Summary: Friday’s session began with a number of prestigious awards:

• R. Randall Vosbeck, FAIA, received the Edward C. Kemper Award for significant contribution to the profession through service to the AIA
• The National Organization of Minority Architects received the Whitney M. Young Jr. Award for the contributions of an architect or organization that exemplifies the profession’s responsibility to be a role model of and an engaged advocate for a more just and inclusive society
• Jay Lance Brown, FAIA, received the Topaz Medallion for Excellence in Architecture Education, which recognizes an individual who has made outstanding contributions to architecture education for at least 10 years.

This session also offered posthumous tribute to this year’s Gold Medal recipient, Edward Larrabee Barnes, as well as an update from the American Architectural Foundation.

Following the awards presentation, a panel of three visionary advocates for a sustainable future: moderator Ray Cole, Chrisna du Plessis, and William Reed led a lively panel discussion, “A Living Approach to Design.”

Vosbeck Receives Kemper Award
“Our AIA150 theme is ‘Celebrating the Past, Designing the Future.’ I can think of no other person who better embodies both than this year’s recipient of the Institute’s prestigious Edward C. Kemper Award, R. Randall Vosbeck,” said AIA President RK Stewart, FAIA. The award is the namesake of Edward Kemper, the Institute’s first executive director, and is conferred by the AIA Board on an Architect member who, in the spirit of Kemper, has contributed significantly to the profession through service to the Institute.

“I am deeply honored, and humbled, to have been selected in this 150th anniversary year, and to join the distinguished group of architects who have been recipients of this prestigious award since it was initiated in 1950,” Vosbeck said. “I have always loved this profession, and love serving it through the AIA.”

Vosbeck noted that Thomas Jefferson, his idol and hero, once said, “Architecture is my Delight.” “Well, Tom, architecture is my delight as well,” Vosbeck declared. “I urge all of you to make architecture your delight as well, and to serve this wonderful profession through the AIA.” He also acknowledged Phoebe, his wife of 54 years. “Thanks Phoebe, I love you. And thanks again to the AIA for wonderful opportunities and for making me a better architect and a better person.”

NOMA honored with Whitney M. Young Jr. Award
Stewart reminded the audience that as a featured speaker at the 1968 AIA National Convention, civil rights activist Whitney Young Jr. criticized attendees for their social reticence and challenged them to become a positive force for social change. One of the initiatives created in response is the Whitney M. Young Jr. Award, which recognizes the contributions of an architect or organization that exemplifies the profession’s responsibility to be a role model of and an engaged advocate for a more just and inclusive society. This year’s Whitney Young Award goes to the National Organization of Minority Architects, NOMA.

NOMA President Carlton Smith, AIA, NOMA, accepted the award on behalf of the organization. “In order to move the country and the profession forward toward a fair, just, and equitable society, we must have the courage to have difficult discussions, discussions among people of all colors and genders that can get beyond small talk and extend into deeper and less comfortable territory,” he said. “Only then will we, together, become actualized around the cause of eliminating structural inequality within our profession.”

Smith expressed hope that “NOMA will work in partnership with the AIA to attack the problems of race and gender within architecture at a systemic level, rather than at the surface, such that one day in the future, the circumstance cited by Whitney Young Jr. that gave rise to the formation of NOMA will be squarely behind us.” He thanked the AIA; NOMA’s nominator, the Boston Society of Architects; and all who presented letters in support of our nomination. “I would personally like to thank Kathy Dixon AIA, NOMA, for without her hard work, I would not be standing here today accepting the award on behalf of NOMA,” he concluded. “Together, we can do great things.”

Lance Jay Brown Receives Topaz Medallion
“The Topaz Medallion honors neither bricks, nor stone, nor glass. The award celebrates the mission, passion, and dedication of building minds and nurturing souls,” declared Stewart. “It celebrates our teachers, our mentors, our guides, and their great purpose.”

The Topaz Medallion for Excellence in Architecture Education recognizes an individual who has made outstanding contributions to architecture education for at least 10 years. Stewart was joined by ACSA President Ted Landsmark, Assoc. AIA, to present the joint award to Lance Jay Brown, FAIA, this year’s recipient.

“Thank you. Thank you all,” Brown said. He told the audience how much he loves architecture: “Hell, I even love landscape architecture,” he joked. The challenge to grow green, he said means that now we must concentrate on cities. “We need more urban design,” he said. “It is the cities and towns, and the people who will inhabit them, that will enable us to grow beyond green.

“One source says that the word topaz is derived from the Greek topazos, to seek. I find this most appropriate. We are all on an endless mission—an adventure—we are seekers,” Brown said. “We must face our challenges with integrity, creativity, and optimism. It is what we do and what I intend to keep doing as long as I can. I share the Topaz honor with you all with the hope that we will continue to rise to current and future challenges like no others can.”

Tribute to Edward Larrabee Barnes
“As if the AIA150 were not reason enough to celebrate, this year is the 100th anniversary of the AIA Gold Medal, the highest award the AIA can give for a lifetime of distinguished individual achievement in architecture,” Stewart said as prelude to the video tribute that honored posthumously this year’s recipient, Edward Larrabee Barnes. “No common style, label, or manner can be applied to those who over the years have been selected by their peers to be so honored,” Stewart concluded. “No label fits, except one word—‘excellence.’”

AAF outlines education, outreach efforts
Chair of the American Architectural Foundation’s Board of Regents Eric Cantor brought convention participants up to date on the AAF’s programs on leadership development, K-12 projects, and stewardship of the Octagon. AAF CEO and President Ron Bogle, Hon. AIA, then explained the Foundation’s “Great Schools by Design” program, with Target as the presenting sponsor and the AIA’s Committee on Architecture for Education. “In an effort to involve America’s youth in helping think about how schools should be conceived for the 21st century, we have launched ‘Redesign Your School: A Contest of Scholarly Proportions,’” Bogle said. “March 1 was the kick-off date, and we have already generated over 6,000 registrations from all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Registration continues through June 30, and we currently anticipate over 10,000 registrations with 3,000 to 5,000 actual entrees.”

Four regional juries and a national jury will convene in September to judge the student entrees and then will announce 100 national semi-finalists, 20 national finalists, 7 scholarship winners, and one grand-prize winner. On November 5, these top 8 students and their sponsors will be flown to Washington, D.C., to present their work and receive scholarships ranging from $5,000 to $10,000. “When all is said and done, this is shaping up to be the largest single architectural engagement of America’s youth in the history of the nation,” Bogle exclaimed.