Five Minutes with Thamarit Suchart, Chen + Suchart Studio

On October 20, 2017, AIA Arizona held the annual AIA Arizona Awards Gala at the Phoenix Art Museum. Amongst the awards given were to The Kenneth, a townhome project we’re proud to represent in Tempe, that was designed by the local architecture firm Chen + Suchart Studio. For their hard-work, AIA Arizona presented them an award as a Distinguished Building. Before they started their architecture firm in 2003, the husband and wife duo of Thamarit Suchart and Patricia Chen cut their teeth gaining knowledge working alongside Wendell Burnette and at the Jones Studio.

Since then, any building bearing their design touch and imprint adheres to conscientious consideration of the materials and their relation to the environment they are constructed. Prior to The Kenneth, they were known for their tasteful expansion and renovation of an English Tudor home in the F.Q. Story Historic Neighborhood, as well as their design of the Yerger Residence, settled in a prominent Camelback Mountain location, which gave the landmark constant presence “in the experience of the house while creating other introspective moments.” These homes, as well as others, have also been awarded with top AIA Arizona honors.

We recently spoke with Thamarit Suchart about the design process of The Kenneth, its new designation as Distinguished Building, as well as being an elder architecture firm in the Valley. Below the Q&A are a complete list of winners:

What was one design element of The Kenneth that always stood out to you? 

The idea of using one main material, in this case corrugated metal, and exploiting the material to its fullest potential, how it is configured and manipulated and therefore establishes the architectural language for the project. All of this takes place while still creating a unique place to live.

Chen + Suchart has received AIA awards in the past, what sets The Kenneth apart from your past projects? 

The Kenneth was a big challenge for us as it was one of our first larger scale projects being an 8-unit development.  More critical as a challenge was the budget for the project. These units are a development that is an investment with budgets and returns as constraints.

The question and ultimate challenge became, how does one still create a piece of quality architecture within those parameters. Otherwise one ends up with more of the same developments we see time and time again that exist throughout our building environment.

Were you surprised by the accolades that The Kenneth received by the AIA?

We are always pleasantly surprised with the recognition we receive for the work that we do. We enjoy the fact that we have received and continue to receive awards for the work we do that is judged from a jury of our peers. Each year these juries change and we continue to receive recognition from different juries of varying perspectives and backgrounds.

As an accomplished firm, how does it feel to have the opportunity to mentor young architects as you were mentored yourself by Wendell Burnette?

I am not sure if we can yet say we are accomplished, but we simply strive to design each and every project with architectural integrity. We currently have one very faithful person working with us. The opportunity to mentor those with less experience than us is an enormous responsibility and one that we relish.

The mentoring is furthered by having the opportunity to teach architectural design studios for the past six years at ASU and University of Arizona. Empowering the next generation through education is a responsibility that I enjoy.

What excites you about local design trends around town as an architect?

We do not really pay attention to trends as they are fleeting and, more often than not, superficial. Clients who choose to work with us come to us to develop a project that has design integrity and transcends trend or stylistic moves.

As an architect in this environment, I am excited about more and more people becoming increasingly aware of modern and contemporary homes that are true to this time and place. Too much of our built environment is a facsimile of an architectural language that has no roots in this place.  We hope to change our built environment one project at a time.

 

Full list of award winners:

 

PROJECT AWARDS

Arizona Public Service 2017 Energy Award

Project: West-MEC Southwest Energy Campus

Architect: DLR Group | Westlake Reed Leskosky

Owner: West-MEC

Contractor: McCarthy

Salt River Project 2017 Sustainable Award

Project: Liberty Wildlife

Architect: Weddle Gilmore Black Rock Studio

Contractor: Okland Construction

2017 Theory + Design Award – Citation Award

Project: Beyond Borders

Architect: Aaron Tsosie

2017 Component Design Award – Citation Award

Project: Local Nomad

Architect: s p a c eBUREAU

Owner:  Lauren Danuser

Contractor: s p a c eBUREAU

2017 Urban & Regional Planning – Citation Award

Project: Arizona Canal Master Plan

Architect:  John Douglas Architects

Owner:  City of Scottsdale

Contractor: Howard S Wright

2017 Urban & Regional Planning Award – Citation Award

Project: Downtown Tucson 2050 Plan

Architect: University of Arizona, School of Architecture

2017 Unbuilt Award – Citation Award

Project: The National Museum of Afghanistan

Architect: Line and Space, LLC

Owner:  Afghanistan Ministry of Information and Culture

2017 Distinguished Building – Citation Award

Project:  Kenneth Place Townhomes

Architect: Chen + Suchart Studio, LLC

Owner:  Withheld Upon Request

Contractor: TLW Construction

2017 Distinguished Building – Citation Award

Project:  Dunlap Venue

Architect:  Matthew Salenger & Maria Salenger

Owner:  Valley Metro Phoenix

Contractor: Southwest Fabrication

2017 Distinguished Building – Citation Award

Project:  Mesa Community College Performing Arts Center

Architect: Jones Studio

Owner: Maricopa Community College District

Contractor: Layton Construction Co., Inc.

2017 Distinguished Building – Citation Award

Project:  Ghost Wash House

Architect: Architecture – Infrastructure – Research

Owner: Eric + Lauri Termansen

Contractor:  Build Inc.

2017 Distinguished Building – Merit Award

Project:  Casa Caldera

Architect: DUST

Owner:  Name Withheld

Contractor:  DUST

2017 Distinguished Building – Merit Award

Project: Barnone

Architect:  DeBartolo Architects

Owner:  Johnston Properties, LLC

Contractor:   Caliente Construction

2017 Distinguished Building – Merit Award

Project: Biomedical Sciences Partnership Building

Architect:  CO Architects in Association with Ayers Saint Gross

Owner:  Arizona Board of Regents

Contractor:   DPR Construction + Sundt Construction, A Joint Venture

2017 Distinguished Building – Merit Award

Project: Hazel Hare Center for Plant Science

Architect:  CoLab Studio & 180 Degrees

Owner:  Desert Botanical Garden

Contractor: 180 Degrees

2017 Distinguished Building – Honor Award

Project: Tucson Mountain Retreat

Architect: DUST

Owner: Owner’s Name Withheld

Contractor:  DUST

2017 Distinguished Building – Honor Award

Project: Environmental and Natural Resources Building (ENR2)

Architect of Record: GLHN Architects and Engineers

Design Architect:  Richärd+Bauer

Owner:  University of Arizona

Contractor: Hensel Phelps Construction Co.

2017 Distinguished Building – Honor Award

Project: Arizona State University Beus Center for Law and Society

Architect: Ennead Architects / Jones Studio Inc.

Owner:  Arizona State University

Contractor/CMAR: DPR Construction

 

LEADERSHIP AWARDS

2017 AIA10 Award

Rick McLain, AIA

2017 Client Award

Agua Fria Union High School District

2017 Arizona Architects Medal

Neal Jones, AIA

2017 Firm of the Year

Holly Street Studio

2017 Goodwin Award

Project: Hazel Hare Center for Plant Science

Architect: CoLab Studio & 180 Degrees

Owner:  Desert Botanical Garden

Contractor: 180 Degrees

2017 Educator Award

Mary Hardin, AIA

2017 Design Pedagogy

University of Arizona ARC297m/397m | Material Fabrication I + II

2017 Community Education

Camp Architecture

2017 Research Design Award

Project: Canyon View High School

Architect: DLR Group

Owner:  Agua Fria Union School District #216

Contractor: Chasse Building Team

 

Photography of The Kenneth by Matt Winquist