MEMBER SERVICE AWARDS
A Celebration of Better Illinois Communities by Design
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The AIA Illinois Honor Awards recognize people and projects epitomizing the contributions of the architecture profession, the transformative power of design, and the dedication of individuals to service and excellence. All award winners have positively impacted citizens throughout the state of Illinois by helping create communities in which people are drawn to live and work, and to live healthier and happier.
Gold Medal for Outstanding Lifetime Service
2024: Holly Gerberding, FAIA
From a letter of support:
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I am very pleased to nominate Holly Gerberding, FAIA for the 2024 AIA Illinois Gold Medal in recognition of her remarkable career in service to our profession. I have known and admired Holly for 30 years. Many of us are proud of our service to the profession, service that usually occurs at the periphery of our practice, in our spare time. For Holly, this service is the whole idea, both in her professional practice and in her significant accomplishments with the AIA. I have never known anyone with the tenacity, patience, and dogged determination that Holly possesses; all focused on addressing the incredibly tedious challenges of codes and regulations….often the toughest parts of the infrastructure of all of our practices. Her list of achievements is hard to fathom, and has resulted in a safer world and an easier world for Architects and their clients to navigate. And to make sure it was easy to navigate, she wrote the first Building Code Permit Applicant’s Handbook.
2023 Peter Exley, FAIA
2022 Larry Livergood, FAIA
2021 Robert I. Selby, FAIA
2019 John Ochoa, AIA
2018 Linda Searl, FAIA
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
For (non-architect) citizens who lift up architecture and the profession
2024: Grant Ullrich, Assoc. AIA
From a letter of support:
Grant Ullrich, AIA, serves as the Managing Deputy Commissioner in the City of Chicago Department of Buildings. He brings unique talents to our profession as a licensed attorney holding professional degrees in both law and architecture.
Prior to his current position, he served as the Deputy Building Commissioner, City of Chicago, Department of Law, Assistant Corporate Counsel and as a lecturer and instructor in Architecture at the School of the Art Institute.
Grant should be recognized for his professional work, publications, major legislative projects and professional involvement and collaborations and who they have positively impacted the profession. Most recently Grant, as part of the City of Chicago's Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) spearheaded SB2989/HB5242 which amends the Environmental Barriers Act, updating ICC A117.1, technical standards for Type A residential units, providing an election to use the alternative compliance method for multi-multi-story non-public buildings, providing affordable housing options. And SB2989, Clean and affordable buildings (decarbonization) ordinance, O2024-7305 which establish statewide minimum requirements for structural design by reference to recent I-Code editions.
2021 Krisann Rehbein
2020 David Doig
2019 Mike Waldinger, Hon. AIA
2018 Lynn Osmond, Hon. AIA
2017 Corda Murphy
2014 Ida "Pinky" Noll
2012 Gianfranco Grande
2009 Shirley J. Anderson, Hon. AIA
John Wellborn Root for Emerging Professionals
2024: Matthew Gilbert, AIA
Licensed in 2016, Matt has concentrated his service efforts within a handful of areas to leverage a depth of impact uncommon at his early career stage. Through the ACE Mentor program, co-founding an internal Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee, curating a globally recognized social media presence, in addition to his architectural practice, Matt’s impact ignites positive change that radiates through the industry.
Beyond inspiring future architects, Matt's commitment to advancing the profession includes work within the firm. He co-founded Valerio Dewalt Train's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee, recognizing the crucial nature of this work for the firm and industry. Through this committee, he helped firm leaders re-design the performance review process to include mid-year reviews and to include review of a wider-range of workplace contributions, such as committee involvement.
Through focused commitment to mentorship, tireless coordination and problem solving, and creative celebration of Chicago’s architectural legacy, Matt Gilbert has established an impactful and promising contribution to the architectural community of Illinois.
