Los Angeles—Contract has announced the winners of its inaugural Inspirations Awards, a new program sponsored by Tandus, that recognizes social responsibility in commercial interior design and architecture. Winners were awarded in two categories: Meeting Street Center of Excellence in Providence, R.I., designed by Saccoccio Associates Architects, Design One Consortium, and Cardis Furniture, won for using design and/or design skills to improve the quality of life for those in need; and BOTANIST, a philanthropic program developed by Orange 22 of Los Angeles, was given top honors in the category of recognizing cause-related work by the commercial interiors community.

In addition to the two winners, six honorable mentions were selected by the judges, who included John Cary, executive director of Public Architecture in San Francisco (Contract's 2009 Designer of the Year); Prataap Patrose, director of urban planning, City of Boston; and Trisha Wilson, principal, Wilson Design Associates of Dallas.

At a March 25 ceremony on the rooftop terrace of the new London West Hollywood, Tandus presented a $5,000 donation to each winner to benefit the cause supported by the winning work. Meeting Street is one of the first U.S. schools in which children with or without disabilities can reach their full potential, as universal building systems and design elements focus on improving the quality of life for every child. Botanist eco-friendly furniture brings together design and social responsibility, with 2 percent of sales donated to partner foundations chosen by collaborating designers, proving that businesses can be profitable while making a positive social and environmental impact.

Honorable mentions included the Interseminarian Project Place Gatehouse, a homelessness transition shelter in Boston, designed by Hacin + Associates; The Eco School House, designed by Peckham & Wright Architects as an alternative to trailer classrooms for Columbia Public Schools in Columbia, Mo.; a new facility for the YWCA of Chicago, designed by HOK; Father Joe's Villages, an affordable housing project in San Diego, designed by Joseph Wong Design Associates; Abbott Fund, which supports the renovation and modernization of medical diagnostic laboratories in Tanzania, Africa, by HDR and CUH2A; and Rouge Tomate, a New York restaurant designed by Bentel and Bentel Architects and Mark Horton Architect that supports sustainable elements and business practices while offering an optimal balance of nutritional dishes.