The adaptive reuse project that turned two historic buildings in Midtown into The Key Burger Bar & Boogie recently received awards from two esteemed architecture organizations. The awards were presented to architecture firm Ahrens Vale Van Dyck Murphy Architecture (AVV A), which created the design for The Key.
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) St. Louis Design Awards celebrating design excellence were held on Thursday, October 8 during St. Louis Design Week and The Key won a Drawing Honor Award, presented to AVV A partners Constance Vale and Kelley Van Dyck Murphy, as well as project manager Dylan Wei. The award recognizes excellence in architectural representation, hand or digital drawing, and storytelling by architects, illustrators, and students.
The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design’s American Architecture Awards honored the The Key among an esteemed list of other significant projects across the United States, presenting the award to lead architects and AVV A partners Chandler Ahrens, Constance Vale, and Kelley Ven Dyck Murphy. The Chicago Athenaeum is an International Museum of Architecture and Design dedicated to the Art of Design in all areas of the discipline: architecture, industrial and product design, graphics, landscape architecture, and urban planning.
“We are honored that The Key has been recognized for a national design award and local drawing award, which reflects the commitment to good design by KAF to entrust us with this responsibility,” said Ahrens. “This recognition reflects the tremendous effort from the team at KAF, Harambe construction and AVV A not to merely save two incredible buildings but provide a new life for them for future generations.”
The two adjacent historic buildings that make up The Key were rescued from demolition by the Kranzberg Arts Foundation through an agreement with Saint Louis University and with support from the Landmarks Association of St. Louis. Built in 1887, the buildings are among the few remaining historical structures in the area, and adjacent to the former and historic Mill Creek neighborhood, providing a rare glimpse into St. Louis’ past and showcasing the enduring architectural beauty of a previous century. The Key reimagines these spaces for the modern day, while respecting and preserving their defining architectural elements.
