EIFS: A hero hidden in plain sight - Architectural Awards

ARCHITECTURAL AWARDS

The prestigious EIFS Hero Awards honor a wide variety of 

projects that exemplify the unique attributes of exterior 

insulation and finish systems (EIFS). The award-winning 

projects represent the best in the continuous insulation (CI) 

industry, all examples of exceptional architecture. All are 

most definitely heroes hidden in plain sight. 

The winners of the 2020 EIFS Hero Awards were 

acknowledged at a virtual awards ceremony presented by 

the EIFS Industry Members Association (EIMA) on May 19, 

2021. A digital recording of the awards ceremony can be 

viewed on EIMA’s YouTube channel at www.eima.com. 

We invite you to delight in the design excellence of these 

award-winning, spectacular EIFS projects. 

Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. 

Heroes protect. 

They insulate. 

They’re resilient. 

They always exceed your highest expectations. 

So, where is this “Hero” hidden in plain sight? Look no further than the perfect 

exterior wall. 

EIFS: Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems 

A perfect wall is efficient, aesthetically flexible, and incredibly durable. 

Have you seen this Hero? Probably so. Although some might question 

whether a unique design can be achieved while still meeting energy codes 

and sustainability, professionals in the exterior insulation and finish systems 

industry know the solution: EIFS. 

2 EIFS HERO AWARDS 

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EIFS HERO OF THE YEAR 

LONG BEACH MEMORIAL 

PEDIATRIC MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING 

Long Beach, California 

Category: Healthcare 

EIFS Manufacturer: Sto Corp. 

Contractor: Nevell Group, Inc. 

Distributor: FBM 

Owner/Developer: Long Beach Medical Center 

Architect: C-A Architects 

The design team’s flexibility and curiosity about 

prefabrication made this project a great opportunity 

for EIFS. Using panelization on the exterior cut the 

project skin schedule by 3 months and resulted in 

a 19-day dry-in rather than the expected 120-day 

duration. Seven unique bright colors were used on the 

façade, which is very eye-catching. The juxtaposition 

of the shapes combined with the contrasting colors 

make this project a testament to the strength of EIFS. 


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EIFS HERO AWARD WINNER 

POLARIS FIELDHOUSE 

Columbus, Ohio 

Category: Retail 

EIFS Manufacturer: Dryvit Systems, Inc. 

Contractor: Reitter Stucco and Supply 

Distributor: Interior Supply, Inc. 

Owner/Developer: Washington Prime Group 

Architect: Nelson Architecture 

The owner of this project was 

looking for an exterior cladding 

that offered energy efficiency and 

timely installation. Of course, EIFS 

was the solution. The clean, sleek 

texture of the design combined 

with the incorporation of steel as 

an element make this project a 

standout. Its tripartite composition 

(a method of visually organizing 

the façade of a building by dividing 

it into three sections: the base, the 

shaft, and the capital), enhance 

this project’s visual appeal. 


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EIFS HERO AWARD WINNER 

G R E E N H O U S E 

Skokie, Illinois 

This project was originally built in 1956, and after several 

additions, needed an updated, more contemporary look. 

The fluid lines in the design give the illusion of motion, with 

flowing waves that converge at a center point, framing a 

two-story wall of windows. The use of EIFS as the cladding 

material, along with sophisticated computer-modeling 

tools, made execution of the design’s organic shapes 

possible. Without a doubt, this project showcases the 

endless design possibilities of EIFS. 

Category: Other 


Contractor: G&J Services 

Distributor: L&W Supply, Elk Grove, IL 

Owner: Curaleaf 

Architect: Camburas & Theodore, Ltd. 


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EIFS AWARDS OF MERIT 

O C E A N S E N C L A V E B Y H I L T O N 

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 

G R A N D B O H E M I A N H O T E L C H A R L O T T E 

Charlotte, North Carolina 

The Grand Bohemian Hotel 

Charlotte, part of Marriott’s 

Autograph Collection, is a 

254-room luxury hotel. 

The design team chose 

EIFS to achieve higher 

energy efficiency and 

improved durability. The 

building’s sophisticated 

architecture showcases an 

Argentinian theme with very 

impressive detailing. 

Category: Hospitality 

EIFS Manufacturer: Master Builders Solutions 

Contractor: Commercial Systems Plus, Inc. 

