KTGY Group Architecture + Planning & Country’s Top Builders/Developers Earn National Recognition for Successful Single Family & Multifamily Communities

Green/Sustainable Community, Mixed-use, Urban infill, Transit Oriented Development, Senior & Student Housing, and On the Boards are among Gold Nugget Merit Awards.

IRVINE, CA – June 19, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture + Planning, and some of this country’s top builders/developers have earned 15 Awards of Merit in the 2012 Gold Nugget Award design and planning competition. The awards honor KTGY’s outstanding commitment to research, and knowing and understanding the end-user — both buyers and renters — to create successful projects. The winning projects feature both single-family detached, townhomes and multifamily developments encompassing sustainable communities, mixed-use, urban infill, transit-oriented developments, and senior and campus housing. Grand Award winners will emerge from the Award of Merit circle, and all award winners will be celebrated at the Gold Nugget Awards Luncheon at PCBC on Thursday, June 28, 2012, at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco.

In Utah, TerraSol in South Salt Lake, a pioneering 60-unit urban infill development near downtown Salt Lake City, received a Gold Nugget Award of Merit in two categories:  Green Sustainable Residential Community and Single Family Detached Home – under 1,700 sq. ft. In South Jordan, Utah, The Solaris Collection at Daybreak received a Gold Nugget Award of Merit in two categories: Residential Project of the Year – Detached Product and Single Family Detached Home – 1,700 to 2,500 sq. ft.

Built by Garbett Homes and designed by KTGY, both TerraSol and Solaris are high density single-family homes for cost-conscious, eco-minded buyers and include Solar PVT (Photovoltaic Thermal) panels, Geothermal heating and cooling, and a super-tight energy-efficient building envelope with HERS ratings under 40 in a Climate Zone 5. The homes’ eclectic quasi-modern exteriors with fiber-cement siding used in unique ways not seen before in this market and a vibrant color palette add to the overall unique appeal.

Solaris also received a Merit Award in the 2012 Residential Architect Design Award competition. Architects from around the globe submitted their best work from the past five years and six judges spent two difficult days pouring over nearly 800 entries, in the end awarding 36 winning projects. Out of those 36 winners, one was chosen as the Project of the Year, only four were given Grand awards, and 31 received Merit awards.

“We have struck gold with fresh, modern, high-density single-family home designs from KTGY – wrapped in a super-green solar and geothermal standard feature package and high tech interiors at an attainable price for first-time buyers, empty nesters and just about everyone in-between. We can’t build these homes fast enough,” said Garbett Homes Marketing Director Rene Oehlerking. “Our buyers are really looking for something different in a sea of uninspiring brown French Country stucco boxes built without any consideration of energy efficiency or renewable energy generation.”

An innovative single-family residential project, R&D 35×50 Lots Conceptual, designed by KTGY earned a Gold Nugget Award of Merit in the category of On the Boards Single Family Detached. The 69-unit proposed project targets the majority of consumers desiring to purchase single-family detached over attached housing who appreciate contemporary, sustainable design, flexible open floor plans, which capitalize on indoor/outdoor living and want unparalleled access to recreation, shopping, dining, entertainment, education, employment and transit.

Primera Terra, a landmark LEED Platinum certified project in Playa Vista (Los Angeles County), one of the largest in California, received a Gold Nugget Award of Merit in two categories: Residential Project of the Year – Attached Product in an Urban Setting and Multi-Family Housing Project – 30 to 50 du/acre (For Sale or Rent). Built by KB Home (NYSE: KBH), Primera Terra is an innovative redesign solution by KTGY comprising of 52 luxury for-sale condominium homes located in the Playa Vista master planned community in Los Angeles County and is 40% more energy efficient than the new home standards set by the state of California. Primera Terra recently was honored with a Best in American Living Award (BALA) Platinum award in the category of Neighborhood Design; the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED for Homes award in the Multifamily category; and  ENR California Magazine’s Best Multifamily Residential Project Award.

Via, an upscale, GreenPoint Rated, transit-oriented, mixed-use community in Sunnyvale, Calif., which seamlessly blends a grocery-anchored shopping center with 284 luxury apartments, received a Gold Nugget Award of Merit in two categories: Mixed Use Project and Multi-Family Housing Project – 30 to 50 du/acre (For Sale or Rent). Essex Property Trust (NYSE: ESS) is the developer/owner. ZCON Builders was the general contractor. KTGY was the architect/designer. Community amenities include a resort-style pool and spa, wireless internet, cyber café, fitness center, resident clubroom, bocce ball court, putting green, outdoor kitchen and fire pits, Zen-styled courtyards, and a dog walk.

