Princeton Writers Block Awarded With Major Architectural Honor

Matthew Hersh

Princeton Writers Block is really the gift that keeps on giving. First, it gave us a taste of the architectural talent that exists right here within the town boundaries, then it served as the setting for cultural events ranging from fashion shows to literary readings to community gatherings well into the fall. And then, through the efforts of some bold residents, it provided a garden folly for a park honoring a beloved mayor.

While the Writers Block has received its share of appreciation through public sentiment, now that appreciation has come in the form of something more tangible. Late last week, the New Jersey Chapter of the American Institute of Architects announced the in-town garden had been issued the Honor Award for Built Project in 2004.

The award was only one of three that were issued in the state and will be presented at an event at the Newark Museum on January 8.

In praising the Writers Block for managing to pull together the styles of so many architects, the AIA's decision was a unanimous one.

Regarded as one of the most prestigious architectural awards granted in New Jersey, it will go to all the teams who worked on the project and to the designers of the master plan: Kevin Wilkes, site coordinator, Peter Soderman, project coordinator, and Alan Goodheart, landscape coordinator.

Writers Block was one of 93 entries bidding for the award.

"For a small, self-generated-type project like Writers' Block to win an Honor Award from the AIA, it is a major coup," Mr. Wilkes said. "It's really quite a prestigious award that we picked up and it really validates our idea in the eyes of the senior architects."

The recognition, Mr. Wilkes added, will "certainly" help Writers Block appear in town in some form in the future, saying the honor would "clearly give an endorsement."

"It says, 'here's an idea that really has merit'."

Customarily issued to larger-scale projects, the two other Honor Awards were given to a school and an office building. For a small (only 18,000 square-feet) project like Writers Block to win, it has to be "universally admired by everybody," Mr. Wilkes said.

The Writers Block coordinator added that the award gives him and his cohorts more of a green light to solicit other communities with similar projects. "In a sense, the award gives us some street cred," he said. "It won't necessarily make it easier, but it will be more convincing for other towns to build something like this."

What made the project unique, Mr. Wilkes said, was that Writers Block managed to bring prominent architects together in a collaborative project, rather than creating an environment that would lead to rabid competition. "I wanted the architects to do what they do on their own so they could shine in their own brilliance."

The award somewhat softens the financial blow taken by the organizers in financing the project. Even after bringing in $27,000 on the folly auction last month, the entire project lost about $127,000 at the end of the day.

"All of the members of the team can feel special about their accomplishment," Mr. Wilkes said.