Distributor: EMJ/Circle Supply of North Carolina 

Owner/Developer: Hilton 

Architect: Garvin Design Group 


EIFS Manufacturer: PAREX USA 

Contractor: Southern Wall Systems 

Distributor: Carolina Specialties, Inc. 

Owner/Developer: Kessler Collection 

Architect: Gensler & Associates 

Designers immediately recognized 

that EIFS was the obvious solution to 

several of this project’s challenges. 

First, it needed to meet Hilton’s 

aesthetic criteria and achieve its 

high standard of excellence. Second, 

EIFS met the stringent codes and 

standards requirements of the State 

of South Carolina for continuous 

insulation with an integral air barrier. 

And lastly, the design flexibility of 

EIFS allowed the design team to 

incorporate a three-dimensional, 

architectural feature that reflected the 

project’s coastal beachfront setting. 


11

H U B 2 O N C A M P U S 

Gainesville, Florida 

T R U B Y H I L T O N 

Manchester, New Hampshire 

Category: Mixed-use 

EIFS Manufacturer: Master Wall, Inc. 

Contractor: Wilmot Construction 

Distributor: Creative Wall Products 

Owner/Developer: Core Spaces 

Architect: Antunovich Associates 



Contractor: Creative Walls 

Distributor: Merrimack Building Supply, Inc. 

Owner/Developer: Lafrance Hospitality 

Architect: Built Form, LLC 

Hub 2 is a mixed-use student housing facility that 

includes ground floor retail. The exterior boasts over 

100,000 square feet of EIFS, featuring multiple finishes 

including wood, GFRC, metal, as well as more traditional 

EIFS finishes. Incredible craftsmanship resulted in 

a stunning finished exterior which will serve as the 

standard for the developer’s projects moving forward. 

A complicated exterior cladding was made simple with 

the use of EIFS. 

This 5-story hotel is a great example of a victory for 

the EIFS industry. Overcoming an earlier EIFS ban in the 

city, the project team offered EIFS as a cost-effective 

and lightweight solution to more expensive cladding 

alternatives. The design flexibility of EIFS offered a 

combination of different finishes for a modern-looking 

building, perfect for the hospitality industry. 


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P E A C E R A L E I G H A P A R T M E N T S 

Raleigh, North Carolina 

O U T W E S T D R Y W A L L S U P P L Y 

Eagle, Colorado 

Category: Mixed-use 


Contractor: Premier Stucco (NC) 

Distributor: Guaranteed Supply 

Architect: Cline Design Associates 



Contractors: 

Stucco Works (Field Applied) 

Lutz Company (Panel Fabricator) 

Superior Drywall (Panel Installer) 

Distributor: Outwest Drywall Supply 

Owner/Developer: Outwest Drywall Supply 

Architect: Victor Mark Donaldson Architecture 

Peace Raleigh Apartments is a large mixed-use project 

and an excellent example of using mixed materials well 

on a building’s exterior. The use of EIFS alongside metal 

panel and brick creates a modern, eclectic look that 

complements the architecture of the surrounding area. 

Outwest Drywell Supply is a distribution center for construction 

materials in a quaint Colorado town. Because of the area’s cold 

winters and hot summers, energy efficiency was an important 

feature for the project’s exterior cladding. The use of nontraditional 

EIFS finishes achieved the design goal of nicely 

matching the character and look of the town. 


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1 1 C R O W N S T R E E T 

Meriden, Connecticut 

D I S T R I C T 8 5 0 

Tallahassee, Florida 

Category: Residential 


Contractors: Ronnie Demeo Construction, Inc. 

Distributor: Merrimack Building Supply 

Owner/Developer: City of Meriden 

Architect: Kenneth Bordson Architects 



Contractor: Fleck Exterior Systems, Inc. 

Distributor: L&W Supply 

Owner/Developer: Nil Patel 

Architect: Dynamic Designs 

11 Crown Street is a passive housing project that is 

located in the historic downtown section of Meriden, 

Connecticut. Passive housing projects are bulit in 

accordance with a set of builidng-science priciples 

which include continuous insulation throughout 

the entire envelope without any thermal bridging, 

and a building envelope that is extremely airtight, 

preventing infiltration of outside air and loss of 

conditioned air. EIFS are commonly used in passive 

building, and were used successfully on this project. 

Aesthetically, two different EIFS finishes were used, 

one mimicking brick, and the other limestone. The 

project is handsome and well-detailed, and its 

design fits well with the historic nature of the town. 

