2007 Latrobe Prize Entries Due December 1

Summary: The AIA College of Fellows announces a call for submissions for the 2007 Latrobe Fellowship. All applications must be postmarked on or before December 1. The fellowship—named for Benjamin Henry Latrobe, one of America's first professional architects—supports research that will increase the knowledge base of the architecture profession. The 2007 Latrobe Prize recipient will receive a $100,000 stipend for a two-year research effort, the results of which are documented in publications, exhibitions, or educational programming that will inform, educate, and provide new insights for the architecture profession.

Under the general theme of “Transforming Practices,” this year’s program aims to stimulate proposals with direct relevance to practice. Especially welcome are proposals that demonstrate how the benefits of architectural research extend to clients and communities.

First-stage proposals must include:

Title page: Title of project, name(s) and institutional affiliation(s) of principal investigator(s); keywords; date of submission; and a 125-word abstract summarizing proposed research topic; questions, problems, or conditions that stimulate the research; scope of work; and the expected outcomes of the project

Description: 500-word expository description of the topic, scope, and projected outcomes of the proposed work; institutional context of the research (e.g., team composition, facilities, travel, institutional support); and proposed plans to disseminate the results of the research once complete.

Preliminary budget: Itemized use of the $100,000 grant (e.g., salaries, release time, research assistance, travel, equipment, supplies, software, etc.).

Production schedule: Timeline of the proposed program of research, including expected deadlines for the publication of preliminary results.

Supporting documentation: CV(s) of the principal investigator(s). Detailed letter of support from the applicant’s supervising unit head or chief executive or chief academic officer of the department, college, university, company, or corporation, as appropriate. Maximum of 20 pages of additional documentation directly related to the proposed research program (e.g., copies of relevant writings, completed or speculative creative work or building design, or other documentation that establishes unique expertise and qualifications).

All proposals must be on 8 ½” x 11” paper and a maximum of 30 pages.

A jury of distinguished architects and educators will evaluate the proposals and select finalists for the second phase, who will present their proposals in person at the jury site. The successful candidate will then sign a contractual agreement with the AIA College of Fellows. The Latrobe Fellow also will be required to document his or her research and recommendations in publications and on a Web site and present findings and recommendations at the COF annual meeting.

Get more detailed information on the Latrobe Prize Web site or contact Pauline Porter, director, AIA College of Fellows, 202-626-7521.