WARROAD, Minn. – October 12, 2009 – Marvin Windows and Doors is pleased to announce the winners of the Architect Challenge.  After combing through many entries, six winners were chosen.

Judged by former Wm. S. Marvin Hall of Fame winners David Baker, Carson Looney and Stephen Muse, the winners included five residential designs and one non-residential design.

Although all entries featured Marvin windows and doors, entries were judged on more than just the inventive use of Marvin products.  Exceptional design and execution mattered to the judges, as well as how the architects used regional design to its best advantage.

The winners of the Architect Challenge are:

The Lamson/West Residence in Cincinnati, Ohio.  Designed by John Senhauser of John Senhauser Architects in Cincinnati, the Lamson/West Residence used clad casements, awnings, Ultimate French doors and picture units with simulated divided lites and spacer bars in a modern log home.  The house is on a heavily wooded lot and is built as a bridge over the creek, preserving natural drainage and habitat.  Nearly all the materials, including the cypress logs and aluminum/wood windows came from within a 300 mile radius of the site and are renewable or recyclable. The grass roof absorbs and filters rainwater and the walnut trees, cleared to allow construction, were returned as flooring throughout the house.

Oldfield in the Low Country of South Carolina.  Designed by Helga Lilley of Gorgeous Green Home Design, this cottage made use of Marvin’s beautiful StormPlus products, including double hungs, casement, French doors and transoms.  Marvin’s windows and doors help Oldfield achieve a traditional look, while providing the protection needed in a hurricane zone.  Oldfield also achieved Earthcraft House^™ platinum certification.

Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in LaCrosse, Wis.  Interior design of the church was done by Duncan Stroik of Duncan G. Stroik Architect, LLC of South Bend, Ind. and the church’s exterior was designed by Michael W. Swinghamer of River Architects, Inc. in LaCrosse.  As perhaps the only large Catholic church of the last 50 years to be built in a traditional style, the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe not only has to work as a building, but also as a worship space.  Light floods the church through 12 custom windows.