A second-floor addition to an 87-year-old Forrest Street home has won an award of merit from the Northern Virginia chapter of the American Institute of Architects. It gave the Kitten Herlong Memorial Award for Associates to Lyndi T. Youssef of Great Seal Inc. in Alexandria.

It was Youssefs second addition for a growing Ring family, she explained. The award went to the most recent project, which added 940 square feet to the original, 891-square-foot structure. The addition rises above a 215-square-foot front porch, at a cost of $200,000.

Due to this second project, she said, The second floor is now comprised of two bedrooms, bath, computer loft and den. But, she added, It was as much about creating the facade as adding space. The homeowners wanted to retain the look of their Craftsman-style home.

To this end, she said, The elevated front porch sits on its original foundation and is accentuated by tapered columns. The low slope hip roof over the porch breaks up the strong vertical element. The second floor projection over the porch cradles window seats in the two bedrooms.

Youssef, who has a masters degree in architecture from Virginia Tech, said her brother, Bob Thorsen, was the contractor for this project.

The jury explained its decision by saying, It is commendable that this associate member was responsible for the entire project. The members called it a well-edited design that does not overreach but does a nice job of integrating and unifying the original structure and the various additions.

The awards were given last month at the Capital One Lecture Hall and Conference Center in McLean.