Call for Nominations: AIA Virginia Honors 2024

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Do you have a colleague who deserves recognition? Is there a firm with a great culture that consistently produces incredible work? Is there a building that has captured your heart? Consider nominating them for an award in AIA Virginia’s 2024 Honors Awards program.  

The Honors program recognizes the best efforts of Virginians who — by profession or avocation — have made creating, preserving, and enhancing Virginia’s communities an important life commitment.

Nominations

Nominations must be submitted online. Nominations should be submitted as a single PDF up to 20 pages (not including letters of support) and no larger than 15 MB.

Nominations for all AIA Virginia honors may be made by individual members, by chapter honors committees, by AIA Virginia committees, or by the Board of Directors itself.

Current AIA Virginia Board members and Honors Committee members are not eligible for any award. Members of the Honors Committee may not be used as a reference or adviser or be solicited by the candidate or the candidate’s advisor.

The deadline is Friday, June 14, 2024, at 5 p.m.

Eligibility

Eligibility criteria and submission requirements vary by award. Click on the awards listed below for additional details and to review past recipients.

Submit a nomination. (nominations for 2024 are now closed.)

Award Categories

Professional Awards

The William C. Noland Medal, as the highest award bestowed on a member architect, is intended to honor a distinguished body of accomplishments, sustained over time, that spans a broad spectrum of the profession and that transcends the scope of normal professional activities. Only one medal may be bestowed each year.

The T. David Fitz-Gibbon Virginia Architecture Firm Award, as the highest honor bestowed by AIA Virginia to a Virginia-based architecture firm, recognizes a firm that has consistently demonstrated outstanding and continuous contributions to design, the profession, and to the community for at least ten years.

The Virginia Emerging Architect Award recognizes the accomplishments of an emerging leader in Virginia for their contributions to the profession in any of the following: design, research, education, service as a “citizen architect,” service to the profession, service to the community, or initiatives to advance social justice, equity, diversity, or inclusion.

The Virginia Associates Award recognizes the accomplishments of individual Associate AIA members for being outstanding leaders and creative thinkers for significant contributions to their communities and the architecture profession.

The Award for Distinguished Achievement recognizes either a singular achievement by an architect or the work of an entire career in any of the following: design, practice, education, service as a “citizen architect,” service to the profession, or initiatives to advance social justice, equity, diversity, or inclusion.

The Test of Time Award recognizes architectural design of enduring significance. The structure should be in Virginia and must be no less than 25 years old. Building use may change over time if the overall design is cherished as a significant contribution to the community and the built environment.

Public Awards

The Architecture Medal for Virginia Service is AIA Virginia’s most prestigious public award, honoring an individual or organization that has made an unusually significant contribution to Virginia’s built environment or to the public’s understanding and awareness of the built environment. Only one medal may be bestowed each year but may be given simultaneously to more than one person.

Honorary Membership is bestowed upon a person of esteemed character who is not eligible for membership in the AIA Virginia but who has rendered distinguished and exemplary service, over a sustained period of time, to architecture and the built environment within the domain of AIA Virginia.

AIA Virginia Honors may be bestowed on non-member individuals or organizations that have inspired, influenced, or complemented the architecture profession in Virginia through practice of an allied profession, research, education, planning, legislation, architectural writing, the arts, or crafts. An individual who has previously been elected an Honorary Member of AIA Virginia is ineligible to receive AIA Virginia Honors.

Visions for Architecture

Visions for Architecture, created in 1998, is AIA Virginia’s annual Honors and Awards gala.

Visions celebrates the achievements of those whose work makes especially strong contributions to society and celebrates the recipients of AIA Virginia’s Honors Awards and the Awards for Excellence in Architecture.

Visions for Architecture 2023 will be held on Thursday, November 2nd at the Hippodrome in Richmond starting at 6:30 p.m.

Visions is now a more casual cocktail party with passed food instead of a seated dinner. Tickets can be purchased with or without your Architecture Exchange Registration here>> and are $125 each.

To support this event by becoming a sponsor, contact Jody Cranford at jcranford@aiava.org (800) 818-0289.

Visions for Architecture is sponsored by:

Burt Pinnock Recognized as 2022 Noland Medalist

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A career motivated by passion to preserve and advocate for historic black communities anchors the architect’s nomination

Burchell “Burt” Pinnock, FAIA, has been recognized with the William C. Noland Medal by AIA Virginia for his exceptional career and commitment to preserve and celebrate historic black communities and create opportunities for future generations within and beyond those communities. As the highest honor bestowed by AIA Virginia upon an architect, the Noland Medal is intended to recognize a distinguished body of accomplishments, sustained over time, spanning a broad spectrum of the profession, and transcending the scope of normal professional activities.

