Summary: Architecture graduates from New York City, Chicago, and central Illinois earned this year’s AIA Associate Award and will be honored at the AIA 2009 National Convention and Design Exposition in San Francisco. Venesa Alicea, Assoc. AIA; Adam Ferrari, Assoc. AIA; and Douglas Milburn, Assoc. AIA, have distinguished themselves as talented and exemplary leaders within the profession.

With nominations made by an AIA component, Board member, knowledge community, or the College of Fellows, the AIA Associates Award, first presented in 2008, is the highest honor given to individual Associate AIA members based on their demonstrated and unparalleled commitment to their component or region's membership, in the community, in professional organizations, and/or in the design and construction industries.

Venesa Alicea, Assoc. AIA
Even before graduating from the City College of New York, Vanesa Alicia was active in the AIA. Since then, she has been committed to every aspect of importance to the Institute, at the chapter level and beyond. AIA New York Chapter President James McCullar, FAIA, and Executive Director Fredrick Bell, FAIA, note in their nomination letter that Alicea has worked tirelessly within the AIA in leadership roles, most notably to reach out to architecture students and associate members alike, focusing especially on women and minorities, to encourage them to enter architecture school, graduate, and become licensed. “Vanesa’s commitment is unwavering and her full potential is yet to be tapped,” writes 2007 Topaz Laureate Lance Jay Brown, FAIA. “It is so important for the Institute to encourage talented young women entering the architectural profession, to encourage them,” writes Barbara A. Nadel, FAIA, in support. “The time and effort Vanesa has dedicated to promoting licensure among Associates, while completing IDP and pursuing licensure herself, has amazed me,” adds Carolyn Sponza, AIA. Her abilities in practice abound as well, notes Dattner Architects Principal William Stein, FAIA, “including: a new Salvation Army Community Center; a new Public School in Battery Park City; Stanley Commons, an affordable townhouse development in Brooklyn; and Via Verde, an innovative sustainable, affordable housing development in the South Bronx.”

Adam Ferrari, Assoc. AIA
“Beside his effort within the office,” writes Holabird & Root Principal James W. Baird, FAIA, “Adam excels in all three aspects of this award. He is a natural leader who is involved in the community, he is active in the design/construction industry, and he devotes his personal time to professional organizations and service groups.” His role in community development is extolled by Rita Trapp of the Minnesota Design Team: “He has become a recognized leader in our organization,” she writes. And, as an organizer for the Rochester (Minn.) Design Society, Ferrari has been instrumental in directing two programs that have returned to the community: Rochester Better Chance and Leadership Greater Rochester. “I have been witness to Adam’s passion for design and his belief that good design can and does improve communities on all levels,” testifies HDR Principal Mark A. Jasmin, AIA. As an intern at Holabird &Root, Ferrari “demonstrated a genuine commitment to the success of all projects that he has been involved in and a passionate advocate for quality architecture and design,” writes Steven Ehlbeck, AIA, of Ferrari’s professional skills. “Significantly,” writes E. Christine Schultze, of Livable Rochester, “he also understands the complexity of seeing multiple sides to issues and working to identify common aims based on a common reality, to broaden participation, to increase social equity, and to assure long-term investment value through creative and energetic partnerships that include, as an integral component, excellent design as a core value.”

Douglas L. Milburn, Assoc. AIA
As director of the Young Architects Forum, co-chair and chair of the Design Awards Committee, and member of the Web-site Committee, Milburn received the 2007 AIA Central Illinois Outstanding Associates Award. Noting that he is on the chapter board, has chaired multiple committees, and is active in an array of Champaign, Ill. Community associations, nominator Robert I. Selby, FAIA, concludes: “The list goes on but one page is my limit … Douglas Milburn is uniquely qualified.” Milburn is noted for his commitment to outreach, growth, educational awareness, attention to overlooked members with respect to ARE study, and public engagement, writes BLDD Associate Todd D. Cyrulik, AIA. Serving as the Central Illinois Chapter Young Architects Forum director, Milburn “exemplifies the spirit of this award by his continued service to the profession, his colleagues/peers, and our chapter,” writes nominator Eric L. Cluver, AIA. “Doug has shown a tremendous interest in representing the youth in our profession,” writes Tim Hickey, AIA. “His efforts to promote the AIA to young and aspiring architects, combined with his earnest guidance of the AIA to further incorporate and involve our young talent, has been tireless.”