KTGY Earns National Recognition with 12 Gold Nugget Merit Awards; KTGY Diverse Range of Capabilities, Excellence & Innovation are Praised

KTGY has earned 12 Awards of Merit in the 2009 Gold Nugget Award design and planning competition honoring the firm's wide range of capabilities, excellence and innovation in addressing complex design/build issues in attached, detached and sustainable communities as well as the critical planning of transit-oriented districts. End Quote

Award-winning Serenade at RiverPark in Oxnard, Calif.

(1888PressRelease) May 18, 2009 - IRVINE, CALIF. - KTGY GROUP, INC., Architecture and Planning, has earned 12 Awards of Merit in the 2009 Gold Nugget Award design and planning competition honoring the firm's wide range of capabilities, excellence and innovation in addressing complex design/build issues in attached, detached and sustainable communities as well as the critical planning of transit oriented districts.

"We are very thrilled to receive an Award of Merit in so many categories," stated KTGY's CEO Tricia Esser. "It's always great to see such an overwhelmingly positive outcome to our commitment and dedication to planning, design and sustainability, and working hand-in-hand with our valued clients. Each of these projects has set a new standard for future communities."

KTGY received two Merit Awards in the category of "Outstanding Affordable Project - Under 30 du/acre" (Category 15): Cottonwood Creek Apartments in Suisun City, Calif.; and Diamond Apartment Homes in Anaheim, Calif. Cottonwood Creek was also awarded a Merit Award for "Outstanding Low Rise Apartment Project (up to 3 stories of housing) for Rent" (Category 17).

Cottonwood Creek in Suisun City, Calif., developed by BRIDGE Housing Corporation and built by Segue Construction, offers 94 affordable and environmentally-friendly one-, two- and three-bedroom apartment homes; and consists of garden-style walk-up apartment buildings with a Craftsman design, plus a community building, a pool and expansive recreational areas.

Diamond Apartment Homes in Anaheim, Calif., is a pioneering green multifamily development that provides both affordable housing and mental health supportive services for previously homeless individuals and their families in a combination of 15 one- and 10 two-bedroom units. Diamond's developer is Jamboree Housing Corporation; the general contractor is Wermers Multi-Family.

Granite Court in Irvine, Calif., received a Merit Award in the category of "Outstanding Affordable Project - 30 du/acre or more" (Category 16). Granite Court provides 71 one-, two- and three-bedroom green affordable quality homes for families in an upscale community's urban core. Its sustainable design and close proximity to jobs and education further increase its affordability. The developer is Jamboree Housing Corporation; the general contractor is Advent Companies.

The Ashton at Dublin Station in Dublin, Calif., which provides a luxury rental living environment for "renters-by-choice" in an urban transit-oriented setting, received a Merit Award in the category of "Outstanding On-The-Boards Apartment Project" (Category 21). Located adjacent to the west Dublin/Pleasanton BART station, the stunning design of this high-density, low-rise 187-unit proposed development portrays a sense of understated elegance and includes the liberal use of stone, a special limestone plaster finish, recessed windows, store front glazing at the entry lobby, and dramatic metal canopies. The developer is The Hanover Company.

Serenade at RiverPark in Oxnard, Calif., received a Merit award for "Outstanding Neighborhood Site Plan up to 20 Acres" (Category 22A). National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) also recognized Serenade at RiverPark as a finalist for a Multifamily Pillars of the Industry Award as the Best Multifamily Community Site Plan. The 400-unit luxury garden apartment community, which features a variety of well-appointed one-, two- and three-bedroom residences, offers an elevated standard of living enhanced by its location next to an array of planned shopping, dining and recreation opportunities. Rich in style and comfort, Serenade at RiverPark apartment homes features designer touches, including granite countertops throughout, gourmet kitchens and attached garages. RP Apartment Ventures LLC is the developer; Cobalt Construction is the builder.

Two KTGY-designed projects received Merit Awards for "Outstanding On-The-Boards Site Plan" (Category 25): Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC) in Anaheim, Calif.; and Lytle Creek in Rialto, Calif.

