Honor Awards: Service
In 2018 only, the Board awarded a limited number of categories: our Gold Medal Award (the highest honor for outstanding lifetime service by an AIA member), the Richard Nickel Award (for "non-architect" citizens who lift up Architecture and the profession), and the President's Award.
Gold Medal for Outstanding Lifetime Service
2018: Linda Searl, FAIA
Linda has steadfastly guided the evolution of Chicago’s built environment for more than twenty-five years as a long-time member and nearly decade-long chair of the Chicago Planning Commission, all the while churning out a consistently beautiful body of work and managing a successful practice at Searl Lamaster Howe. Including her membership in Architectural Digest's AD100 and leadership positions at the national and local levels of AIA, she has led the informal Chicago Design Initiative, served on many boards of distinction and served as visiting professor at universities throughout the U.S. Read more
2017 Gaines Hall, FAIA
2016 James L. Nagle, FAIA and John F. Hartray, FAIA
2015 Carol Ross Barney, FAIA
2014 R. Thomas Jaeger, AIA
2012 Gary W. Anderson, AIA
2010 Donald J. Hackl, FAIA
2009 Walter J. Hainsfurther, III, FAIA
2008 Stanley Tigerman, FAIA
2007 Louis J. Garapolo, FAIA
2006 John M. Syvertsen, FAIA
Richard Nickel Award for Non-Architects
2018: Lynn Osmond, Hon. AIA
Lynn has paved the way for the growth of “architectural tourism” around the globe for more than twenty years as the President and CEO of the Chicago Architecture Center and the founder of the Association of Architecture Organizations, which includes 160 international members. The opening of CAC's grand new home in 2018 can be considered the crowning achievement of her career thus far. Read more
2017 Corda Murphy
2014 Ida "Pinky" Noll
2012 Gianfranco Grande
2009 Shirley J. Anderson, Hon. AIA
Charles W. Nothnagel Award for Public Service
2017: Jim Law, FAIA
Jim has been a licensed architect since 1983 but didn't stay on the traditional career path. In the 90's as Deputy Commissioner of the Chicago Dept. of Cultural Affairs, he undertook the renovation and re-programming of the former Chicago Public Library into the Chicago Cultural Center. He then embarked on sixteen years in Tourism and Special Events for the City of Chicago. In 2013, he coordinated the VIEW CHICAGO legacy project creating a significant experiential memorial to Daniel Burnham and he currently serves as President of the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance.
2016 Holly Gerberding, FAIA
2015 Michael A. Dixon, FAIA
2014 Gracia Maria Shiffrin, AIA
2012 Mike Jackson, FAIA
2010 Martin A. Alblinger, AIA
2009 Edward K. Uhlir, FAIA
2008 Paul W. O'Shea, AIA
2007 Enrique Unanue, Illinois Department of Public Health
2006 Michael Rogers, AIA
R. Buckminster Fuller Award for Social Good
2017: Lamar Johnson, FAIA
Lessons learned from Lamar's carefully chosen, life-enhancing projects resonate far beyond their locale, influencing urban policy, healthcare research, education and sustainability throughout the country. In 1998, he opened Gensler Chicago office with four people. Today, Gensler's 280-person staff volunteers at more than 100 not-for-profit, civic & charitable institutions in the Chicago area. In 2014 alone, they contributed more than 17,500 hours, amounting to over 1% of revenue for each of last six years; direct pro-bono services exceeded $2 million.
2016 Helen J. Kessler
2015 Nora Ames & Katie Soven
2014 Philip J. Enquist, FAIA
2013 Charles R. Newman, AIA
2012 Katherine Darnstadt, AIA
2010 Jon Daniel Davey, AIA
2009 Kevin K. Pierce, AIA
2008 Douglas Milburn, Assoc. AIA
2007 Martha A. Bell, AIA
2006 Peter Lind, AIA
John Wellborn Root for Emerging Professionals
2016: Marc Teer, AIA
Mark is founder & CEO of Black Spectacles, an online learning platform helping young architects across the country prepare for the ARE. He has served as the chair of the AIA Chicago Young Architects Forum, igniting the entrepreneurial spirit of Chicago’s young architects through a series of workshops titled “Starting Your Own Design Firm." He also received a Presidential Citation for conception and leadership of an international design competition (for young architects) to redesign the AIA Chicago offices.
2015 Alexander P. Block, AIA
2014 Adam Lund, AIA
2013 April Hughes, AIA
2012 Jack Schroeder, AIA
2010 Brian J. Vitale, AIA
2009 Julianne Scherer, AIA
2008 Jeff Huck, AIA
2007 Mark J Ladd, AIA
2006 Lilija B. Gelazis, AIA
Nathan Clifford Ricker Award for Architecture Education
2017: Dan Wheeler, FAIA
Dan epitomizes the notion of architect teacher. Not content to lead one of Chicago's premier design firms, he is Professor of Architecture at UIC, has served as Interim Director for both the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts and the UIC School of Architecture and lectures frequently. He is called an "everpresent champion and mentor" for AIA Chicago's Bridge program, and selflessly, modestly, generously encourages and equips the next generation of citizen architects.
2014 Mark Taylor, Assoc. AIA
2013 Al Rusch, AIA
2010 Jack A. Kremers, AIA
2009 Michael Andrejasich, AIA
2008 Constantine D. Vasilios, AIA
2007 Robert I. Selby, FAIA
2006 Anne Sullivan, AIA
Alan Madison Award for Diversity Work
2017: Walter D Street III, AIA
Throughout his career, Walter has built bridges toward an equitable, inclusive and relevant architecture profession. His service includes president of AIA Chicago and INOMA, as well as service on the National Board including five years on the AIA/NOMA Diversity & Inclusion Committee. Walter is universally admired as wise counsel, teacher and advocate.
2016 Oswaldo Ortega, AIA
2014 Eben C. Smith, AIA, NCARB, NOMA, RRO
2013 Aurelien Tsemo, AIA
2012 Kenneth E. Casey, AIA
President's Award
2018: Landmarks Illinois
2018 Board President Kim Kurtenbach can’t imagine how many of AIA Illinois' 200 Great Places might have been lost over the years without the work of Landmarks Illinois to preserve historic architecture, plus the strong legislative partnership with them which resulted in the state's first historic tax credit after a ten-year campaign. Read more
2017 PechaKucha Chicago
2016 AEC Cares
2015 National Council of Architectural Registration Boards
2013 archi-treasures
2012 Public Building Commission of Chicago
2010 Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, LLP's Chicago office
2009 Environmental Law and Policy Center
2007 Healthy Schools Campaign by the Illinois State Board of Education
2006 Illinois Historic Preservation Agency
2004 Kevin Sido, Esq.
2003 Illinois Building Research Council
2002 Mayor Karen Hasara, City of Springfield
2001 Corda Murphy, AIA Northeast Executive Director
2000 Albert W. Voirin, AVA Insurance Agency
1998 Newhouse Architecture Competition, Chicago Architecture Foundation
1997 Attorney General Jim Ryan
1996 Lawrence Kirkegaard, Hon. AIA
1995 Alice Sinkevitch, Hon. AIA
1994 Illinois Historic Preservation Agency
1992 James Nowacki, Esq.
1991 Graham Foundation
1990 Chicago Architecture Foundation
1989 Landmarks Preservation Council
1988 Women's Architectural League
1987 Gary J. Skoien
1986 Shirley Norvell, Hon. AIA
1985 Museum of Science & Industry
1984 Chicago Architectural Assistance Center