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Yale School of Architecture Dean Deborah Berke has been awarded the Topaz Medallion

2021-12-10T16:54:00-05:00

The American Institute of Architects jointly with the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture has today announced Yale School of Architecture Dean Deborah Berke, FAIA as the 2022 recipient of the Topaz Medallion for Excellence in Architectural Education.

Berke, who has served as Dean at Yale since 2016, was commended for her “engaged approach in every graduate architecture student’s education” in addition to the initiatives that she has spearheaded during her tenure in New Haven, which include the introduction of an undergraduate Urban Studies major, the creation of Yale’s Center for Ecosystems in Architecture as well as the school’s first architectural sciences lab.

Relisten to Archinect's 2016 podcast conversation One-to-One #41 with Deborah Berke

Berke was also lauded for her efforts to diversify the school and for leading an initiative to tackle and investigate the issue of slave labor in the construction supply chain.

Berke speaks about the Yale Building Project. P...

ACSA and AIA recognize 34 educators during the 2021 Architectural Education Awards

2021-01-29T19:38:00-05:00

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) recognize educators for their exemplary work in architectural academia. The ACSA shares, "the award-winning professors inspire and challenge students, contribute to the profession's knowledge base, and extend their work beyond the borders of academia into practice and the public sector. "

This year thirty-four academics from over twenty institutions were recognized and honored for their commitment and dedication to challenging students and contributing to the architectural academia within the practice and the public sector.

Image courtesy of ACSA

This year’s recipients are:

AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion for Excellence in Architectural Education

Kathryn H. Anthony of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Distinguished Professor Award

Julio Bermudez of Catholic University of America
Renee Y. Chowof University of California, Berkeley
Bradford Grant of Howard University
Alison Kwok...

UPenn's David Leatherbarrow receives 2020 AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion for Architectural Education

2019-12-13T15:07:00-05:00

University of Pennsylvania Professor David Leatherbarrow has been awarded the 2020 Topaz Medallion by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA). The award is presented by the two organization every year to superlative educators who "educate others to ensure architecture’s enduring excellence."

Professor Leatherbarrow has been an architectural educator for over three decades—he stated teaching at UPenn in 1984—and is considered, according to a statement announcing the award, as "one of the world’s leading experts in the history and theory of architecture."

In a statement supporting his award nomination, Kenneth Frampton, the Ware Professor of Architecture at Columbia University, writes, “This is an outstanding teacher of exceptional energy and ambition. He has been invited as a visiting tutor and scholar quite literally by distinguished institutions all over the world. What can one say? Elite teachers in architectural ...

Robert A.M. Stern wins 2017 AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion

2016-12-08T17:39:00-05:00

The AIA and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) deemed Robert A.M. Stern the 2017 laureate of the Topaz Medallion, the highest accolade bestowed to an architecture educator. The yearly award distinguishes an individual for their significant involvement in architecture education for at least a decade, and also for their widespread influential teaching.

Credit: Yale School of Architecture

Robert A.M. Stern was acknowledged for his dedication to architecture education throughout his 50-year career — from his buildings, his teaching at Columbia University and deanship at Yale School of Architecture, to his numerous books such as “New Directions in American Architecture”, his New York City architectural heritage series, and the recent “Pedagogy and Place: 100 Years of Architecture Education at Yale”. The Partners at Robert A.M. Stern Architects also promote emerging talent in awarding the $10,000 RAMSA Travel Fellowship every year.

Previous Topaz laureates include ...

Ehrlich Architects wins 2015 AIA Architecture Firm Award; Peter Eisenman takes the Topaz Medallion

2014-12-10T19:12:00-05:00

It's a big day of announcements for the AIA! Earlier, Moshe Safdie was revealed as the 2015 AIA Gold Medal recipient. Other big announcements the AIA made today include Ehrlich Architects from Los Angeles as the 2015 AIA Architecture Firm Award winner. Considered the AIA's highest honor to an architecture firm, the award recognizes a practice that has produced consistently distinguished architectural projects for a minimum of 10 years...

Peter Eisenman also won the 2015 AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion, which honors an individual for their significant involvement in architecture education for more than a decade as well as their widespread influential teaching to students.
Edward Mazria won the 2015 Kemper Award, which recognizes an architect who has contributed greatly to the profession through service to the AIA.
Last but not least, the student-led Rural Studio will be honored with the 2015 Whitney M. Young Jr. Award. Named after the civil rights-era head of the Urban League, this award honors architects and organizations that represent the profession’s proactive social mandate through commitments relating to affordable housing, inclusiveness, and accessiblity.

Find more details on Bustler.

Dean Robert Greenstreet awared Topaz Medallion for Excellence in Architectural Education

2012-12-18T18:13:00-05:00

It is with pleasure that we announce that Dean Robert Greenstreet, PhD, RIBA, Int’l Assoc AIA, who has served as the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee School of Architecture and Urban Planning’s Dean for over 20 years, has been awarded the 2013 AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion for Excellence in Architectural Education.

Dean Greenstreet has consistently encouraged students at the School, tirelessly working to support and guide them during their tenure at SARUP, and promoting and encouraging them once they graduate. Over his teaching career, he has had an influence on and has mentored thousands of students, several of whom have gone on to serve in leadership positions in world-renowned architectural firms, city governments and social organizations.

The Topaz Medallion is awarded jointly by the AIA and the ACSA once a year. Previous recipients include Michael Graves, Kenneth Frampton, Vincent Scully and Marcel Breuer.

For the complete announcement on the 2013 AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion ...