Winning Design Created by Farr Associates of Chicago

Alys Beach, Florida – (November 28, 2007) – A beautiful new courtyard home in Alys Beach captured a major category in this year's "American Institute of Architects/Chicago Design Awards" program. Designed by Doug Farr of Chicago's Farr Associates, the 2,400 square-foot home received the AIA Chicago Design Excellence Award for Environmental Sustainability.

"We're extremely honored to receive this prestigious award," said Doug Farr of Farr Associates, a Chicago-based architecture firm. "Alys Beach is truly on the forefront of marrying uncompromising architectural beauty with environmental responsibility, and we’re proud that our home is helping to bring much-deserved recognition to such a unique new resort town."

According to the award presented at AIA Chicago's 52nd Annual Awards Banquet, "the architect used several techniques to maximize the structures' energy efficiency, ultimately attaining energy use that is 71 percent below code. Green features like the shaded arcade, central courtyard, geothermal heating and cooling, insulated concrete walls and even a shaded outdoor kitchen combine to give the home a languid comfort that enhances enjoyment of the setting." Jurors dubbed the Farr Associates home "great design."

"Farr Associates really went the extra mile on this home design, especially with regard to sustainability," said Christian Wagley, Alys Beach's Environmental Program Manager. "From placing terrace windows to dramatically reduce the need for artificial lighting, to utilizing a concealed 4.8 kW solar photovoltaic system, to incorporating reclaimed red gum wood floors from a barn in the Midwest so that no new trees were cut, Doug thought of everything."

Farr and his home design were honored on October 26th at an awards banquet in Chicago. In addition to the award, Farr's design will also be featured in Chicago Architect, a magazine which reaches over 4,000 architecture, development and design professionals. The award-winning Alys Beach home was also recently profiled in The New York Times Magazine.

"I believe that creating a built environment that exists in harmony with nature creates the kind of magic that will make Alys Beach one of those rare and exceptional places," said Jason Comer, Alys Beach's Town Founder. "Doug Farr's winning home design exemplifies this simple philosophy."

ABOUT FARR ASSOCIATES

Farr Associates (www.farrside.com), identified by The New York Times as "the most prominent of the city's growing cadre of ecologically sensitive architects" and by The Chicago Tribune as "a leader in the anti-sprawl movement," is widely regarded as one of the most sustainable planning and architecture firms in the country. Located in the historic Monadnock Building in Chicago's Loop, Farr Associates' planners and architects work in integrated design teams to create the most client benefit for the least cost.

Farr Associates is led by three dynamic and accomplished individuals. President Doug Farr sets the firm's strategic direction; Leslie Oberholtzer, Director of Planning, focuses on form-based codes as well as corridor, neighborhood and station area master planning; and Jonathan Boyer, Director of Architecture, oversees the architecture studio, which holds the unique distinction of being the first in the world to have designed three LEED Platinum-rated buildings.