Conn. Park Planner Chosen

The city of Milford, Conn., has tapped Vollmer Associates to prepare a master plan for the 350-acre Eisenhower Park, which runs for nearly a mile along the Wepawaug River. Safety, maintenance, aesthetics, and wetland enhancement will be key planning issues.

Vollmer will make an inventory of the site, which currently contains a softball field, community garden, playground, fishing pond, tennis courts, and walking trails. The assignment calls for creating a detailed map, studying the environmental repercussions of redevelopment, and determining project goals, with the city's input. The completed plan is due this fall.

Helena Wins Green Award

The Durst Organization recently received the Global Green Design Award from Global Green USA, the American affiliate of Green Cross International, for its design of the Helena, a residential tower.

Mikhail Gorbachev, the organization's president and former head of the Soviet Union, presented the award to Helena Rose Durst, recognizing the innovative environmental design and construction of the 37-story tower with 597 rental units. Among the features cited at the building, opening later this year in Manhattan, is its sustainable mechanical equipment, including an onsite wastewater reuse system. Durst is seeking gold or silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification from the U.S. Green Buildings Council.

Burden Gets Design Patron Award

Amanda Burden, chair of the New York City Planning Commission and director of the Department of City Planning, has been named Design Patron for the 2004 National Design Awards by the Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum.

The award recognizes Burden for her commitment to planning city communities and her ability to foster design excellence. The award also recognizes her use of urban design master plans as a tool to communicate planning goals and encourage growth.

Firm Earns Landmarks Award

Beyer Blinder Belle Architects and Planners recently accepted the Landmarks Lions Award given annually by the Historic Districts Council, an organization dedicated to preserving New York's historic neighborhoods.

The award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional devotion to protecting landmarks and historic districts in New York. This is the first ever presented to an entire firm.

N.J. Architect Rolls up Sleeves in Fla.

Michael Cannilla, AIA, an associate with NK Architects in Morristown, N.J., recently spent 18 days in various parts of Florida providing relief to hurricane victims as part of a Disaster Medical Assistance Team. As a project manager, Cannilla helps design healthcare facilities, but he is also a volunteer Emergency Medical Services provider.

Cannilla's first stop was Orlando, where his team helped set up a shelter for victims displaced by Hurricane Frances. The team later moved on to the Florida Panhandle to assist victims of Hurricane Ivan. When Hurricane Jeanne hit, they headed to south Florida to set up an emergency department in tents on a hospital parking lot.