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EARNED, NOT GIVEN.
The Mortarr Awarrds MMXX celebrate the most inspiring pros and brands in the commercial construction and design industry in 2019. Mortarr Awarrds honor subscribers making waves within the industry, and across the globe through their extraordinary work changing the skyline of the built environment and the digital landscape.
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This isn't one of those award show rackets that charges you to enter or forces you to listen to some presenter drone on about why they're amazing and you're not. You don't even have to fly to a host city and make small talk with strangers.
JAW-DROPPING AWARD
WINNER: The Boat House | Hensley Lamkin Rachel
MOST INSPIRING PROJECT
The epitome of lake living.
The Boat House community is technically an apartment complex but feels more like a waterside resort. The pool alone will have you looking for reasons to relocate to The Colony, Texas. Jump in to see the lakeside development and instantly understand why this project from Hensley Lamkin Rachel is the most inspiring project on Mortarr.
AWARRDS
HEAD-TURNER AWARRD
WINNER: 300 Broadway | DJR Architecture
MOST INSPIRING PHOTO
A double shot of inspo.
After rounds of judging and tie breaker proceedings, these two inspiring project photos were still standing when the dust settled. Lucky for you, now you get to see two of the most inspiring spaces on display across the Mortarr platform. Cheers to DJR Architecture and HNUM: collaborative!
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​300 Broadway in Fargo, ND proves the midwest is as alive and vibrant as ever. We feel electric thanks to DJR Architecture.
SHARP SHOOTER AWARRD
WINNER: Emanuelson-Podas
MOST INSPIRING PORTFOLIO
Not your father’s engineer.
When it comes to project after project of hair rising, spine tingling, giddy with excitement provoking work, Emanuelson-Podas nails it. Enough talk, see it for yourself by checking out just a couple of their 58 projects featured on Mortarr.
HIGH PROFILE AWARRD
WINNER: Barn Light Electric
MOST ENGAGING PROFILE
Love at first light.
From the first impression to the final detail, Barn Light Electric knocks us out. The fascination starts with a snapshot of their eye-catching projects that perfectly showcase unique industrial lighting products, flows out of every word of their profile and even carries through to every single element in their Showroom. Mortarr was made for brands like this. Bravo!
TAG! YOU'RE IT! AWARRD
WINNER: InUnison Design
MOST COLLABORATIVE COMPANY
Getting credit for giving credit.
Talk about earning major Mortarr cred, and some commercial design street cred along with it. InUnison Design does impressive work in their own right and it’s incredible to see the way they show appreciation for the other pros and brands they work with. Go ahead and show them some love for showing the love.
MOST MORTARRIEST AWARRD
WINNER: IMT Insurance | JTH Lighting, Shive-Hattery, The Weitz Company, Heartland, PIGOTT, Fluxwerx, Focal Point, Louis Polsen
TOP COLLABORATIVE PROJECT
All for all.
This project is a text-book example of why Mortarr came to be. When incredible pros like JTH Lighting, Shive-Hattery, The Weitz Company, Heartland, PIGOTT, and brands like Fluxwerx, Focal Point, Louis Polsen come together to bring a dynamic corporate office to life, and you can actually see who did what, it’s glorious. Click in to pick up what we’re putting up.
POLARIS AWARRD
WINNER: Intergis Cancer Institute | Vetter Stone
TOP STARRED PHOTO
Gold stars all around.
The Intergis Cancer Institute features Vetter Stone’s silver shadow Alabama Stone and it sure is a brightly shining star of the Mortarr Platform. Put on some shades and take a look at this captivating project photo to get a taste of stardom.
MARIANO RIVERA AWARRD
WINNER: IMT Insurance Corporate Headquarters | Heartland
MOST SAVED PHOTO
More saves than Hasselhoff.
No sunscreen or slow motion beach run needed. This fascinating project photo from Heartland’s IMT Insurance gallery is just what you need to save yourself from the mundane. Take a closer look to see why everyone saves this photo.
KILLER COATTAILS AWARRD
WINNER: Barn Light Electric
MOST FOLLOWED COMPANY
Leading the path to enlightenment.
It’s no wonder Barn Light Electric attracted the most followers on Mortarr in 2019 with their warehouse style lighting. Big emphasis on style. Their charming products are perfectly characterized within drool-worthy commercial spaces. Give them a look and go ahead and add to their follower count. Why not?
GREENEST AWARRD
WINNER: Tashjian Bee Discovery and Pollinator Center | Loeffler Construction
MOST ECO-FRIENDLY PROJECT/PRODUCT
Generating buzz.
When a project is set to meet National B3 Sustainability Standards, the State of Minnesota Sustainable Building 2030 requirements, is a public education facility that provides year-round learning opportunities about the lives of bees and is stunning to boot, you know you have something special on your hands. Allow us to introduce the Tashjian Bee Discovery and Pollinator Center brought to you by our buzzworthy subscriber, Loeffler Construction.
DO-GOODER AWARRD
WINNER: Dacon
COMMUNITY IMPACT
Making dreams come true. Seriously.
Dacon, which is typically in the business of designing and building corporate facilities, was in the geodesic dome business for awhile. At least for one 11-year-old Massachusetts boy and the Make-A-Wish foundation. The boy’s wish was for a special space that his friends the school community could enjoy. The Dacon team designed, fabricated and constructed the dome which the school uses to help create a feeling of warmth and togetherness in the building. It’s also outfitted with a sweet virtual reality gaming system, too. Mad respect, Dacon. Mad respect.
