Confindustria Ceramica and the Italian Trade Commission have announced the winners of its 15th annual Ceramic Tiles of Italy Design Competition. Top awards went to BKA Architects for an installation at Samsonite's corporate headquarters, Richard Fleischman + Partners Architects for their work at a job center in Cleveland, and Division1 Architects and Koji Tsutsui for residential projects.

Massachusetts-based BKA received the top award in the commercial category for a 65,000 sq. ft. project at Samonsite's headquarters. According to David Seibert, sr. vp and sr. designer of BKA, a highlight of the project is the Samonsite logo inlaid in the central lobby using 24" by 24" porcelain tile from Floor Gres. “The swirling floor pattern was designed to draw people through the lobby into Samsonite’s new Corporate Headquarters,” he said.

Colorful tiling from Impronta Ceramiche used on the exteriors of buildings at the Cleveland Job Corps Center garnered Cleveland-based Richard Fleischman + Partners Architects the top award in the institutional category. The firm used 12" by 12" and 12" by 24" formats in multiple colors on the exteriors of all the buildings on the 25-acre campus. The tile was used to "express the supportive and inviting nature of the Job Corps' mission," according to the company.

Two firms split the top award in the residential category. Division1 Architects of Silver Spring, Md. was honored for its work on the Roberts Residence. The installation included 12" by 24" Ceramiche Caesar tile on both the exterior and interior in some whimsical settings -- including along a bridge and the wall of a fish tank. An award also went to Koji Tsutsui Architect & Associates of San Francisco for its Industrial Designer House. Located in Tokyo, the designer house features Refin tiles as a central motif. The tiles were chosen for their sleek white look, according to the company.

The Italian trade groups also awarded Michael P. Johnson Design Studios Ltd. with its Legend Award. The two-time Ceramic Tiles of Italy Design Competition winner, based in Scottsdale, Ariz., was singled out for his work on two projects in his hometome. Using Imola tiles, he created projects of unique beauty and minimalist sophistication, the trade groups noted.