Omni Architects Receives Two AIA KY Awards for Design Excellence
Omni Architects is proud to announce that two of its recent projects have been honored with AIA Kentucky Awards for Design Excellence, recognizing outstanding achievement in architecture across the Commonwealth.
The University of Kentucky Chemistry-Physics Building Renovation received an Honor Award, the highest recognition given by AIA Kentucky. This project represents a comprehensive transformation of one of the university’s most important academic and research facilities. The design revitalized the building’s third-floor research laboratories and replaced the aging building envelope, converting a relic of 1960s postmodern architecture into a modern, efficient, and light-filled environment that fosters collaboration and innovation.
According to the awards jury, “This project breathes new life into a complex building by opening it to the street and transforming its interiors into inviting spaces that foster a vibrant learning and teaching environment. The phased renovation, carried out while the building remained occupied, was a remarkable logistical achievement enabled by close collaboration between the university, architects, and users. This effort not only preserved embodied carbon while extending the building’s life but also exemplified sustainability at its best.”
The Elizabethtown Community and Technical College (ECTC) On-Site Training Center in Glendale, Kentucky, received a Merit Award for its strong architectural clarity and its contribution to workforce education in the Commonwealth. The facility—developed in collaboration with the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) and located adjacent to the Ford BlueOval/SK Battery Park—serves as a hub for advanced manufacturing and technical training. Its flexible, light-filled spaces are designed to adapt to evolving workforce needs and technologies.
The awards jury noted that “This new building on open land is a bright, spacious, and adaptable structure that embodies utilitarian simplicity through a clear expression of its skin and skeleton. Its industrial aesthetic aligns well with its purpose as a place for career training and technological education, making it both functional and visually appropriate.”
“These recognitions are a reflection of the collaborative partnerships that made each project possible,” said Eric Zabilka, AIA, CID, LEED AP, President of Omni Architects. “From our clients at the University of Kentucky and KCTCS to the engineering consultants, contractors, and end users, every participant played a vital role in achieving successful design outcomes that advance education, innovation, and sustainability in Kentucky.”