For more than 30 years, Pinnock was a voice for responsible design in many urban landscapes of Virginia, especially Richmond. His passion is found on a variety of cultural, master planning, residential, and adaptive reuse work for clients such as the City of Richmond, Black History Museum and Cultural Center, the Virginia Civil Rights Memorial Plaza, and the Richmond Slave Trail Commission. This important work and meaningful community impact led him to the appointment of the City of Richmond’s co-chair for the Richmond 300 Advisory Council.

Pinnock, seeing the opportunity to make a difference in Richmond’s urban neighborhoods, co-founded Storefront for Community Design, a nonprofit design center that works to create human connections, foster quality community development, and strengthen the legacy of Richmond’s urban areas. Richmond residents still live with the effects of inequitable planning practices and this volunteer-based collaborative draws on the talents of young architects and designers and city leaders to facilitate projects. Pinnock, a board member, also directly volunteers architectural services through dozens of pro-bono design sessions and helped facilitate large-scale community engagement workshops.

In his nomination letter, Professor of Humanities at the University of Richmond, Edward L. Ayers, recalled Pinnock’s remarkable skills while working on the university’s Burying Ground Memorialization Committee. The work required Pinnock to learn the complex history of the site, instruct the University of other work done in other places, translate design principles into language widely understood by non-designers, and win the trust of the descendants who were outraged and hurt by the university’s actions in the past.

Pinnock, says Ayers, accomplished all of the goals while also leading the committee’s members from the beginning to the end of its complex proceedings.

“Others can talk about the remarkable structures Burt has designed and overseen. I can testify to the remarkable sense of community and common purpose Burt created among people who shared little before he joined us,” Ayers noted in the nomination letter.

The honor is in memory of William C. Noland, FAIA, one of the founders of the AIA in Virginia, its second President, and Virginia’s first member to be elevated to AIA Fellowship.

Burt Pinnock will be celebrated at Visions for Architecture on Friday, Nov. 4, 2022, at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond.

LeFever and Mott Receive 2022 Awards for Distinguished Achievement

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Jeanne LeFever, AIA, and John Mott, FAIA, will be recognized with the Award for Distinguished Achievement this year by AIA Virginia. The award recognizes either a singular achievement by an architect or the work of an entire career in any of the following areas: design, practice, education, service as a “citizen architect,” service to the profession, or initiatives to advance social justice, equity, diversity, or inclusion.

Jeanne LeFever, AIA, has dedicated much of her career to leadership and mentorship within the profession. During her 35-years in practice, LeFever promoted inclusive professional development, strong values and policies, and thoughtful engagement throughout architecture and among architects. This cohesive and forward-thinking approach was demonstrated at her firm, Glavé & Holmes Architecture (G&HA), which transformed the culture, staff retention, and talent acquisition. When LeFever became a principal at G&HA in 2004, she had already forged a successful career as a strong architect, manager and leader. As a principal, LeFever understood the importance of sharing her experiences with young architects and being a role model to others hoping to make a difference in her footsteps.

LeFever’s leadership within the AIA began with the AIA Richmond Board of Directors where she served seven years in various roles. She helped to establish the Richmond Women in Design and the group continues to flourish eight years later. Volunteering on behalf of AIA Richmond over the years, and serving as its President from 2013-2014, LeFever strengthened the strategic position of both the chapter and AIA Virginia to enrich their membership, advocacy, professional development, and governance efforts.

LeFever’s experience led her to create a network of like-minded firms who discuss issues or draw from each other’s experiences. This mindset built bridges and connections between firms allowing more collaboration and openness to help each other. LeFever feels that connecting people and working together only makes firms and the profession stronger and more able to achieve goals that will strengthen our membership, communities, firms, and the future of the profession.

Through his 50-year career, John Mott, FAIA, shares a deep knowledge of architecture, preservation, and culture with clients, colleagues, young architects, and the public through mentoring and serving on numerous boards. Mott began his career in Arkansas where his professional interests evolved toward historic buildings and preservation. He moved to Washington, D.C. for George Notter in 1993, and later joined John Milner Associates (now MTFA Design + Preservation) to establish a successful office in Alexandria. Mott’s commitment to preserving our nation’s history and some of the most iconic American buildings spans 19 states, and he has led teams on over 200 preservation projects around the nation. More than 85 of them have been National Landmark or National Register buildings, including the Washington Monument, Stratford Hall, Ford’s Theater, Jefferson Memorial, and Lincoln Memorial.