District 850 is a 40,000 square foot amusement center. 

Initial plans called for the use of several different 

exterior claddings, but the diversity of EIFS finishes 

allowed the owner and architect to achieve their vision 

by using just EIFS on the entire project. The project is 

nicely designed and composed, has a clean, modern 

look with excellent use of contrast and color. 


17

H O U S T O N H O U S E 

New York, New York 

I M P E R I A L 

Queens, New York 



Contractor: Imperiex Construction, Inc. 

Distributor: Sto Eastern 

Owner/Developer: Matthew Lee 

Architect: Jeff Cole Architects 



Contractors: Elite Wall Systems 

Distributor: Sto of NJ, Inc. 

Owner/Developer Realty: Operations Group 

Architect: Chris Benedict 

Houston House is an 8-story building in New York City’s trendy East Village 

neighborhood. The project team addressed both the practical and aesthetic 

issues it faced because of its location. With the use of EIFS as an exterior 

cladding, the project has a design that is stylish enough for its East Village 

residents, while at the same time addressing the traffic noise, cold winters 

and brutal summers of New York City. 

This renovation project is a complete exterior re-clad of 

a 7-story apartment building in Queens, New York. By 

covering the entire brick exterior with EIFS, the owner 

found a solution to the recurring maintenance issue of 

masonry repair. The project has a fresh look, and uses 

different sizes of EPS board to add depth and dimension 

to the once flat façade. This project really showcases the 

versatility of EIFS! 


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Z A N N I S R E S I D E N C E 

New Bern, North Carolina 

THE 2020 EIFS HERO AWARDS JURY 



Contractor: Superior Plastering & Stucco 

Distributor: Colonial Materials, Inc. 

Owner/Developer: Dr. Zannis 

Design Build Firm: Tab Premium Built Homes, Inc. 

The 2020 EIFS Hero Awards nominations were evaluated by a jury made 

up of three experts from the design and construction industry. 

Ernest Conrad 

Conrad Engineers 

Jury Member 2018, 2019, 2020 

Peter Freeman 

Freeman Kennett Architects, PLLC 

Jury Member 2019, 2020 

Ron W. Cooper 

Svigals + Partners 

Jury Member 2020 

The color and texture of the EIFS finish 

perfectly complements the stone 

work on this single family home. With 

traditional architectural shapes and 

trim features, the home boasts welldetalied 

design. The use of EIFS gave 

the architect the high level of flexibility 

needed in designing three radius towers, 

all of which have different dimensions. 

The continuous insulation properties 

of EIFS provide the homeowner with 

a well-insulated home, resulting in 

substantial reduced energy costs. 

Mr. Conrad served as a member of the jury for the third year in a row. 

Mr. Freeman and Mr. Cooper are both award-winning architects on past 

“EIFS Hero of the Year” projects. The jury created three different award 

categories, Honorable Mention, Award of Merit and Hero Award and 

18 projects were deemed award-winners by consensus. 

EIMA extends its sincere gratitude to this year’s jury for their time spent 

pouring over the submissions, and for their expertise, knowledge and 

meaningful contribution in helping EIMA showcase the best of the best 

EIFS projects. 


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PAST “HERO OF THE YEAR” WINNERS 

2019 

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OF CONNECTICUT 

New Haven, Connecticut 

EIFS Manufacturer: 

Dryvit Systems, Inc. 

Contractor: 

Ronnie DeMeo 

Construction 

Distributor: 

Merrimack Building 

Supply, J.E. McLaughlin 

Owner/Developer: 

Yale New Haven Hospital 

Architect: 

Svigals + Partners 

Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems 

One fully-engineered, tested, code-compliant system. 

Supplied by one source. 

Installed by one contractor. 

Warranted by one manufacturer. 

With the flexibility to meet virtually unlimited design goals, 

EIFS buildings are everywhere you thought they weren’t. 

Providing more than you ever thought they could. 

EIFS Manufacturer: 

Master Builders Solutions (Finestone) 

Contractor: 

Southern Wall Systems 

Distributor: 

Meridian Brick and Masonry Supply 

Owner: 

Liv.able, Inc. 

Architect: 

Freeman Kennett Architects 

2 0 1 8 

L I V . A B L E S H O W R O O M 

High Point, NC 

22 EIFS HERO AWARDS

www.eima.com

EIFS: A hero hidden in plain sight - Architectural Awards

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