AIA JERSEY SHORE SERVICE AWARDS

July 20, 2012

SUPPORTERS OF GREAT ARCHITECTURE
HONORED AT AIA JERSEY SHORE SERVICE AWARDS DINNER

AIA Jersey Shore held its annual Service Awards event at the Robert Meyner Reception Center at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel on Wednesday, June 27, 2012. The annual event celebrates the achievements of exceptional individuals and firms, throughout Monmouth and Ocean Counties, that have made significant contributions to the architectural profession and community through design excellence, dedication and making a positive impact on the built environment. The event included an exhibit of student work from the graduating class of the Brookdale Community College School of Architecture. Participating students included Nicholas Barone, Jennifer Brzozowski, Frank Costantini, Sophia Faheem, Ankenny Hernandez, Eric Pier and Kelly Semple.

Left to right: Rafael Da Silva AIA (Vice President/Service Awards Chair), Stephen Carlidge AIA (Distinguished Service Award), April Horvath AIA (Young Architect of the Year), Chanta Jackson (Resident of the Year), Frank Tomaino AIA, Alysa Antonis (Intern of the Year), Michael Millemann AIA (Firm of the Year), Richard Tokarski AIA (Architect of the Year), Malcolm Burton AIA (President), Craig Brearley (President Elect)

Left to right: Malcolm Burton AIA (President), Eric Pier, Nicholas Barone, Frank Costantini, Kelly Semple, Ankenny Hernandez, Sophia Faheem, Jennifer Brzozowski, Rafael Da Silva AIA (Vice President/Service Awards Chair), Craig Brearley AIA (President Elect)

Distinguished Service Award – Stephen J. Carlidge, AIA of Ocean Grove

Steve has provided many years of service to the AIA. He has served as President and Past President of AIA Jersey Shore. At AIA New Jersey he has served various leadership roles including President in 2006. He chaired the AIA NJ Legislative & Government Affairs Committee from 2006-2011 and remains an active committee member. He also chairs the AIA New Jersey annual Design Day Conference, wherein he is responsible for the program, guest speakers and the jury for the Annual Design Awards. His dedication earned him the AIA NJ Architect of the Year Award in 2004 and AIA Jersey Shore Firm of the Year Award in 2005.

Additional community activities include serving for nearly a decade on the State Board of the March of Dimes of NJ, assisting Interfaith Neighbors Inc. – a local non-profit providing meals, mortgage assistance and constructing affordable housing for less fortunate residents of Monmouth County’s urban centers, and as a member of the Professional Advisory Board at his alma mater, Virginia Tech, where he and his board colleagues provide guidance to the faculty relative to the needs of the profession with respect to the education of the next generation of architects.

Steve’s 32 year career includes positions at Kellenyi Associates; Grad Associates where he directed projects including the Otto York Center for Environmental Engineering at NJIT and the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Courthouse; Vitetta where as a Principal of the firm he headed up the Educational Facility Design Studio; Hall Construction Company where he directed the construction of the Wildwood Convention Center; and ultimately founding his own practice, Shore Point Architecture, in 2002 where he provides services for a variety of projects ranging from public schools, small to moderate sized commercial facilities, and varying types of residential projects.

Firm of the Year – Tokarski + Millemann Architects LLC of Brick

“We endeavor to produce inspirational architecture through creative design, quality work and interactive relationships with our clients. Striving always to uphold the core principals of truth and integrity, we passionately work on the ephemeral while focusing on the eternal.” This is the mission of Tokarski Millemann Architects, originally founded in 2000 as a sole proprietorship by Richard Tokarski, who later partnered with Michael Millemann.

Their specialty is diversity, believe that in becoming experts in Architecture and the lessons learned from one building type to another enriches the next building. Their body of work includes K-12 schools both public and private, universities, churches, retail, restaurants, offices, municipal, and custom residential projects. One noteworthy project is The Hope Center in Jersey City, a faith based organization which ministers to inner city kids through the visual and performing arts. An existing 10,000 sf bus repair garage was adaptively reused and transformed into a multi-purpose auditorium which also serves as an art gallery during the week, a café, dance studio, classrooms and offices.

The firm’s commitment to the Profession includes AIA participation, intern mentorship and public awareness. Each partner has served as an AIA Jersey Shore Trustee, and currently co-chair the AIA Jersey Shore Codes Committee. Mike participated in AIA150’s program to present “AIA’s Ten Principles of Community Living” to elementary school children in Keyport’s Central School. Rick has represented “The Architect” for numerous occupational career days at The Academy of Grace and Peace in Toms River. In addition, each partner has received the AIA Jersey Shore Young Architect of the Year Award.