Approximately 50 of his projects have been completed across 11 states, including Sage Chapel at Cornell University, Weiss Pavilion at the University of Pennsylvania, and Varsity Hall Rehabilitation at the University of Virginia. His projects have received 40 local, state, regional and national design awards. Yet, as a seasoned and accomplished architect, Mott’s extensive experience and knowledge never impeded his curiosity and eagerness to listen to new ideas and alternate possibilities. He believes that finding ways to make existing buildings useful in today’s marketplace is one of the most important ways the architecture and preservation community can contribute to the overall goal of sustainability for our shared planet.

LeFever and Mott will be celebrated at Visions for Architecture on Friday, Nov. 4, 2022, at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond.

Sen. Bill Stanley and Virginia NOMA recognized with AIA Virginia Honors

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Senator William M. “Bill” Stanley, Jr. and the Virginia chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects are recognized with AIA Virginia Honors in 2022.

AIA Virginia Honors may be bestowed on non-member individuals or organizations that have inspired, influenced, or complemented the architecture profession in Virginia through practice of an allied profession, research, education, planning, legislation, architectural writing, the arts, or crafts. AIA Virginia honors recognize the broader community and its members who contribute to the capabilities of architects to design equitable, healthy, and resilient environments.

Senator Stanley has served the Commonwealth since 2011, when he was nominated and elected to complete the term for the 19th Senate district seat. In 2012, he was elected as the Senator of the 20th District where he serves today. Senator Stanley has been a true advocate and partner for the architecture profession through his work to modernize schools in the Commonwealth. This commitment and dedication was evidenced by his role as chief patron on a number of Senate bills that created public school funding that provided grants for construction, repairs and replacements of critical infrastructure. Most recently, he developed and carried Senate Bill 603 on standards for maintenance and operation of school buildings, and championed another bill, SB 276, which would have allowed school boards to use unexpended funds to finance capital projects.

Virginia NOMA, also known as VANOMA, is a statewide leader in the advocacy, representation, and success of minority architects in the Commonwealth. As a newly formed chapter that received its charter officially in 2020, VANOMA has a clear understanding of its vision for the future as a respected voice and guide for those who want to learn more about and become actively engaged in issues of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in the profession. Through their advisory boards and professional programs, VANOMA has played a critical role in the development of emerging professionals and students on Virginia campuses. VANOMA provides support, professional guidance and active engagement to their student chapters at Hampton University, James Madison University, the University of Virginia, and Virginia Tech. Additionally, the chapter fosters community outreach and professional development programs across the state, including Project Pipeline camp, Hampton University’s Archi Camp, and providing ARE study group series.    

Sen. Stanley and VANOMA will be celebrated at Visions for Architecture on Friday, Nov. 4, 2022, at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond.

2022 Honors Committee Appointed

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At the Feb. 16 meeting, the AIA Virginia Board of Directors affirmed the following appointments to the 2022 Honors Committee:
Robert Boynton, FAIA (Chair)
Bill Brown, AIA
Emily Hogan, AIA
Randy Holmes, FAIA
Kevin Sneed, FAIA
Michael Spory, Assoc. AIA
Karen Van Lengen, FAIA
Kenneth Wiseman, FAIA

The following members will continue their terms on the committee:
April Drake, AIA
David Keith, FAIA
Eric Keplinger, AIA
Amanda Schlichting, AIA
Randy Vaughan, AIA

The honors program recognizes the best efforts of Virginians who, by profession or avocation, have made creating, preserving, and enhancing Virginia’s communities an important life commitment.

The call for nominations is expected to launch in late April.

2021 Honors Committee Appointed; Clark to Serve as Chair

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At the Feb. 26 meeting, the AIA Virginia Board of Directors affirmed the following appointments to the 2021 Honors Committee:

Jim Clark, FAIA (Chair)

Eric Keplinger, AIA

Amanda Schlichting, AIA

Randy Vaughan, AIA

Robert Boynton, FAIA

The following members will continue their terms on the committee:

Kendall Nicholson, Assoc. AIA

April Drake, AIA

Lee Shadbolt, AIA

Paula Loomis, FAIA

Chuck Swartz, FAIA

David Keith, FAIA

Bruce Wardell, AIA

Amber Hall, AIA

The honors program recognizes the best efforts of Virginians who, by profession or avocation, have made creating, preserving, and enhancing Virginia’s communities an important life commitment.

