Southland Builders and Designers Win Half of the Gold Nugget Awards

SAN FRANCISCO â€”  Southland home builders and architects were the big winners in the design competition at this year’s Pacific Coast Builders Conference, the annual convention that brings together developers and related professionals from California and 13 other Western states.

Builders and designers based in Southern California picked up more than half the top prizes in the contest, including all three of the prestigious “home of the year� awards and both of the top honors for building affordable housing.

Two Rodeo Drive, a new retail complex in Beverly Hills, was named commercial project of the year. And Ruby’s Diner, a new restaurant in Laguna Beach, was given a special judges’ award for its innovative design.

The Gold Nuggets are to Western builders what Oscars are to actors. They were handed out at the opening of the 33rd annual gathering, which concluded at the Moscone Convention Center here Saturday.

If tradition holds true, the design elements of many winning entries will soon crop up in housing tracts across the United States.

That’s because many architects and developers in other parts of the country look to Western builders and designers for inspiration when they’re planning projects of their own.

“The winners will help to set the trends that will whet the appetites of architects, builders and home buyers across the nation,� said Manny Schatz, a California builder and chairman of the awards committee.

The award for the best detached home on a conventional-sized lot--a parcel that’s at least 4,500 square feet--went to Hillcrest Meadows, a 44-unit development in Rolling Hills Estates. The winning model has three bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths and 2,452 square feet of living space.

The master bedroom suite takes up the entire top floor of the two-story home, which sells for about $740,000.

Hillcrest Meadows is being built by Cal-Coast Development and Peninsula High Associates of Los Angeles. The architect is Santa Monica-based Randy Washington Co.

The award for the best detached home on a small lot went to Promenade at Foothill Ranch, a 118-unit complex being built by J. M. Peters Co. in south Orange County. The winning model has two bedrooms, two baths and an interior balcony that overlooks the living and dining areas. Prices range from $215,000 to $260,000.

Putting the 1,465-square-foot home on a small lot--about 3,600 square feet--posed some special problems for Dorius Architects, the firm that designed the homes. So the architects used a “zero-lot line� plan to make the parcels seem larger.

In a Z-lot development, one side of the home is typically placed directly on the property line. This eliminates the narrow side yards created when a home is placed in the middle of a lot and transfers that space to the yard surrounding the rest of the house.

“This gives you a lot more usable yard space and makes the lot look a lot bigger,� said architect Kermit Dorius.

San Diego-based Davidson Communities won the prize for the attached home of the year for one of its floor plans at Casabella, a 108-unit development in the master-planned community of Renaissance-La Jolla. The winning townhome has four bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths in about 2,719 square feet.

The home has several amenities not usually found in a townhouse, including a 20-foot-high ceiling in the living room, a spiral wood staircase and three fireplaces. The architect is Lorimer-Case of San Diego. Prices start at $488,000.

Two developers who have mastered the art of building “affordable� homes in the pricey Southland market also fared well in this year’s Gold Nugget competition.

Upland-based INCO Homes picked up top honors in the best affordable housing development category for American Traditions, a 305-unit community in the San Bernardino County town of Adelanto.

The four floor plans in the project have two to four bedrooms, two baths and 1,047 to 1,675 square feet.

Berkus Group Architects of Santa Barbara designed American Traditions, which judges praised for its “imaginative yet practical� floor plans. Sales at the complex continue, with prices ranging from $79,990 to $99,990.

Tijeras Creek Villas, a 343-unit condominium complex in Orange County’s master-planned community of Rancho Santa Margarita, was named the best affordable attached development.

The four plans offered at Tijeras Creek have one or two bedrooms and range from 685 to 1,170 square feet. Many have golf-course views.

The complex was designed by Architects Orange and built by San Juan Group, both of which are headquartered in Orange County. Prices for most units range from $102,990 to $145,000.

Two Rodeo Drive, the Beverly Hills shopping center that was named commercial project of the year, is on the corner of Rodeo Drive and Wilshire Boulevard. It consists of a half-dozen stores fronting Rodeo plus a curved, shop-lined cobblestone street that slopes up and away from the drive.