2023 Kelly Moynihan, AIA
2022 Calli Verkamp, AIA
2019 Damon Wilson, AIA
2016 Marc Teer, AIA
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
2024: Mark A. Pearson, AIA
Mark Pearson is a Professor of Architecture at College of DuPage. He is a Licensed Architect in the State of Illinois and a LEED accredited professional. At College of DuPage, he is responsible for teaching the second year design studio curriculum in the pre-architecture program; which includes architectural design, presentation, portfolio and visualization courses. He initiated the design + build summer studio, a grant funded experiential learning opportunity for community college architecture students. Early in his career he co-created the sustainable design initiatives course at COD, which received an Excellence in Green Building Education Honor Award from the USGBC.
Mark has been a full-time faculty member at College of DuPage for the past 20 years, and in that time the pre-architecture program has successfully transferred over 325 students into university architecture programs. Many of these transfer students have gone on to complete their professional degrees in architecture and are now licensed architects working in firms across the country. Several own their own firms.

Pearson’s educational philosophy grows naturally from the architectural design courses he teaches, emphasizing design process, idea exploration, and critical thinking. He hopes to educate design thinkers who view architecture as a means to engage in broader societal and cultural discourse. His work as an architectural educator at a community college architecture program helps to promote inclusive, equitable, welcoming, and accessible learning environments, while expanding access to the profession.
2023 Francisco J. Rodríguez-Suárez, FAIA
2022 Chip von Weise, AIA
2020 Curtis J. Sartor, Jr., Assoc. AIA
2019 Linda Nelson Keane, AIA
2017 Dan Wheeler, FAIA
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
2024: Joy Meek, AIA
From a letter of support:
Joy Meek has served as a principal and firm leader at Wheeler Kearns Architects since 2006. In addition to her roles as Principal and Project Architect, Joy leads the firm’s inclusive hiring process—reviewing, interviewing, hiring, supporting, and retaining a diverse staff—now boasting 50% women. She is an invaluable colleague, working diligently to protect the firm’s culture, values, and best practices.
Joy openly shares her work and experiences—which embodies thoughtfulness, quality, and respect for both people and place—and advances the profession through lectures, academic and professional juries, and teaching. Not just a role model, she has been an active mentor and guide of women both in the firm and in the wider professional community.
Joy’s body of work is deep and expansive. Her architectural work demonstrates that well-designed, thoughtful environments can impart dignity to its inhabitants, help programs grow, improve opportunities, and that uplifting, dignified, and delightful places belong to everyone. As importantly, her ethical commitment to supporting diverse voices, both in and out of the office, is well known. Her steady tenacity to equality and justice in all her actions, within the firm and in the community is exemplary.
2023 Roderic Walton, AIA
2022 Tiara Hughes, Assoc. AIA
2020 Maya Bird-Murphy, Assoc. AIA
2019 Danielle Tillman, AIA
2017 Walter D. Street III, AIA
2016 Oswaldo Ortega, AIA
2014 Eben C. Smith, AIA, NCARB, NOMA, RRO
2013 Aurelien Tsemo, AIA
2012 Kenneth E. Casey, AIA
The President's Award
Architects in Schools (AIS) focuses on bringing architecture professionals into middle school classrooms to introduce students to the profession. Volunteers engage the students in critically analyzing their neighborhood for opportunities to create positive change while utilizing architecture as a means for implementing solutions.
Photo by Evening Cue
2022 Pullman National Monument and State Historic Site
2021 Arquitectos, Chicago Women in Architecture (CWA), and I-NOMA
2020 Chicago Architecture Biennial - Student Design Competitions
2019 Wright in Kankakee: The Bradley House
2018 Landmarks Illinois
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
R. Buckminster Fuller Award for Social Good
For Illinois architects involved in humanitarian, social impact or community endeavors
2023: Sheri Andrews, AIA
Sheri Andrews, AIA is a remarkable female architect with over 20 years of experience who embodies the values of environmental conservation and community engagement. Her unwavering commitment to maintaining rigorous design standards and her dedication to serving the Chicago community, along with empowering our internal firm community have made her a true leader.