The call for nominations is expected to launch in late April.

Cox, Gordon, and Price Receive Awards for Distinguished Achievement

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Al Cox, FAIA, Christopher Gordon, AIA, and Mel Price, AIA, will be recognized with the Award for Distinguished Achievement next month by AIA Virginia. The Award for Distinguished Achievement recognizes the accomplishments of one or more architects each year in design, practice, education, service as “citizen architect,” service to the profession, or initiatives to advance social justice, equity, diversity, or inclusion.

Al Cox, FAIA, retired in March after 28 years as Historic Preservation Manager for the City of Alexandria, which is home to no fewer than six National Register historic districts and nine African-American historic places containing dozens of significant and contributing structures. Cox conceived and implemented several processes to streamline development review and build consensus between city officials, architects, developers, and citizens. By building relationships with all stakeholders and encouraging constructive public participation in the regulatory process, he became respected as a fair-minded, effective mediator, guiding development teams to the most appropriate design solution and consistently pushing them to accomplish their best work.

It was Cox’s conviction that the city is a living, evolving organism and not a museum frozen in time. In that vein, he fostered many successful new infill projects in Alexandria as well as many thoughtful and sensitive adaptive reuse projects throughout the city’s 15 square miles. A passionate preservationist, he was also a proactive advocate for good design, regardless of style. His philosophy, education and private sector experience was grounded in historic preservation for its cultural, economic and environmental benefits without limiting creative, appropriate modern design alternatives. The role of City Architect and the design review processes created by Mr. Cox provides a model that can, and should, be repeated in local governments throughout the country.

Christopher Gordon, AIA, is a national leader who collaborates with developers and zoning authorities to create affordable housing that advances the vision of a diverse, inclusive, and sustainable community. His comprehensive approach from concept through crafting innovative strategies to obtain financing through the whole life-cycle of the building, itself, shapes the efficacy of high-performing and affordable solutions for people. Gordon transforms lives, and as a founding principal of KGD Architecture in 1995, he has directed his firm to award-winning success while remaining anchored in the needs of clients and communities.

Chris’ 2018 Columbia Hills project for Columbia Pike in Arlington is one of dozens of examples of his design leadership over the last quarter century. The $91 million, 330,000 square foot project consisting of 229 units for low-income families, recently won a ULI Washington Trends Award as a national case study that blends a novel hybrid financing model with an EarthCraft Platinum certification with a host of amenities that bring richness and community to one of the area’s largest apartment buildings. “Chris advances the profession of architecture resulting in lasting impact on society,” says Manoj Dalaya, FAIA, in his nominating letter, “and he is highly deserving of an Award for Distinguished Achievement.”

Mel Price, AIA, has spent nearly two decades building a strong reputation for designing and leading numerous successful projects at all scales. When Mel Price and her partner, Thom White, opened their Norfolk firm Work Program Architects in 2010, they also pushed a different sort of philosophy of firm management through transparency about finances and salaries, prioritizing collaboration and openness above all in projects, and reserving 10 percent of firm profits to cover pro-bono service. In short, Price built a practice worth emulating with an unrelenting focus on community.

Price has also built a practice that’s helping secure Norfolk’s future. Coastal resilience is an urgent challenge that will affect the lives of millions of Americans, 1.7 million of which live in the Hampton Roads region. By forging close ties to her home city, Mel and WPA have steered several projects to completion that are born of a focus on resilience, will help ensure a sustainable future, and will repair communities long derelict or suffering. The Elizabeth River Project’s Resilience Lab, the Elizabeth River Trail, government grants for the Ohio Creek Watershed encompassing Norfolk State University and the Chesterfield Heights neighborhood, OpenNorfolk, and the Selden Market are all prime examples of Price’s valuable contribution to the region.

The Awards will be presented at Visions for Architecture on Thursday, Oct. 8 in an online awards ceremony beginning at 4:30 p.m. The program is free but registration is required.

Call for Nominations: 2020 Honors Awards

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Do you have a colleague who deserves recognition? Is there a firm that consistently produces incredible work? Is there a building that has captured your heart? Consider nominating them for AIA Virginia’s Honors Awards program.  

The Honors program recognizes the best efforts of Virginians who — by profession or avocation — have made creating, preserving, and enhancing Virginia’s communities an important life commitment.

Important note: The AIA Virginia board, at its April 2020 board meeting, revised the descriptions of the Virginia Emerging Professional Award and the Award for Distinguished Achievement to recognize individuals engaged in initiatives to advance social justice, equity, diversity, or inclusion. As you’re considering your nominees, please keep this in mind!

