gold specifications, the building will be an innovative space that promotes and inspires leading-edge research.

“One of the things that it is very unique about this building is the fact that it is very transparent. In the end, the building will feel very open and very tranquil in a way that will inspire people to relax their mind and think creatively,” said Craig S. Spangler, AIA, Design Principal.

The AIA-NJ Annual Design Awards program recognizes architectural projects that exhibit design excellence in one of four categories: Open (meant for any building type), Residential, Historic Preservation and Interior Architecture. Projects are further designated as either Built or Un-built. To be eligible, projects must be either located in New Jersey or designed by an AIA-NJ architect. Submitted projects are evaluated during the organization’s annual Design Conference by a group of distinguished architects from throughout the country.

About AIA and AIA New Jersey

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is the professional organization that helps architects serve the public’s needs and builds awareness of the role of architects and architecture in American society. The organization, which was founded in 1857, recently celebrated its 150th anniversary. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., its 300 plus local chapters represent 86,000 licensed architects and associated professionals. AIA New Jersey, based in Trenton, is the local chapter of AIA. In 2000, it celebrated its 100th anniversary. AIA New Jersey has about 2,000 members in six regional sections. For more information, please visit www.aia-nj.org.