ARTIC in Anaheim, Calif., is a world-class transportation hub and major transit gateway for Southern California which integrates a mixed-use development consisting of retail, dining, entertainment, office, hospitality and residential uses. The owner is the Orange County Transportation Authority; and the developer is the City of Anaheim - Public Works/Transit Division.

Lytle Creek in Rialto, Calif., which is designed to protect significant environmental resources within the adjacent Lytle Creek Wash and alleviate flood concerns in the area, clusters residential, mixed-use and retail uses into four distinct neighborhoods, while preserving the environmentally sensitive portions of the site as natural open space. A full range of housing is planned, including family-oriented, active adult, cluster detached, and mixed-use. Located in the County of San Bernardino, Lytle Creek's plan promotes the sustainable elements of connectivity and walkability throughout the 2,447-acre master-planned community and incorporates green building strategies designed to conserve energy and water, promote recycling and materials re-use, and ensure that only clean water enters the adjacent creek from the community. Lytle Development Joint Venture III is the developer.

Additionally, two KTGY-designed projects received Merit Awards for "Outstanding Single Family Detached Home - 2,500 to 3,500 sq. ft." (Category 29/30): Connemara - Plan 4 in Pacifica, Calif.; and Hidden Hills - Plan 2 in Napa, Calif. The builder/developer for both projects is O'Brien Homes. Hidden Hills planned community also won a Merit Award for "California Green Builder Residential Community" (Category 44).

The Hidden Hills master-planned community in Napa, Calif., offers a distinct rich elegance that embraces the enchanting complexities of the wine country and validates the premise that sophisticated design can pair comfortably with environmentally-friendly construction. Hidden Hills Plan 2 helps define a well-textured neighborhood that responds to the setting of creeks, hills and open spaces and provides a comfortable destination that hosts everyday life with an expansive kitchen, family dining and lounge. Secondary porch and transition space from garage are among the practical refinements that support the comings and goings of a family household. Design focus on function and ease also enriches privacy quarters, particularly with the owner's suite.

Connemara - Plan 4 in Pacifica, Calif., is a luxury home with inspiring Pacific Ocean views and neighborhood character suitable to a unique coastal town where new housing is rarely approved. Environmentally-friendly, high-profile design and architecture suit the elevated site, and its warm, textural palate strengthens styling and setting. Layout options yield up to five bedrooms plus loft.

Vantage of Palo Alto in Palo Alto, Calif., a 76-unit townhome community that is one of San Francisco Bay Area's first full-solar developments, received an Award of Merit as the "Outstanding Attached Project - under 18 du/acre" (Category 36). With Eichler-inspired modernist architecture and a sleek palette, Vantage of Palo Alto offers an eco-friendly, contemporary community with urban townhome-style living and distinctive amenities inside and out. The one- and two-level townhomes plans range in size from two to three bedrooms and have either a porch or balcony offering views of beautifully landscaped and designed gardens and common areas. Situated in the cultural center of the San Francisco Peninsula, the award-winning infill project is minutes from Palo Alto's array of cafes, restaurants and bookstores. Warmington Homes of California is the project's developer/builder.

"As a member of Build-It Green as well as the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), KTGY continues to stay at the forefront of this dynamic industry and have LEED accredited and sustainability/green building experts. We work in partnership with our clients to get the most benefit from incorporating eco-friendly and sustainable architecture programs into our buildings and designs," said Jill Williams, AIA, principal at KTGY.

The Gold Nugget Awards honor creative achievements in architectural design and land use planning for residential, commercial and industrial projects. Drawing more than 375 entries from the western states and internationally, the Gold Nugget Awards program is the premiere event of the annual PCBC, the nation's largest regional trade show and conference. Grand Award winners will be announced at the Gold Nugget Awards Luncheon on Thursday, June 18, 2009, at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco. See www.goldnuggetawards.com.

About KTGY GROUP, INC.
Established in 1991, KTGY GROUP, INC., Architecture and Planning, provides comprehensive planning and architectural design services for residential communities, retail developments, hospitality and related specialty projects. KTGY delivers innovative solutions that reflect clear understanding of development, marketing and financial performance and takes particular pride in its highly motivated and principal led studios. Serving clients throughout the U.S., KTGY maintains offices in Irvine, Oakland and Santa Monica, and in Denver. For more information, see www.ktgy.com.

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