Also, in Sunnyvale, Calif., Fusion, a 228-unit eco-friendly townhome community in Silicon Valley’s thriving tech industry, received a Gold Nugget Award of Merit in the Multi-Family Housing Project – 15 to 30 du/acre (For Sale or Rent) category. Originally designed by another builder for a different market in stronger economy, this vibrant community built by O’Brien Homes was redesigned by KTGY for young, tech-savvy buyers offers and provides a host of outstanding amenities. Its interiors are smart and feature flexible floor plans with rooms suitable for home offices, guests or roommates. Fusion is the recipient of a NAHB BALA Silver Award in the category of Multifamily Housing up to 5 Stories and two MAME Awards: Best Architectural Design – Plan 7 and Community of the Year.

“Silicon Valley buyers are looking for homes that have open and flexible floor plans. They want green features and outdoor living space,” said Susie O. Frimel, marketing director for Fusion. “We are thrilled with the response we are receiving from the market and it’s an honor to be recognized by our industry peers.”

In the Affordable Project – 15 to 30 du/acre category, Doria Apartment Homes in Irvine, Calif. and Bonterra Apartment Homes in Brea, Calif., garnered a Gold Nugget Award of Merit. Both projects were developed by Jamboree Housing Corporation and designed by KTGY.

Doria Apartment Homes, which was built by Wermers Multi-Family Corp., provides high-quality workforce housing to 60 families; 10 homes are set aside for residents who receive services through the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA). Completed in less than 10 months, the Spanish Colonial-style  architecture integrates seamlessly with the aesthetic fabric of the surrounding Stonegate community of Irvine. The two- and three-story garden-style buildings are arranged around a central courtyard.

Bonterra Apartment Homes, which was designed to achieve LEED Silver rating, provides high-quality workforce housing and consists of 94 garden-style 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom apartment homes within the new Blackstone master-planned community. The new property, which exceeds Title 24 energy-efficiency standards by 25%, encompasses seven three-story buildings arranged around central courtyards and are linked by tree-lined pedestrian friendly landscaped walks. Advent Companies was the general contractor.

In Los Angeles, Angelus Plaza, an affordable for-rent senior apartment complex with 1,093 units within four high-rise residential towers, received a Gold Nugget Award of Merit in the Renovated or Restored Residential Project category. Angelus Plaza was developed by Retirement Housing Foundation. Valley Commercial Contractors was the general contractor and KTGY was the architect/designer.

Dana Strand Apartment Homes, an affordable high quality 100-unit senior apartment community in Los Angeles, was honored with a Gold Nugget Award of Merit in the Seniors Housing Community – Age Qualified AFFORDABLE category. Dana Strand was developed by ROEM Development Corporation, built by ROEM Builders and designed by KTGY.

Santa Clara University Villas, an eco-friendly residential community, designed by KTGY and developed and built by The Sobrato Organization, received a Gold Nugget Award of Merit in the Infill, Re-development or Rehab Site Plan – up to 5 Acres category. Located in Santa Clara and San Jose, Calif., Santa Clara University Villas provides 400 beds for the University’s junior and senior students.

The oldest and largest program of its kind—now in its 49th year—the Gold Nugget Awards honor creative achievements in architectural design and land use planning for residential, commercial and industrial projects. Drawing more than 400 entries from the 14 western states and internationally, the Gold Nugget Awards program is the premier event of the annual PCBC, the nation’s largest regional trade show and conference. See www.goldnuggetawards.com.

About KTGY Group
Celebrating 20 years, KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture and Planning, provides comprehensive planning and award-winning architectural design services for residential communities, retail, hospitality, mixed-use and related specialty developments. KTGY delivers innovative solutions that reflect clear understanding of development, market trends and financial performance and takes particular pride in its highly motivated and principal led studios. Serving clients worldwide, KTGY maintains offices in Irvine, Oakland and Santa Monica, Calif., Denver, Colo., and Tysons Corner, Va. See www.ktgy.com.