The recently completed 16th & Market Workforce Affordable Housing received a Merit Award from the 2009 Builder’s Choice Awards as part of their National Design Award Program, hosted by Builder Magazine. The project is the only development in downtown San Diego serving residents earning less than 50 percent of the median income. 16th & Market stood out as the only affordable housing project among a field of custom homes and remodels. JWDA was proud to collaborate with Father Joe’s Villages, a nonprofit developer, to create this modern and spacious complex for families in the lower income bracket.

In September the firm received the Best Restaurant Award at the 2009 Boutique Design Awards in Miami, Florida for its work on the dazzling and arresting Jardin de Jade Restaurant in Shanghai, China. The firm was one of four main category winners and had the privilege of sending the head of JWDA’s Shanghai Branch, Jason Hu, to receive the award on behalf of the team. Earlier this year the project received the AIA-San Diego’s Honor Award for the design of the restaurant. There is no doubt that it will continue to receive attention for its elemental concepts, sleek design, and its adroit fusion of past and present.

Most recently JWDA received California Construction’s (a McGraw Hill publication) Best of 2009 Award for its work on the recently completed Ronald McDonald House, adjacent to Rady’s Children Hospital. The project was awarded Overall Top Project in the Southern California region. The project began as an unusual idea to place the facility above a recently completed parking garage thus ensuring that the bulk of the development cost would go towards the project rather than to land acquisition, a common challenge in Southern California. Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego hired JWDA to design the project and guide it through construction. JWDA was fortunate to work with project manager 4G Development and Consulting Inc. and construction manager Barnhart Inc. to bring the vision of this design to life. The team worked together to ensure that the facility would provide benefits beyond it mission statement by focusing on sustainable design and even garnering LEED certification for the project.

JWDA is honored to be a part of so many community-enriching projects and will continue to strive for excellence in architectural design, interiors, and space planning.