Lisa L. Kennedy, AIA, of Whitefish Bay, Wis., was selected to receive AIA Wisconsin’s 2005 Golden Award, the highest honor that the chapter can confer upon a member architect. Kennedy received her award May 4 at the Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center in Madison. Kennedy became the 18th Wisconsin architect to receive the award; the first Golden Award was presented by the chapter in 1986.

2005 AIA Wisconsin President Cherie Claussen, AIA, praised the Gold Award recipient by saying, “Lisa Kennedy’s record of service and leadership epitomizes the purpose for which the Golden Award was established. From helping to lead the national architecture student organization in the early 1980s to chairing last year’s National AIA Convention, she has consistently inspired her fellow architects to make the profession of ever-increasing value to our communities.”

Service at many levels
The chapter’s selection of Kennedy reflects her significant contributions to the AIA at the local, state, and national levels; distinguished service to the profession of architecture on licensing and other government affairs issues; and the inspiration she has provided other architects to get involved and make a difference in shaping their profession and their communities.

After earning a BS in architectural studies in 1981 and MArch in 1984 from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Kennedy became a licensed architect in 1987. She subsequently founded her own practice, which operated for 12 years in the Milwaukee area. Currently, she serves as director of design and construction for BF Companies, Inc. in Oak Creek, Wis.

Kennedy’s service to the Institute dates back to 1983 as the first student representative on the Wisconsin Society of Architects’ Board of Directors. She served the board as the first associate representative in 1985. In 1991, she was president of the local AIA Southeast Wisconsin chapter, and in 1994, Kennedy was elected president of the Wisconsin Society of Architects. She was the youngest architect and the first woman to serve the chapter as president.

Community and national involvement
Kennedy served on the national AIA Board of Directors from 2001–2003, representing architects in Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota. During her tenure, she was a member of the Government Affairs Advisory Committee and chair of the jury for the Institute Honors for Collaborative Achievement Awards. In 2004, Kennedy chaired the AIA National Convention and Design Expo in Chicago.

In 1996, Kennedy was appointed by the governor as a professional member of the Architect Section of the Joint Examining Board in the Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing. The same year, Kennedy also became an adjunct faculty member at her alma mater. In 1997, the YWCA of Greater Milwaukee recognized Kennedy’s contributions by conferring on her the Outstanding Woman of Achievement Award. In addition, the Milwaukee Business Journal named her one of the “40 under 40” business leaders in the Milwaukee area.

Promoter of good practices
In her acceptance speech, Kennedy offered hopes for the future of architects and the profession: “I’d like us to get better at looking at the benefits that an architect can bring to the table beyond design,” she said. “Although that is our strength, and the quality that separates us from other professions, I sometimes think that our power as creative thinkers is definitely not fully appreciated . . . I’d like us to get better at recognizing opportunities that will elevate our status within our communities.”

Kennedy also told the audience that she believes that architects have a duty to be better stewards of their profession. “We sometimes forget that the future is with others, not ourselves, and to that end, we need to go the extra mile to support and nurture others to insure the health of the industry. We’ve come a long way with mentoring, but too often we only think of this as taking a student, intern, or young practitioner under our wing. Certainly, we need to continue to promote good practices in the early years, but I think that most of us could use advice at other points in our careers as well.”

“The fellowship that the AIA provides is the perfect platform for opportunities to learn from our colleagues and their experiences,” Kennedy concluded. “By developing a stronger network for sharing information, we’ll become a stronger and healthier profession.”

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