Resident wins architectural design award

Samuel Wacht, a Calabasas resident and member of the San Fernando Valley chapter of the American institute of Architects, was awarded the Best Community Development award for his design and development of the Laughlin Bay Marina.

Wacht received the prize on Jan. 21 at an awards presentation and banquet at the Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City.

The Laughlin Bay Marina is the first major new development in Laughlin, Nev. in more than 15 years and the first private marina in Nevada built entirely on private property.

Located on Needles Highway at Casino Drive, the development spans 32 acres with 1,250 feet of frontage on Laughlin Bay Lagoon with direct access to the Colorado River.

The environmentally-conscious marina is the first marina in Nevada designed to comply with voluntary clean marina standards to help protect the natural habitat in the lagoon.

Laughlin Bay Marina offers such amenities as preferred vessel service and launch reservations, 110 boat slips in the lagoon, dry storage and maintenance, facilities for an additional 240 boats and watercraft, a threelane launch ramp, a lighted boardwalk, shop store, full-service restaurant, cocktail bar and a sandy beach area.

Construction will begin this year on a gated, river-view residential community of 499 condominiums and townhouses, which will include a clubhouse with a fitness center, community pool and spa, barbecue facilities and fire pits.

Watcht formed his architectural firm, Samuel Wacht Associates, in 1957. The firm includes architects, engineers, planners and consultants who provide a comprehensive scope of services for a broad client base.

Watcht has designed projects across the nation, including more than 60,000 housing units, as well as 6,000 units of congregate and healthcare facilities. Other projects designed by the firm include office buildings, self storage facilities, industrial buildings, shopping centers, hotels and casinos.

Watcht is a member of the American Institute of Architect’s National Chapters and the San Fernando Valley Chapter, a previous member of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), National Association for Senior Living Industries, American Society on Aging, National Council of Residential Care Facilities and the National Council on Aging.

He has been a faculty speaker for Multi-Housing news, Crittenden Conference Programs and the NAHB. The firm has won numerous design awards.

Wacht received a bachelor’s of architecture in 1955 from USC and resides in Calabasas with his wife, Jo Ann.