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Transforming Communities through Inclusive Design
Guided by her keen interest in how humans move through space, Sheri is spearheading the building renovation and expansion efforts for the Centennial Commitment project at the John G. Shedd Aquarium. She began the process with a research based approach conducting stakeholder interviews with the Shedd and numerous community outreach meetings. She recently spoke at the museum regarding the relationship between the Centennial Commitment renovations to the existing Beaux-Arts style and how the new design will create a welcoming, inclusive environment, to a diverse set of guests while honoring the historic building. By reimagining the way visitors enter the Shedd, the design will enable new interior circulation pathways that will significantly improve accessibility by reducing the number of transitions between various levels and exhibits of the aquarium. This design not only provides more options for visitors, but makes navigation easier for guests with strollers, wheelchairs and other mobility needs. Her design approach combines functionality, resiliency, and inclusivity to address the unique need of Chicago’s diverse populations.
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Inspiring Future Leaders
As a committed mentor, Sheri leads the Culture Committee at the firm with the mission of bringing people together and listening to all voices. She encourages aspiring architects, especially women, to pursue their passions and make sure everyone has a seat at the table. She has organized many internal clean-up initiatives around Chicago that have allowed members of the firm to bond while making a positive impact on their local community. She uses her voice in the Culture committee to organize various food bank donations along with monetary donations during the Covid-19 pandemic. As a member of CREW Chicago, Sheri led the CREW Careers program for several years. The program introduces teenage girls to the many career opportunities available to them in the commercial real estate industry. Partnering with Off the Street Club, activities included site visits and design charrettes to highlight the diversity in the industry.
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Sustainable Humanitarian Endeavors
Sheri consistently goes above and beyond to engage in humanitarian endeavors, one of which was an effort to build a bike shed at the Ford Calumet Environmental Center, located on the southwest side of Chicago. She initiated an adaptive reuse technique utilizing the existing storage containers onsite to hold the bikes. This solution was not only budget friendly but a sustainable solution that aligns with the nature center's sustainability values.
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Whether rehabilitating historical landmarks, mentoring high school students, or implementing community engagement efforts, Sheri has been a catalyst for positive change within the Architecture industry and the city of Chicago.
2022 Gary W. Anderson, AIA
2021 Shabbir Y. Chandabhai, Assoc. AIA
2020 Dave Gerald Broz, AIA
2019 Bryan Hudson, AIA
2017 Lamar Johnson, FAIA
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
Charles W. Nothnagel Award for Public Service
For Illinois architects involved in public service
2021: Karen Shoup, AIA
Karen Shoup's career in Public Service encompasses multiple communities, agencies, programs and initiatives spanning over 34 years.
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As a Subject Matter Expert, Karen is currently working with the United States Virgin Islands Department of Public Works/ Witt O'Brien's hurricane recovery team to rebuild the four islands of the Territory. As Bureau Chief of Urban Program Planning for the Illinois Department of Transportation, Karen led the development of the Illinois Long Range Transportation Plan, Transforming Transportation for Tomorrow. Focusing on State Capital Planning, Karen served as Associate Director for the Governor's Office of Management and Budget. This required development of the annual Capital Budget for the State of Illinois. Karen was responsible for building the legislation and implementation of Governor Quinn's Illinois Jobs Now and Jump Start capital programs. School Construction and planning has been a focus for Karen. As Supervisor at the Illinois State Board of Education and Administrator of School Construction at CDB, Karen led the development of a 6 billion dollar school construction, school energy efficiency, maintenance grant programs and the development of guidelines for communities. She also served on the Springfield RUDAT, Habitat for Humanity Board, AIA Illinois and Prairie Chapter Boards.
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Jury Comments:
Karen has served our profession well, not just in her roles at the Capital Development Board and Illinois Department of Transportation, but also in her service to the AIA. She has served on committees, both state and chapter boards and is the current AIA Prairie President, guiding the chapter (even through a pandemic) with strength and vision. Karen is a deserving recipient of this award.
2019 Scott Nacheman, AIA
2017 Jim Law, FAIA
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, FAIA
2007 Enrique Unanue, Illinois Department of Public Health
2006 Michael Rogers, AIA
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