For 19 years, Idaho Business Review (IBR) has worked with industry leaders to recognize and honor the developers, contractors, and stakeholders creating innovative construction projects from around the Gem State — specifically, those that overcame challenges during construction to produce high-quality results and services while adhering to budget and time constraints. They also provide a chance for the public to voice their own opinion on the most impactful construction project with the inclusion of the People’s Choice Award. The architects and engineers of Boise-based design firm, CSHQA, celebrated wins across three different categories at this year’s IBR Top Projects Award: 2nd in Public Building, 2nd in Renovation, and the People’s Choice Award.
To qualify as a finalist for the awards, projects must meet several conditions. First, the project must be built in Idaho and have been completed between June 1, 2022, and May 31, 2023. Second, the project building costs must be valued at $1 million or more in construction costs, not including the land or additional expenses. Lastly, while there isn’t a limit to how many submissions a firm can enter, it must fit into one of the award categories.
Meridian Library at Orchard Park – Public Building
The Orchard Park branch of the Meridian Library spans a 15,000-square-foot space within Orchard Park, an approximately 80-acre mixed-use development in Meridian, Idaho. This beautiful building was designed according to a modern farmhouse/barn aesthetic to showcase the agricultural history of Meridian. The entire site was designed to accommodate ADA considerations and provide maximum accessibility to all community members; the space includes accessible heights, soft material selections, a sensory space, an interactive learning lab, and more.
CSHQA architects focused on exterior upgrades while the engineering team completed the overall scope of civil, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) engineering.
The Warehouse – Renovation
The almost 30,000-SF Warehouse Food Hall in the BoDo District is an exciting new destination in Downtown Boise and features twelve eateries, two retail spaces and two bars, a common and outdoor patio seating area, and other amenities. The designers at CSHQA provided architectural and civil, mechanical (HVAC and plumbing), and electrical engineering services for the remodel of this dynamic, one-of-a-kind space.
The Warehouse Food Hall — the first in Boise and one of the few in the state — provides a lively and welcoming interior and exterior space for visitors. The redevelopment of the site paid special attention to the pedestrian experience and the building’s interaction with the streetscape; offering opportunities for vibrant outdoor spaces and providing large openings to increase foot traffic. This project was the catalyst in the redevelopment of the existing city block, which includes the BoDo Cinema and Treefort Music Hall.
The ambitious mixed-use project transformed an existing structure from the outside in and preserved the historical character of Downtown Boise’s lively commercial district. Improvements were made to the building’s façade and shell, most of the core was demolished and rebuilt, and numerous improvements were made for over a dozen tenants, along with remodeling an adjacent movie theater.
CSHQA’s Jim Marsh was the Architect Principal on both projects. “We’re very honored to be recognized for our work on these two exciting projects, and to have had the opportunity to work with such wonderful clients and creative partners,” he said.