The 136,000-square-foot complex is home to some of the world’s most famous retailers, including Tiffany, Cartier and Christian Dior. One architectural critic dubbed it a “veritable one-stop shop for the Rolls-Royce set.�

Two Rodeo was developed by The Stitzel Co. and built by Peck/Jones. It was designed by Kaplan/McLaughlin/Diaz.

Ruby’s Diner, winner of a special judges’ grand award, is on the former site of an old Laguna Beach landmark--Duke’s Burgers. Local architect Mark Singer designed the Streamline Moderne building to resemble the old drive-up burger stands popular in the 1940s and ‘50s.

“It’s a dazzling little project,� the judges said.

Ruby’s was built by C. T. DeCinces Construction.

Gold Nugget Winners

BEST OF SHOW Commercial Project of the Year

Two Rodeo Drive--Beverly Hills

Builder: Peck/Jones

Developer: The Stitzel Co.

Architect: Kaplan-McLaughlin-Diaz

Land Planner: The Stitzel Co.

Site Plan of the Year

Southern Pacific Railyards Plan--Sacramento

Developer: Southern Pacific Transportation

Land Planner: Roma Design Group

Attached Home of the Year

Casabella--Plan 3--San Diego

Builder/Developer: Davidson Communities

Architect: Lorimer-Case

Detached (Small Lot) Home of the Year

Promenade--Foothill Ranch--Plan 1--Orange County

Builder/Developer: J. M. Peters

Architect: Dorius Architects

Land Planner: Robert Bein, William Frost & Associates

Detached (Conventional Lot)

Home of the Year

Hillcrest Meadows--Plan 2--Rolling Hills Estates

Builder/Developer: Cal-Coast Development Group

Architect/Land Planner: Randy Washington Co.

Special Judges’ Grand Award Winners

(for specific design innovations)

Ruby’s Diner--Laguna Beach

Builder: C. T. DeCinces Construction

Architect: Mark Singer, AIA

The Delancey Street Foundation--San Francisco

Builder: Apersey Construction

Developer: The Delancey Street Foundation

Architect/Land Planner: Backen Arrigoni & Ross

Quail Run Resort Condominiums--Santa Fe, N.M.

Builder/Developer: Scout Development Corp. of New Mexico

Architect: Carter Statzinger Architects,

McHugh, Lloyd, Tryk Architects and

Scout Dev. Corp. of New Mexico

Land Planner: Carter Statzinger Architects

GRAND AWARD WINNERS

COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL CATEGORIES 1--Best Public or Private Special Use Facility

Colorado Convention Center--Denver

Builder: Hensel Phelps Construction

Developer: French &

Architect: C. W. Fentress & Associates

2--Best Office/Professional Building (Under 75,000 sq. ft.)

U.S. Computer Service Research Center--El Dorado Hills

Builder: SBD Inc.

Architect: Williams & Paddon Architects

Franchise Finance Corp. of America--Scottsdale, Ariz.

Builder: Huntcor Inc.

Developer: Westcor Partners

Architect: DeRevere Partnership

Land Planner: The Planning Center

3--Best Office/Professional Building (Over 75,000 sq. ft.)

1201 K Office Tower--Sacramento

Builder: Hensel Phelps Construction

Developer: Lankford & Cook

Architect/Land Planner: Hellmuth Obata & Kassabaum, Inc.

4--Best Commercial Project--Retail

Two Rodeo Drive--Beverly Hills

Builder: Peck/Jones

Developer: The Stitzel

Architect: Kaplan-McLaughlin-Diaz

Land Planner: The Stitzel

5--Best Rehabilitation Commerical or Industrial Project

Preservation Park--Oakland

Builder: Pearson and Johnson

Developer: Bramalea Pacific

Architect: Architectural Resources Group

6--Best Hotel or Hotel Resort

None

7--Best Industrial Project

HMT Technology--Fremont, Calif.

Builder: Devcon Construction , Inc.