THE MORTIE AWARRD
WINNER: SIXINCH North America
INDUSTRY INFLUENCER
We’re flying the flag.
The dream team leading the charge at SIXINCH North America has turned the contract furniture world on its head with their unique, collaborative, and experience-driven approach to acoustic panels, seating, tables and more. Out of the box partnerships with Aaron Draplin, Ilthy, and Machine Gun Kelly have only brought more into the fold. Check them out and then buckle up.
CRANE KICK AWARRD
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WINNER: Elizabeth McDonald | University of Idaho
MITC SCHOLARSHIP WINNER | TOP STUDENT PROJECT
Are your sunglasses handy?
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We asked architect and design students across the country to use Mortarr to enhance a current class project, and man, did they deliver. Our finalists submitted projects full of thought, creativity, tons of inspiration, and pure, raw talent. None more so that our winner, Elizabeth McDonald from the University of Idaho. Her Digestive Health Center submission impressed the judges with its high level of thoughtfulness and sophistication. The future is indeed bright.
SOCIALITE AWARRD
WINNER: Concrete Collaborative
BEST SOCIAL PRESENCE
Likeable, lovable, concrete.
Making the world fall in love with concrete sounds like a tall challenge on the surface. Good thing Concrete Collaborative digs deep, way deep, to create visually interesting and emotionally compelling content focused on the beauty, durability, and utility of their product. Take their scroll for a stroll.
POWERFUL PIXELS AWARRD
WINNER: Modernus
BEST WEBSITE
Conquering the divide.
Modernus.com feels so open and spacious yet is so perfectly partitioned. This site brings the visual beauty of it’s architectural partitions to life in the digital world. Somehow they make you feel open and closed all at the same time. Bravo to Modernus and creative agency Blend on creating a safe space for all of us.
LEGENDARY LOGO AWARRD
WINNER: PIGOTT
BEST LOGO
I’d wear that.
If you’d put it on a hat and actually wear it, that’s the mark of a truly stellar brand identity. PIGOTT has a distinctive logo. It’s simple yet has substance. It’s approachable yet sturdy. And the bold color communicates the vibrancy they breath into the corporate cultures they serve.
DAN WIEDEN AWARRD
WINNER: Campfire & Co
TOP OVERALL BRANDING
Plays with matches.
It’s not a surprise that a hybrid marketing and interior design agency would take home the top spot as the master of branding and marketing across all mediums. They have style and substance at every turn. From their flawless social presence to their playful website. Even their logo is simply soulful. Get your trapper keeper out and take some notes.
PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARRD
WINNER: GlassArt Design | Nye’s Bar
MOST ENGAGING SOCIAL PHOTO
Survey says: Nye.
The social networks of the interwebs have spoken and they’ve chosen this funky project shot of Nye’s Bar from the project gallery of GlassArt Design. So much love for all the right reasons from the pattern on the antique mirror to the high back leather stools. Pour a tall one and take a gander at this fan favorite.
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Photo by Lava Submarine
JUDGES
We set out to assemble a panel of judges unlike the world has ever seen. Queue the music. Like any good team-building scene, we music montaged our way through an action sequence and recruited some of the brightest minds in commercial design, marketing, and photography to help give credit where credit is due. Meet the team that'll save the world from mediocrity.
JUDGES
Alexandra is the Associate Director of Materials at the International Living Future Institute, overseeing strategic technical development of the Declare and Living Product Challenge standards and industry harmonization efforts. She also leads a group of leading manufacturers called the Living Product 50 as well as efforts to engage the entire building industry value chain around the business case for sustainability.
Alexandra Muller MMXX Judge
Elizabeth is the design & brand strategy principal at HDR. A seasoned design leader with professional experience across multiple industries, she leads the architecture firm’s efforts to advance a holistic approach to design, embracing not only the built form, but branding, curation and the development of user experience from every angle.
Beth writes about a wide range of topics related to the flooring industry — architecture and design, floor- and wall-covering products, trends and technology. Additionally, she designs online content for the various social media platforms.
As Creative Director at RSP Architects, Jackie is responsible for building the firm’s national brand and reputation, which requires a mix of promotion and storytelling. Her team handles both internal and external communication efforts across RSP’s 5 offices, 350 employees and multiple markets.
Lily is the senior material expert at Material Bank, the world’s largest architectural and design-focused material resource library. After studying art history, Lily worked in product development for some of the most recognizable brands in the home furnishings industry including Williams-Sonoma and Tiffany & Co. Parlaying her passion for product, design, and the built environment, she joined ICRAVE, a dynamic interior and experience design firm in New York City, as a material and resource specialist. There she was a BETA tester for Material Bank and she realized, “there was no better way to engage with the design community on a grand scale.” After more than 6 years at ICRAVE, she joined Material Bank in February, 2019.
Tadd is a renowned commercial photographer specializing in advertising photography for brands including Apple, Chevrolet, Titelist, Wild Turkey, and New Balance. Named one of ARCHIVE Magazine's Top Photographers Worldwide, there's no question he knows how to capture and evaluate images that tell a story.
Van founded Superhuman because he wanted to create an agency where great people produced great work. He believes groundbreaking work happens when we’re just as passionate and invested in our clients’ business and goals as they are.
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