Architect of the Year – Richard P. Tokarski, Jr., AIA of Brick

Rick credits his interest in Architecture to his Uncle Joe, an avid painter and musician who always made time to teach Rick how to draw. As a child, he loved to draw all the time, and his parents fostered this interest by getting him a classic wood and iron drafting table which now resides in his office. Rick received his degree from The NJ Institute of Technology in 1992. Having enriched his knowledge and experience at various firms, Rick took a leap of faith in 2000 and opened his own practice. The firm began with a 15,000 sf addition to the Church of Grace and Peace in Toms River, and now 12 years later has a new name with the addition of Rick’s partner Mike and is providing services for numerous building types in 3 different states.

Rick believes in giving back to the profession as well as the community. He regularly provides pro-bono services and volunteers his time for non-profit community organizations throughout the state. He has served leadership roles in various Chambers of Commerce, as a school board member for The Academy of Grace and Peace, a marriage life ministry team leader at his church, and advisory board member for Community Compass to name but a few. He is also an active member of various professional organizations including the AIA. He has served on the AIA New Jersey Design Build Commission. For AIA Jersey Shore, he has served a 3 year term as Trustee and is currently co-chair of the Codes Committee. Rick’s dedication to the profession led to him receiving the AIA Jersey Shore Young Architect of the Year Award in 2006.

Young Architect of the Year – April M. Horvath, AIA of Ocean Grove

April graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2001 with a Masters of Architecture. Due to her strong interest in Urban Planning, she based her thesis on revitalizing the oceanfront in Asbury Park.

In 2005, April joined Shore Point Architecture and has quickly risen through the ranks to the position of Project Manager. One noteworthy project led by April is the Springwood Center in Asbury Park. This 27,000 sf mixed-use building is a collaboration between the City of Asbury Park and developer Interfaith Neighbors, and is the first new commercial space to be built on Springwood Avenue since the historic commercial and jazz club corridor burned to the ground during the civil unrest of 1970. By all accounts including those of client, contractor and colleagues, April has demonstrated knowledge, skills and dedication beyond what is expected of someone her age.

Her contribution to the redevelopment of Asbury Park is a unique and exciting chance to bring what she initially explored as a graduate thesis into her professional practice.

Intern of the Year – Alysa Antonis of Millstone

Alysa is a second year student at Philadelphia University’s School of Architecture. She has been an intern for The Architect’s Studio in Ocean Grove. During her internship, Alysa discovered a strong interest and appreciation for Historic Preservation. It soon became the focus of her studies and she now majors in Historic Preservation at Philadelphia University. As part of her internship, Alysa has also attended AIA meetings, seminars and various local Economic Development Committee meetings.

In addition to her Architectural endeavors, Alysa regularly gives of her time and energy to various community service programs. A few recent programs include Philadelphia University’s “Day of Service” – a landscape restoration and clean-up initiative program at the Philadelphia Zoo; “Footgear for those in Need” – a program for the collection and distribution of donated footgear and shoes for underprivileged students and children in need; and a “Rescue Animals Home Placement” service effort for a Monmouth County Animal Shelter.

Resident of the Year – Chanta L. Jackson of Second Baptist Church in Long Branch

Chanta served as volunteer Project Manager for the 10,000 sf expansion of the Second Baptist Church in Long Branch. The architect, Frank Tomaino AIA of DIGroup Architecture said “Ms. Jackson provided invaluable leadership to the church administration and congregation. She attended every building committee meeting as well as all construction meetings. Her constant determination willed the project to completion.”

By all accounts, this was a very difficult project. It was ambitious in scope and fraught with unforeseen conditions including a general contractor default and a faltering economy. Construction began at the end of 2007 and we all know what happened in 2008. But through it all, Chanta’s leadership kept the project moving forward. The contractor who completed the project said “We could not have brought this project to a successful completion without her help. Her dedication and long hours to this project made this outcome possible.” Her efforts have impacted the surrounding community and Councilwoman Mary Jane Celli’s opinion of the church’s renovation is “It is a pillar in the community and we need this sanctuary in the city to bring more people together to worship in a wonderful place. It is a mainstay in Long Branch.

In addition to her community service, Chanta is the Multimedia Publishing Manager at The Star Ledger and formerly worked at the Asbury Park Press. She has earned various professional awards throughout her career and holds leadership positions in many local professional and community organizations.

About AIA

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 Jersey Shore is the local section of AIA and represents 200 architects throughout Monmouth and Ocean Counties.

By admin | Posted in AIA-NJ News, Architecture in NJ, Members & the Community, Uncategorized | Tagged: AIA Jersey Shore, Alysa Antonis, Ankenny Hernandez, April M. Horvath, Brookdale Community College School of Architecture, Chanta L. Jackson, Distinguished Service Award, Eric Pier, Firm of the Year, Frank Costantini, Intern Architect of the Year, Jennifer Brzozowski, Kelly Semple, Nicholas Barone, PNC Bank Arts Center, Resident of the Year, Richard Tokarski Jr, Robert Meyner Reception Center, Second Baptist Church, Service Awards, Sophia Faheem, Steven J. Carlidge, Tokarski + Millenium Architects, Young Architect of the Year | Comments (0)