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P.O. Box 22851
Rochester, NY 14692
585-232-7650
The Rochester chapter of The American Institute of Architects
AIA Rochester Honor Awards
AIA Rochester recognizes exemplary members who advance and enhance the profession. Nominees are considered on an annual basis and are celebrated at our Annual Business Meeting each autumn. The call for nominations takes place during the summer months ahead of the meeting.
New!
Medal of Distinction
The Medal of Distinction is the highest honor that AIA Rochester can confer on one of its members. AIA Rochester recognizes that both the profession and the chapter were built and continue to prosper only because of the unselfish efforts of architects who have contributed their time and talent so that we all might benefit. Each year, AIA Rochester may select an individual to be so honored, but an honoree each year is not required.
Established in 2003, this award was put in place to honor architects who have had substantial influence in shaping and advancing architecture in the greater Rochester, New York area. The Medal of Distinction is meant to celebrate a lifetime of achievement in architecture including service to the profession, the chapter, and the community. Nominees shall be evaluated based on the level of impact that they have imparted on the architectural community through the facets of contribution to the profession, commitment to the chapter, and advocacy within the community.
Eligibility
All registered architects, who are current members of AIA Rochester, are eligible to be selected for this honor. The recipient must have, at some point in their career, been involved in the active practice of the profession of architecture through private, public or educational means. Members and Emeritus Members of the chapter are eligible to submit for this award.
To be considered, the individual must have made substantial contributions to the chapter, profession, or community over a continuous ten-year period at a minimum. The service shall have been given freely and be considered “above and beyond” that which is normally expected of a professional. The ultimate goal of this service shall have been for the betterment of the community or profession as a whole.
Submissions are due August 22 at 5:00 p.m.
Past Medal of Distinction Recipients
2003 Myron Starks
2004 John Fayko
2005 Bob Macon
2006 Mike Doran
2007 Stuart Chait
2008 No recipient
2009 Anne Chaintreuil
2010 Frank Grosso
2011 Bill LaDue
2012 Rich Pospula
2013 James Durfee
2014 Roger Brown
2015 Jules Chiavaroli
2016 Tom Zimmerman
2017 Robert Healy
2018 Joseph Istvan
2019 Jennifer Takatch
2020 Peter Wehner
2021 Bud Knapp
2022 Dave Beinetti
2023 Rick Hauser
2024 William Dean
Emerging Rochester Architect of the Year Sponsored by RIT
Established in 2009, this award is intended to recognize the efforts of emerging leaders within the chapter who have contributed their time and talent towards the improvement of the architectural community and have made considerable or unique advances in their professional career.
Nominees shall be evaluated based on the level of impact that they have imparted on the architectural community through the facets of contribution to the profession, commitment to the chapter, service and outreach to the community, and advocacy for the profession. Contributions to the public community, architectural profession, and/or chapter should be on a volunteer basis. Activities for which the nominee received compensation and/or are considered part of the nominee’s employment shall not be considered.
Eligibility
All architects, licensed five years or less, and Associate AIA members who are in good standing with AIA Rochester are eligible to be nominated. At the time of nomination the recipient must be active in the profession of architecture by means of lawful employment/consultation in the architecture community within the region served by AIA Rochester.
Submissions are due August 22 at 5:00 p.m.
Past Emerging Rochester Architect of the Year Recipients
2009 Allen Rossignol
2010 Michelle Murnane
2011 Daniel Edgell
2012 Nicole Martin
2013 Jason Streb
2014 Ken Glazer
2015 Michael Short
2016 Kristin Purdy
2017 Dustin Welch
2018 Jessica Kruse
2019 Jamie Bucci
2020 Barbara Burke
2021 Stacy Welch
2022 Sara DeSalvo
2023 Elizabeth Reynolds
2024 Bryan Toepfer
Mentor of the Year New!
This new award is intended to recognize the efforts of a member within the chapter who has dedicated their time and effort to develop the next generation of our profession. Mentors provide meaningful insight, share experience and lessons learned, and impart wisdom on those who plan to follow their path.
Mentorship is a key aspect of learning how to be an architect and can manifest itself in many ways:
• providing exposure to an elementary student who doesn’t know what an architect does,
• providing shadowing opportunities & exposure to a high school student interested in the profession,
• providing critical feedback and guidance to a budding designer in an architecture program,
• taking the extra time to answer a question for an emerging professional, and
• helping somebody take the next step in their career.
Nominees shall be evaluated based on their positive impact on those growing in the profession including their willingness to share, teach, explain, and support the development of others. Activities for which the nominee received compensation and/or are considered part of the nominee’s employment shall be considered since so much of how we learn is through the act of practice, but exemplary applications should demonstrate additional examples beyond traditional supervisory/management roles.
Eligibility
All AIA, Associate AIA, and Emeritus members who are in good standing with AIA Rochester are eligible to be nominated. At the time of nomination, the recipient must be active in the profession of architecture within the region served by AIA Rochester by means of lawful employment/consultation in the architecture community or active as Emeritus Member.
Submissions are due August 22 at 5:00 p.m.
Past Mentor of the Year Recipients
New Award!
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Volunteer of the Year
Established in 2017, this award is intended to recognize the efforts of a member within the chapter who has dedicated their time and effort to support the mission of AIA Rochester. Volunteer service makes our events possible, and the dedication of those who donate their time, effort and skills is an integral part of our organization.
Nominees shall be evaluated based on the donation of time, organizational and other skills, and tasks completed in support AIA Rochester as well as participation in committees and special events. Contributions to the public community, architectural profession, and/or chapter cited in this nomination should be on a volunteer basis. Activities for which the nominee received compensation and/or are considered part of the nominee’s employment shall not be considered.
Eligibility
All AIA Rochester members who are in good standing with AIA Rochester are eligible to be nominated. At the time of nomination, the recipient must be active in the profession of architecture by means of lawful employment/consultation in the architecture community or an Emeritus Member within the region served by AIA Rochester.
Submissions are due August 22 at 5:00 p.m.
Past Volunteer of the Year Recipients
2017 Caitlin Ellis
2018 Max Auklin
2019 Barbara Burke
2020 Jason Streb
2021 Michael Trapanovski
2022 Christina Fluman
2023 Danielle I. Rupert
2023 Lisa Fingar
2024 Samantha Towner
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