Archer-Bull Architectural Design Award
2025 - A. Bright Idea
Owners: Anita & TJ Brightman
Architectural firm: Polt Design Group, Bel Air, MD
Builder: Constant Improvements LLC, Fallston, MD
Chief Engineer: Richardson's Engineering LLC, Timonium, MD
309 George Street presented the challenge of introducing a commercial building into a primarily residential neighborhood while maintaining visual harmony with the adjacent structure at A. Bright Idea.
The design team met the challenge with creativity, crafting a structure that gives a thoughtful nod to its neighbor without imitation. The result is a contemporary structure that uses color and proportion to create a bright and upbeat presence on George Street.
The architectural relationship between the two buildings creates a cohesive streetscape, while the signage and unique design aspects ensure each structure can stand independently in the future if needed.
309 George Street is a welcoming presence in the surrounding neighborhood, and the purple Adirondack chairs complete the scene. For these reasons, A. Bright Idea is recognized as the 2025 Archer-Bull Award recipient.
2024: Harford Retirement Planners
Owner: Joe Conroy
Architectural Firm: Clark Design Group
Builder: Bay Country Associates
Located at 510 S. Main Street, Harford Retirement Planners occupies the Bosley House, a nearly 100-year-old Colonial Revival Foursquare structure that served as a personal residence from 1925 until 1986. The home was originally built by Harry Orsburn, who became the mayor of Bel Air in 1938. Later, the home was purchased by James Bosley, whose family lived in the home until 1986. At that time, the house was repurposed into a day spa, which operated until 2021 when Harford Retirement Planners took ownership of the property.
Harford Retirement Planners’ renovation is an excellent example of a sensitive and appropriate addition to an historic property. Commercial adaptive reuse of an historic structure requires accessibility and code compliance, which were laudably achieved in the 2023 addition to 510 S. Main Street. Notably, the structure was doubled in size, but the original street façade remains intact. The addition is compatible with the original historic structure in scale and materials, and it avoids massing solutions that would have overwhelmed the original building. Harford Retirement Planners’ decision to retain and respect the original structure and the history of the Bosley house is highly commendable. For all these reasons and for creating a visually stunning structure at the Route 924 gateway into the Town of Bel Air, Harford Retirement Planners has been chosen as the 2024 Archer-Bull Award recipient.
2023 - 331 Baltimore pike
Owner: Mike Ruocco, Bernie Ruocco, Mike Arnold
Architectural Firm: Architectural Design Works, Towson, MD
Builder: CG Builders, LLC
Today, 331 Baltimore Pike sits on the site that was once the landmark location of Kunkel Auto Parts, a building that dated back to 1954. While it might have been easy to simply demolish a dated and aging building, consigning it to history, the developers and designers of 331 Baltimore Pike more than rose to the challenge of retaining the history of the building--while updating and upgrading it to evolve into a marketable and attractive modern retail center.
331 Baltimore Pike is an excellent example of the successful adaptive reuse of a nondescript commercial strip without the need for corporate branding. The proportions of the architectural elements are pleasing and serve to delineate individual businesses while unifying the whole. The clerestory windows and glimpses of the roof structure add to the allure of the building. The mix of materials used in the building is very attractive, and the materials are artfully used to detail different facades and to link the facades to the signage. 331 Baltimore Pike is a vibrant and visually appealing addition to Route 1 and the Town of Bel Air, and the effort put into the design is highly commendable. In addition to its architectural strengths, 331 Baltimore Pike is now the home to 8 businesses and has created 68 jobs in our community. For these reasons, 331 Baltimore Pike has been chosen as the 2023 Archer-Bull Award recipient.
2022 - Bel Air Academy
Owner: John Zoulis, Zoulis Properties
Architectural Firm: Architectural Design Works, Towson, MD
Builder: Creative Home Co.
The history of the Bel Air Academy goes back many, many years.
The Bel Air Academy project is composed of two buildings, one being the historic first brick elementary school in Bel Air, built in the1880’s. It served as the headquarters of the Harford County public schools until they moved into their new building on Hickory Avenue in 2006. The building sat vacant for many years and was purchased at auction by Mr. John Zoulis, with the stipulation that the building could not be demolished. Mr. Zoulis, inspired by the challenge to maintain the historic bones of the building, went to work and broke ground on the project in 2019. The two-building complex contains twelve townhomes and eight apartments; all of which were leased out immediately upon completion. The project indicated what town stakeholders have been stating for years – that the demand for housing near Main Street and the historic downtown core of Bel Air is high and encourages economic growth and vitality to a part of town that was once ailing with disinvestment.
The design and construction of both structures made sure to blend with the structures in the neighborhood and materials were used to complement the color scheme that would create continuity with surrounding elements of nature and environment.
As a result, the compatibility to the surrounding structures and use of distinctive materials creates a unique and complementary design that truly integrates with the rest of the surrounding landscape -- and for these reasons, The Bel Air Academy on Gordon Street was chosen as this year’s Archer Bull Award recipient.
2021 - 5 N. Main
Owner: Kevin Jablon
Architectural firm: Twopoint Studio, LLC, Baltimore, MD
Builder: Bay Country Associates, Inc, Bel Air, MD
Design: LUUA Design Studio, Baltimore, MD
5 North Main opened their doors in Bel Air in early July with a complete rehab of their location on Main Street.
Owner Kevin Jablon worked with designer Anne Stahl of LUUA Design Studio to modernize and revitalize the building and transform it into a vibrant part of Main Street. As part of the transformation, the entrance has been more clearly defined with the addition of new articulated stone veneer.
Known many years ago as the old Bel Air movie theater, the exterior of the building with its cast stone base, red brick, Gibbs surround, quoins and copper roof has been redesigned to include the addition of a new copper roof color that compliments the stone and adds to the modern revitalization. The articulation and color of the stone softens the street view and provides scale to the recessed contrasting storefronts and the main entrance. The painting of the brick has neutralized the period building and has created a more modern appearance.
5 North Main’s public entrance is clearly defined, and the large front windows contribute to its Main Street appeal and to interaction with the public. With the help of designer Anne Stahl of LUUA Design Studio and architect David Lopez of Twopoint Studio, the team reimagined what the façade and interior of 5 North Main could become and have successfully transformed the location and have created a hub for activity in a formerly vacant building. The building now hosts a popular coffee shop, co-working spaces and podcast studios, thereby increasing foot traffic and creating an inviting area to meet and gather with your friends and co-workers.
Compatibility to the surrounding structures and use of distinctive materials create a unique design on Main Street and for these reasons, the location of 5 North Main was chosen as this year’s Archer Bull Award recipient.