WARROAD, MN  -- Marvin Windows and Doors named winners of its seventh Architects Challenge, for the first time judging by category:  Best Contemporary Project, Best Transitional Project, Best Traditional New Construction Project, Best Remodel/Addition, Best Commercial Project, and Best in Show, from among 150 entrants.

"This year, the winners include everything from a lakeside mansion to a downtown commercial revival," said Christine Marvin, director of marketing. "This year's winners showcase the depth and breadth of our products and how they can be integrated in a wide variety of architectural projects and styles. I am blown away by the projects submitted each year."

Winners of the 2015 Architects Challenge were chosen by a panel of architectural experts, including Donald W. Powers, AIA, LEED AP, CNU, Founding Principal of Union Studio Architecture & Community Design; Adele Chang, AIA, Principal at Lim Chang Rohling & Associates, Inc.; and Stephen Muse, FAIA, Senior Principal of Muse Architects. Winning projects were chosen based on architectural excellence, creative design and use of Marvin products.

"As an architect, it is very rewarding to be able to see the care and detail that others in my field put into their projects.said judge Adele Chang, AIA of Lim Change Rohling & Associates.  It was a tough choice at times, but we believe all the winners show the best of their genres."

This year's Architects Challenge winners are:

    BEST IN SHOW: Healdsburg Residence in Healdsburg, Calif., designed by Nick Noyes of Nick Noyes Architecture: This single-family residence is composed of four iconic metal-roofed gabled wings that are connected by an open breezeway and transparent entry and passage zones fabricated from a steel window-and-door system. The employment of passive and active solar strategies, along with the use of salvaged wood and sustainable products such as composite siding, metal roofing and Marvin clad windows and doors, combine to create a maintenance-free exterior and an environmentally responsible building.

   BEST CONTEMPORARY: Russian River Studio in Forestville, Calif., designed by Cathy Schwabe of Cathy Schwabe Architects: Designed for a photographer and a writer as a multipurpose space for painting, drawing, writing, photography, hosting small workshops, and overflow guests, this 864-square-foot building with porch and terraced extensions frames the top of the hill above a small existing dwelling. Large, colorful wall panels at the interior serve as accents for the otherwise white walls, and open to reveal workspaces. Two work areas borrow light and space from the main room. Light in the main studio space is brought in from windows and doors on all four sides, as well as through skylights. Options, performance and beauty all played a major part in Marvin Window and Door products being selected for the project.

     BEST TRANSITIONAL PROJECT: Minnetonka Masterpiece on Lake Minnetonka in Minn., designed by Mark Larson of Rehkamp Larson Architects: This all-new Lake Minnetonka home is both grand and comfortable. Facing Brown's Bay, a continuous wall of glass looks out over the water while connecting all the public spaces of the home from end to end. Rich wooden texture adds to the cozy exterior feel, while expansive views of the rolling yard open up the interior. An art gallery within the large, ground-level hallway acts as the main spine of the home. Marvin made the continuous wall of windows possible, providing an ever-present view of the lake and surrounding site.

BEST TRADITIONAL NEW CONSTRUCTION: Green Hills Residence in Nashville, designed by Michael Ward and Tyler LeMarinel of Allard Ward Architects: This Nashville, Tenn., home is a modern interpretation of an English country house. The design strived to create a home with a sense of transparency, offering great views and ample natural light. On the exterior, simple rooflines, masonry details, and windows make for a contemporary look reminiscent of an English county house. Inside, the open floor plan and Marvin Ultimate Casement windows pull natural light all the way to the center of the home.

    BEST REMODEL/ADDITION: Adirondack Camp in Indian Lake, N.Y., designed by Jacob Albert of Albert, Righter & Tittman Architects, Inc.: With a homeowner who has professional experience as a historian and an education in architecture, this renovated cabin was a truly unique expression of Adirondack design. Taking care to avoid certain cliches and ornamentation, the finished product begs for a closer look into detail. The lake views of this home are stunning, and new windows allowed the homeowner to honor the spirit of the old cabin while providing a more expansive interior. Clad windows from Marvin blended seamlessly with the vibrant color scheme of the original wood windows and trim, preserving timeless details throughout.
    

BEST COMMERCIAL: The Loretta Building in Fargo, N.D., designed by Lee Dobrinz of JLG Architects: Situated in downtown Fargo, the Loretta Building was once an easily overlooked remnant of days gone by. Now, 100 years after its original construction, the building has become one of the downtown's most vibrant centers of commerce. By using new materials and some existing resources in the renovation, the designers were able to combine the character of yesterday with furnishings that suit modern tastes. Marvin windows recreated the original character with a more efficient design that improved air filtration, reduced heat loss, and increased energy savings. It's clear to see that the Loretta Building has truly been revitalized to become a pillar of historic Broadway Street.
   

HONORABLE MENTION: Forest Hills Restoration in Newark, N.J., designed by Jennifer Palermo of Palermo Edwards Architecture
    HONORABLE MENTION: Madeline Island Retreat on Madeline Island, Wis., designed by Christine Albertsson of Albertsson Hansen
    HONORABLE MENTION: Chatham Gambrel in Cape Cod, Mass., designed by Patrick Ahearn Architect
    HONORABLE MENTION: Great Camp Lake Retreat in Guntersville, Ala., designed by Paul Matheny of Matheny Goldmon

In addition to the judged projects, the public also participated in the 2015 Architects Challenge Showdown. Over several rounds, participants voted for their favorite project, leaving one victor: The Villa Renewed in St. Paul, Minn. Mark Nelson of Davide Heide Design Studio served as the home's architect, reviving an old duplex with modern amenities. Because of its location in a historic district, certain design elements needed to be met, including replacing the original windows with Marvin products to meet exacting federal standards and guidelines for preservation and rehabilitation. While the renovated house still retains its historic character and integrity, it also features new rainwater collection, geothermal heating and cooling systems, and a modern building envelope. Advanced materials, closed-cell spray foam insulation, and energy-efficient Marvin windows helped to complete the renovation along LEED Silver guidelines.

www.marvin.com/ArchitectsChallenge

A premier manufacturer of made-to-order wood and clad wood windows and doors, Marvin offers the industry's most extensive selection of shapes, styles, sizes and options to fit the diverse needs of builders and match the personalities of homeowners. Marvin's tradition of delivering the finest craftsmanship in windows and doors began in Warroad, Minn., a small town just six miles from the Canadian border, where the privately-held, family-owned and operated company is still headquartered today.