Developer: Amarok

Architect/Land Planner: DES Architects & Engineers

SPECIAL HOUSE CATEGORIES 8--Best Custom Home

(Under 4,500 sq. ft.)

Santa Fe Hacienda at Desert Mountain

Builder/Developer: Phil Smith Custom Homes, Inc.

Architect: Allen F. Tafoya

The Emerald Bay House-- Laguna Beach

Builder: Bualda Construction

Developer: The Greystone Group, Inc.

Architect/Land Planner: McLarand, Vasquez & Partners, Inc.

9--Best Custom House (4,500 sq. ft. and over)

Engman Residence--Indian Wells

Builder: J&S; Builder

Architect/Land Planner: Howard Oxley Associates

10--Best Renovated, Restored or Remodeled Residential Project or Single Home

Hopkins Residence--Belvedere, Calif.

Builder: Ireland-Robinson and Hadley, Inc.

Developer: John Hopkins

Architect: Hank Bruce Architects, Sutton Suzuki Architects

11--Best Affordable Housing Development (Detached)

Grand Award Winner

American Traditions--Adelanto, Calif.

Builder/Developer: INCO Homes

Architect: Berkus Group Architects

12--Best Affordable Housing Development (Attached)

Tijeras Creek Villas--Rancho Santa Margarita

Builder: San Juan Group

Developer: Tijeras Creek Villas Limited

Architect/Land Planner: Architects Orange

Frank G. Mar Community Housing--Oakland

Builder: Roberts/Obayashi

Developer: East Bay Asian Dev. Corp.;

Bridge Housing Corp.

Architect: Donald McDonald Architects

13--Best Apartment Project (1 to 2 Stories)

Autumn Chase Apartments--Vancouver, Wash.

Builder/Developer: Simpson Housing Corp.

Architect/Land Planner: Paul T. Bergner, AIA Architect

14--Best Apartment Project (3 Stories or More)

Centrepointe--Los Angeles

Builder/Developer: Kemper Builders

Architect: Togawa and Smith, Inc.

15--Best Mixed Use (Business/Residential) Project

Fillmore Center--San Francisco

Builder: Turner

Developer: Fillmore Center Associates

Architect: Daniel Mann Johnson & Mendenhall

16--Best Senior Housing Project

Terrace Gardens--Milpitas

Builder: Sukura Construction

Developer: The John Stewart ;

Terrace Gardens, Inc.

Architect/Land Planner: The Steinberg Group, Architects

The Waterford at Rossmoor--Walnut Creek

Builder/Developer: UDC Homes

Architect/Land Planner: Backen Arrigoni & Ross

SITE/LAND PLANNING--PLANNING FOR TOMORROW’S PRODUCTS 17--Best Residential Product Site Plan (Under 25 Acres)

The Waikoloa Palms--Waikoloa, Hawaii

Builder: Holmby-Taisei Development

Architect/Land Planner: McLarand, Vasquez & Partners, Inc.

18--Best Community Site Plan (100 Acres or Less)

Renaissance--San Jose

Developer: Forest City

Architect/Land Planner: McLarand, Vasquez & Partners, Inc.

19--Best Community Site Plan (Over 100 Acres)

Renaissance La Jolla--San Diego

Builder/Developer: McKellar Development of La Jolla

Architect/Land Planner: Johannes Van Tilburg & Partners

20--Best Redevelopment, Rehab. or Infill Site Plan--Residential and/or Commercial

Southern Pacific Railyards Plan--Sacramento

Developer: Southern Pacific Transportation

Land Planner: Roma Design Group

21--Best New Town Land Plan

Evergreen--San Jose

Developer: City of San Jose Task Force

Architect/Land Planner: Dahlin Group Architects

22--Best Single Family (small lot) Detached Home (Under 1,500 sq. ft.)

Promenade--Foothill Ranch--Plan 1--Orange County

Builder/Developer: J. M. Peters

Architect: Dorius Architects

Land Planner: Robert Bein, William Frost & Associates

23--Best Single Family (small lot) Detached Home (1,500 to 2,000 sq. ft.)

