On a bright and splendid June evening, the "heroes and heroines" of the Puget Sound design community gathered with AIA 2003 President Thompson Penney, FAIA, and Gretchen Penney AIA, at Seattle's Weyerhaeuser Corporate Headquarters building (recipient of the 2001 AIA Twenty-five Year Award), to celebrate recipients of national and local honors.

On behalf of the Institute, the Penneys delivered greetings to the assembled company and helped bring home the medals to those recognized with national honors this year. Their observations of the local design culture, based on brief but intense exposure, as Gretchen Penney noted, incorporated a "view of what makes Seattle such a great place to live and work. There is a vibrant spirit here that is evidenced in your architecture, your diverse culture, and the beauty of your surroundings."

The Penneys conveyed the congratulations of AIA President Gordon H. Chong, FAIA, to two Washington State architects inducted into the AIA College of Fellows, allowing these honorees to share the glorious moment with "the home team." In his thoughts on celebrating heroes and heroines, Thom Penney expanded on a quote from the great jurist Oliver Wendell Holmes, noting, "It's not enough to think good thoughts; you must have the focus, dedication, energy, and courage to act!"

Thom Penney characterized the evening's honorees as exceptional "doers," who "shake up the status quo around them." As he called them forward to receive applause, James R. Merritt, FAIA, and Michael E. Smith, FAIA, offered their observations on receiving this national recognition, among a group of some 125 colleagues, friends, and family members. As 2001 CACE Executive of the Year, this author acknowledged the joy of finding a place in the AIA Seattle community, and shared pride in the teamwork of assembled family and friends.

The Home Team
The festive assembly also celebrated recipients of local honors, including 2002 AIA Seattle Medalist David Hoedemaker, FAIA. This highest honor recognizes a lifetime of contributions to the culture of design excellence that has shaped not only the Pacific skyline but one of the nation's largest and most successful design practices, Seattle-based NBBJ. "My greatest pleasure in receiving the AIA Seattle Medal is your recognition that my partners and I have achieved some success in our ambitious struggle for design excellence in large-scale work, and that our passionate search in design, process, and technology has had a positive influence on the architectural culture of the Pacific Northwest," Hoedemaker said. "I am delighted to receive the 2002 AIA Seattle Medal, and honored to take my place among the very distinguished architects who have received this award in the past."

Tributes and applause also honored Environmental Works, recipient of the 2002 Allied Organization Award in recognition of 30 years of nonprofit design practice bringing excellence to community facilities. S. Keli Hagen, Assoc. AIA, received the 2002 Community Service Award, acknowledging her work with native youth and her effort to give back to the community of her origin based on the empowerment she has found in her design career.

John Nesholm, FAIA, chair of the Honors Nominating Committee, presented AIA Seattle Honorary Membership to three members of a generation of the Bullitt family, whose distinct and shared generosity to communities throughout Washington has brought vision and grace: Harriet Bullitt, Stimson Bullitt, and Priscilla Bullitt Collins. Engineer Jon Magnusson, of Skilling Ward Magnusson Barkshire, accepted recognition for the firm's inspired contributions to landmark structures including the World Trade Center as well as notable local projects, and for his clear communication about the engineering achievement that saved lives in the immediate aftermath of the attacks of September 11, 2001. Mary Randlett, whose brilliant photographs over a career of 50+ years have documented people, places, and the rich spectrum of Pacific Northwest culture, also received the recognition of AIA Seattle Honorary Membership.

As the evening drew to a close, AIA Seattle President Steven N. Arai, AIA, and Fellows/Honors Council President Roger Williams, FAIA, called the "Honor Roll," connecting those recognized this year with those who have accepted honors in the past.

And the grand finale . . .
To mark the occasion in memory, the Emerald City company rose for a traditional closing circle, joining hands to sing "Penneys from Heaven," before departing in a spirit of shared achievement.

Penneys from Heaven
Every time it rains, it rains penneys from heaven.
Don't you know each cloud contains penneys from heaven?
You'll find your fortune is falling all over the town.
Be sure your umbrella is upside down.

Trade them for a package of sunshine and flowers.
If you want the things you love, you must have showers.
So when you hear it thunder don't run under a tree.
There'll be penneys from heaven for you and me.

(Adapted without permission from the original, by Johnny Burke & Arthur Johnston.)

Copyright 2002 The American Institute of Architects. All rights reserved.