The American Architectural Foundation and the French Heritage Society have selected Chicago architect Mary Brush, AIA, as this year’s recipient of the Richard Morris Hunt Fellowship. Awarded alternately to French and American architects, the Hunt Fellowship provides $25,000 for a six-month-immersion work/study program that enables young architects from France and the U.S. to observe and practice the latest historic preservation techniques, meet other professionals, and visit sites of significance in one another’s country. Established in 1990, the fellowship is named for Richard Morris Hunt, the first American architect to study at the Ècole des Beaux-Arts and one of the founders of the AIA. The mission of the French Heritage Society (formerly known as the Vieilles Maisons Francaises, Inc.) is akin to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

A jury of international professionals selected Brush from three finalist candidates. Brush holds dual master’s degrees in historic preservation and architecture from Columbia University and is presently employed as director of preservation for Klein & Hoffman, Inc. She has been an active Young Architect in the AIA Chicago chapter and has participated in myriad preservation conferences and organizations including DoCoMoMo/US/International, Association for Preservation Technology, Chicago Architecture Foundation, and the Landmark Preservation Council of Illinois. She speaks fluent French and has been trained by Vertical Access to “ascend and descend building exteriors using Industrial Rope Access rock climbing and repelling techniques to perform building investigations.”

During her fellowship, Brush plans to “survey building envelope restoration as practiced in France in an attempt to discern substantive differences between the professional practices in the U.S. and France.” Upon completion, she intends to publish the result of her study in an article or series of articles, with the potential to generate a book in collaboration with French preservation professionals. In his letter of support for Brush, John F. Hartray, FAIA, principal, NHDKMP Architects, wrote, “I am intrigued by opportunities inherent in combining her pragmatic experience with this rich body of French theoretical knowledge. This seems to promise a synthesis that could contribute substantially to the preservation of our urban fabric.” Brush will begin her fellowship in May.

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