Beverly Court--Plan 1--Foothill Ranch, Calif.

Builder/Developer: Bramalea California, Inc.

Architect: Berkus Group Architects

Land Planner: Morse Consulting Group

24--Best Single Family (small lot) Detached Home (2,001 to 2,500 sq. ft.)

Blackstone--The Alicante--Danville

Builder/Developer: H. R. Remington Properties

Architect/Land Planner: Dahlin Group Architects

25--Best Single Family (small lot) Detached Home (Over 2,500 sq. ft.)

Ocean Pointe--Plan 1--Huntington Beach

Builder/Developer: Urban West Communities

Architect/Land Planner: Richardson Nagy Martin

26. Best Single Family Detached Home (Under 1,500 sq. ft.)

Del Webb’s Sun City Tucson, The Montara--Tucson, Ariz.

Builder/Developer: Del Webb Communities

Architect: Iverson-Wilkerson Architects

Land Planner: WLB Group

27--Best Single Family Detached Home (1,500 to 2,000 sq. ft.)

Del Webb’s Sun City Tucson, the Sunrise--Tucson, Ariz.

Builder/Developer: Del Webb Communities

Architect: Iverson-Wilkinson Architects

Land Planner: WLB Group

Topaz at La Quinta--The Ruby--La Quinta

Builder: GWR Development

Architect: Quincy Johnson Associates

Land Planner: Community Engineering

28--Best Single Family Detached Home (2,001 to 2,500 sq. ft.)

Hillcrest Meadows--Plan 2--Rolling Hills Estates

Builder: Cal-Coast Development Group

Architect/Land Planner: Randy Washington

29--Best Single Family Detached Home (2,501 to 3,000 sq. ft.)

Orofino--The San Simeon--Folsom

Builder: Patrick Construction Corp.

Developer: River West Developments

Architect: Architects Lorimer-Case

Land Planner: River West Developments

30--Best Single Family Detached Home (Over 3,000 sq. ft.)

Summit Point at the Summit of Anaheim Hills, Beverly Hills Estate, Plan 4--Anaheim Hills

Builder/Developer: The Baldwin

Architect: Architects Lorimer-Case

Land Planner: Church Engineering, Inc.

31--Best Condo Unit or Attached Home (Under 1,200 sq. ft.)

CorteBella--ResidenceA--Irvine

Builder: RGC (RecreActions Group of Cos.)

Developer: The Irvine

Architect/Land Planner: McLarand, Vasquez & Partners, Inc.

32--Best Condo Unit or Attached Home (1,200 to 1,600 sq. ft.)

Galleria--Picasso--San Jose

Builder/Developer: A-M Homes

Architect/Land Planner: McLarand, Vasquez & Partners, Inc.

33--Best Condo Unit or Attached Home (1,601 to 2,000 sq. ft.)

Corte Villa--Plan 2--Tustin

Builder/Developer: Donald L. Bren

Architect/Land Planner: Shleppey Hezmalhalch Associates, Inc.

34--Best Condo Unit or Attached Home (Over 2,000 sq. ft.)

Casabella--Plan 3--San Diego

Builder/Developer: Davidson Communities

Architect: Architects Lorimer-Case

35--Best Residential Project--Attached

Corte Bella--Irvine

Builder: RGC (RecreActions Group of Cos.)

Developer: The Irvine

Architect/Land Planner: McLarand, Vasquez & Partners, Inc.

36--Best Residential Project--Detached

Jameson Court--Sierra Madre

Builder/Developer: Alexander/Catania Development

Architect/Land Planner: Booth-Good Architecture Planning

37--Best Specialty Housing Project

River Oaks--San Jose

Builder/Developer: Shea Business Properties, Shea Homes, A-M Homes, The Greystone Group and Altamount Enterprise, Inc.

Architect/Land Planner: McLarand, Vasquez & Partners Inc.

43--Best Research and Development

Project

Failure Analysis Associates Inc.--Menlo Park, Calif.

Builder: Devcon Construction Inc.

Developer: Failure Analysis Associates Inc.

Architect/Land Planner: Archon Associates