Twin Cities Academy | Merit Awards

TCAMerit

TWIN CITIES ACADEMY | AIA-Minnesota Merit Awards

Kodet Architectural Group was presented with the AIA-Minneapolis, Merit Award for Twin Cities Academy. The Merit Awards are unique in their approach to creating a jury, the award encompass the views of business professionals, real estate developers, community advocates, and academic leaders, as well as architects. The award is bestowed to projects by AIA-Minneapolis architects, which tell a story of excellence beyond design, reflecting the variety of forces that shape a building.

Projects are evaluated based on how they respond to the following criteria:

  • Architectural Solution

  • Technical Innovation

  • Environmental Responsibility

  • Budget + Business Success

  • Community Impact

  • Client + Team Satisfaction

Part of the philosophy of this award is the focus on the story of the project and Twin Cities Academy not only embodies these criteria but also illustrated by a compelling story. The story depicts the positive transformation of a once desolate site, which stands as a beaming reflection of Twin Cities Academy’s dedication to academic excellence and adds energy to the site and a permanent positive presence to the neighborhood.

Twin Cities Academy is a tuition free public charter school in St. Paul and one of the top-rated charter schools in the country. After occupying a multitude of venues since 1999 and most recently rending an old outdated elementary school, TCA was in need of a change. In relocating their facility it would promote their vision of empowering and inspiring young adults to make a difference. In the fall of 2016, the new Twin Cities Academy provided the school a permanent home and established presence in the St. Paul neighborhood, which echoes their motto and commitment to “A Higher Standard of Academic Excellence”.