Nominations

Nominations must be submitted online. Nominations should be submitted as a single PDF up to 20 pages (not including letters of support) and no larger than 15 MB.

Nominations for all AIA Virginia honors may be made by individual members, by chapter honors committees, by AIA Virginia committees, or by the Board of Directors itself.

Current AIA Virginia Board members and Honors Committee members are not eligible for any award. Members of the Honors Committee may not be used as a reference or adviser or be solicited by the candidate or the candidate’s advisor.

The deadline is Wednesday, July 1, 2020 at 5 p.m.

Want an overview of the awards or some tips on putting together a successful nomination? Register for our webinar on June 3.

Eligibility

Eligibility criteria and submission requirements vary by award. Click on the awards listed below for additional details and to review past recipients.

Award Categories

The William C. Noland Medal, as the highest award bestowed on a member architect, is intended to honor a distinguished body of accomplishments, sustained over time, that spans a broad spectrum of the profession and that transcends the scope of normal professional activities. Only one medal may be bestowed each year.

The Architecture Medal for Virginia Service is AIA Virginia’s most prestigious public award, honoring an individual or organization that has made an unusually significant contribution to Virginia’s built environment or to the public’s understanding and awareness of the built environment. Only one medal may be bestowed each year but may be given simultaneously to more than one person.

The T. David Fitz-Gibbon Virginia Architecture Firm Award, as the highest honor bestowed by AIA Virginia to a Virginia-based architecture firm, recognizes a firm that has consistently produced distinguished architecture for at least ten years.

The Virginia Emerging Professional Award recognizes the accomplishments of an emerging leader in Virginia for their contributions to the profession in any of the following: design, research, education, service as a “citizen architect,” service to the profession, service to the community, or initiatives to advance social justice, equity, diversity, or inclusion.

The Award for Distinguished Achievement recognizes either a singular achievement by an architect or the work of an entire career in any of the following: design, practice, education, service as a “citizen architect,” service to the profession, or initiatives to advance social justice, equity, diversity, or inclusion.

Honorary Membership is bestowed upon a person of esteemed character who is not eligible for membership in the AIA Virginia but who has rendered distinguished and exemplary service, over a sustained period of time, to architecture and the built environment within the domain of AIA Virginia.

AIA Virginia Honors may be bestowed on non-member individuals or organizations that have inspired, influenced, or complemented the architecture profession in Virginia through practice of an allied profession, research, education, planning, legislation, architectural writing, the arts, or crafts. An individual who has previously been elected an Honorary Member of AIA Virginia is ineligible to receive AIA Virginia Honors.

The Test of Time Award recognizes architectural design of enduring significance. The structure should be in Virginia and must be no less than 25 years old. Building use may change over time if the overall design is cherished as a significant contribution to the community and the built environment.

Siewers Lumber and Loudoun Design Cabinet Recognized with AIA Virginia Honors

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Richmond-based Siewers Lumber & Millwork and the Loudoun County Department of Economic Development’s Design Cabinet will be recognized with AIA Virginia Honors at the Visions for Architecture gala on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Hilton Downtown Richmond. AIA Virginia Honors may be bestowed on non-member individuals or organizations that have inspired, influenced, or complemented the architecture profession in Virginia through practice of an allied profession, research, education, planning, legislation, architectural writing, the arts, or crafts.

For nearly 135 years, Virginia’s architects have relied upon Siewers Lumber and Millwork to help realize their designs. The company has reliably offered a vast array of historical wood trim patterns, in-house woodworkers, and expert craftspeople to help develop custom solutions for even the most sensitive restoration projects. Their ongoing commitment to offering high-quality educational opportunities to the industry not only serves the profession’s current needs, but anticipates them moving forward. For those in the design profession and construction trades — particularly those who work in the fields of restoration and historic preservation — Siewers has been an invaluable partner for generations.

In 2003, the Loudoun County Design Cabinet was formed through the county’s Department of Economic Development to help promote high-quality, environmentally sustainable, and culturally respectful architectural and landscape design in one of the fastest-growing communities in the Commonwealth. In addition to their awards program and design charrettes, the Design Cabinet is asked regularly to collaborate on a variety of issues, such as streetscape improvement, campus planning, sustainable design, and modifications to the County Zoning Ordinance. What started as a bold and unique experiment nearly twenty years ago to determine whether design professionals could effectively “work with their communities rather than for their communities,” has become the new standard within Loudoun County and a model for communities nationwide.

Tickets to Visions for Architecture are available online.