Cornerstone Architectural Group, LLC is proud to be a participant in the 7th Annual PA/NJ/DE Chapter of the International Interior Design Association’s Design Awards Competition. Each year the IIDA recognizes outstanding built work designed by its members in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. This year Cornerstone has submitted the New Jersey Automobile Club’s recently completed AAA Car Care Center in Springfield, NJ. Responsible for execution of the interior design of this facility was Project Designer; Erin B. Jimenez, IIDA in association with interior design consultant; Kiran K. Dhaliwal, IIDA from Design Alternatives, LLC. This project for AAA was the first in the development of a new national prototype in New Jersey, combining their traditional travel services along with their insurance products and full service car care. The facility houses a 15 bay state of the art automobile repair center open to AAA members and the general public. Also, contained in the building are NAPA Auto Parts and Hertz Rent-A-Car counters. This former “Big Box” building sat vacant and unused for several years. Through the New Jersey Automobile Club’s efforts, it became a shining example of adaptive reuse, and creating a facility that combines all of the needs of their members. “Green” approaches to the design, construction, and operation of the facility were paramount considerations. This facility became the first car repair facility in New Jersey to earn “Green Certification” by NJGARP. Competition entries will be judged by a panel of senior design professionals in New York and all entries will be publicly displayed in the rotunda at Liberty Place in Philadelphia prior to the awards ceremony. Winners will be announced at a reception on June 23, 2011 at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia.
Cornerstone Architectural Group was excited to accept a pro bono commission to design a "Children's Garden Playhouse" for the Middlesex County Master Gardeners. The Master Gardeners is part of the Cooperative Extension program of the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES). Their mission is to deliver horticultural programs and educational outreach to the general public, including information on garden and landscape care. Master Gardeners receive extensive hands-on and classroom training through Rutgers NJAES on various topic such as plant biology, propagation, soil science, and disease and pest control. This new Playhouse will be located inside the existing Children's Garden located in Davidson's Mill Pond Park in North Brunswick, NJ. The garden offers children seasonal opportunity for hands-on experience in an actual working flower, vegetable, and herb garden. The playhouse will feature a planted extensive green roof, and is designed to educate visitors about core sustainable design principles such as solar orientation, natural ventilation, and effective use of materials. The playhouse will be constructed in the next few weeks for a total cost of less than $2,400 for materials, and with all volunteer labor which will include members of the Cornerstone team. Look for updates on this project in future issues of our blog. 
Cornerstone Goes Social!
Cornerstone Architectural Group has launched a social media campaign through the use of Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. By integrating these tools with our existing blog and web page we are better able to stay connected with our clients, colleagues, friends and business partners. Through social media we hope to strengthen our existing relationships, and build new ones, by sharing our thoughts and ideas with you. Our tweets and posts are not just about architecture and our current projects, but also about issues affecting our business and yours, and general topics that we think you will find interesting. So if you are not already "connected," "following" or "liking" us, please click on the links in our newsletter, (below). We look forward to continuing the conversation!
Please click on the following link to read our Spring 2011 Newsletter
At the 2011
Forks Township Pennsylvania’s Planning Commission reorganizational meeting, Cornerstone’s very own Vito Tamborrino, Jr., AIA was unanimously voted and named Chairman of the Commission. Vito had been the acting Chairman for the past 5 months, as well as previously having been the Chairman from 2003–2006. He has been an active member of the Commission since 1997 and has been involved in two major Zoning Ordinance revisions, two Comprehensive Plans, the development of the new Township municipal building complex, a Township wide recreational path web that connects all major areas of the Township, and the development of one of the area’s first Solar Ordinances. He is currently working with the Commission and the Township on its third Zoning Ordinance revision, as well as the planning of a new 50 acre park. CAG is very proud of our team’s efforts to improve our communities and make them more “livable”. Good Luck Vito!
This year will mark an important milestone for Cornerstone Architectural Group’s TEAM TAMBO National Multiple Sclerosis Bike Team. As the team enters its 16th year of riding in the “Great New Jersey Country Bike MS Ride” to benefit those suffering from Multiple Sclerosis, it hopes to surpass a total of $100,000 raised for this important charity. To do so, we are looking for riders of all ages and experience to ride with us this September (24th and 25th) to help in this effort. Don’t worry if you’re not an experienced rider. As long as you have the drive to help us meet our goal this year, there is a ride for you. Each year Bob Longo and Vito Tamborrino ride the two day 100 mile option, but there are numerous rides for all. MS has a 20 mile and 50 mile one day option on Saturday, September 24th. They have a 50 mile option on Sunday, September 25th. . . , and for those “super riders” you can do both days with Bob and Vito and add some extra miles with the inclusion of each day’s “Power Loops.” The event starts in Morristown, NJ on Saturday and passes through historic towns, farmlands and back roads of New Jersey. There are fully stocked rest areas along the route every 10-15 miles, as well as a lunch break. The routes are monitored for safety by volunteer EMT’s, HAM radio operators and the Wayne Police Department. There will also be bicycle repair shop volunteers along the route and at the stops, just in case of any mechanical problems. Saturday finishes at the Parsippany Hilton where everyone is treated to a BBQ dinner, music, and a comedy show. If you are staying to ride the next day, your overnight accommodations will be at the Hilton. If not, they will have buses available to take you back to Morristown to your car, and all arranged by the great people of the MS Society. In the morning a great breakfast is provided and everyone is back to Morristown for the finish, more food and celebration of a great feeling of accomplishment. We really hope you will join us this year at this wonderful event. If you would like more information, please see the NJ Metro Chapter Website, or contact Bob Longo or Vito Tamborrino at Cornerstone. If you register at the website, just make sure you click the “Join a Team” tab and select TEAM TAMBO as your preferred team and you will automatically be included with us. Hope to see you in September !
