ARCHITECTS WIN TRIPS TO SPAIN TO VIEW LAUNCH OF VELUX 5 OCEANS ROUND-THE-WORLD YACHT RACE

GREENWOOD, SC - OCTOBER 2006 - Architects from Massachusetts and Pennsylvania will travel to Spain in October after tying for first place in a national competition sponsored by VELUX America.

Jay A. Blackwell, ByDesign Consultants, Inc., Camp Hill, PA, and Robert Irving Mitnik, Robert I. Mitnik A.I.A., Gloucester, MA, won the trips in the architectural competition promoting the VELUX 5 Oceans round-the-world solo yacht race. The trips for two to Bilbao, on the northern coast of Spain, include air transportation, hotel accommodations for a four-night stay, spending money, entry into the Sponsorship Village and a city tour. The winners will also be featured at the VELUX booth at the 2007 AIA show.

Architects across the country were invited to submit entries detailing projects that utilized VELUX skylights. Blackwell’s project was the Caledonia State Park Office and Visitors Center for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. According to Blackwell, the project is part of a modernization program funded as part of the Pennsylvania Growing Greener initiative. “It is intended to modernize structures throughout the Pennsylvania State Park system using ‘growing greener’ principles and philosophies in their design solution,” he says.

Mitnik’s submission was a grand entry foyer created for a penthouse condominium in an 18th century Second Empire mansion in the historic MacIntyre District of Salem, MA. “I believe the uniqueness of this project is derived from the use of modern, functional skylights in a historic, classical setting, and from the fact that the skylights are as elegant at night as they are during the day,” Mitnik says.

The second place winner was Michael Lomont, Stelle Architects, Bridgehampton, NY, for an addition and renovation of a Sagaponack, NY beach house. Lomont said that the house didn’t have air conditioning and the owners wanted to keep it that way while taking advantage of the cool ocean breezes and the indoor/outdoor relationship of the house to its surroundings. “Ten motorized skylights thoroughly ventilate the space while allowing natural light to enter and dance across the room through the day,” he says.

Lomont received a cash prize and his entry will be recognized at the VELUX booth at the 2007 AIA show.

VELUX sponsors the solo round-the-world yacht race known as the world’s toughest sailing event. Skippers participating in their ocean-going yachts will each cover 30,000 miles, cross five oceans, and in the course of the race face some of the harshest condition in nature.

The VELUX 5 Oceans starts from Bilbao in October 2006. The race follows a Grand Prix format from Spain to Western Australia and then to Norfolk, Virginia before a final transatlantic sprint back to Bilbao in Spring 2007. The race, which was established in 1982 and takes place every four years, attracts both the elite of yachting as well as novice daredevils to spend months at sea alone. The 2006-2007 race is expected to have a minimum of 10 boats from sailing nations around the world.

For detailed information regarding the 25th anniversary race visit www.VELUX5oceans.com.
# # #

Media Contacts: Keith Hobbs - Business Services Associates, Inc.
Phone – 919.844.0064 — E-mail – khobbs@nc.rr.com