Archinect - News

RIDING THE VORTEX is named as 2022 recipient of the Whitney M. Young Jr. Award

2021-12-10T19:20:00-05:00

RIDING THE VORTEX has today been announced as the 2022 recipient of the AIA’s Whitney M. Young Jr. Award honoring the group’s commitment to challenging social issues.

The 50th edition of the award went to the 14-year-old breakout group that was formed after the 2007 AIA conference in San Antonio. Since then, VORTEX has gone on to establish itself as a torchbearer for the inclusion of Black women in all aspects of the industry, taking Mr. Young’s observations on the profession from the 1968 AIA conference as their charge.

A group photo after the RIDING THE VORTEX session at the 2008 AIA National Conference. Photo: Steven Lewis, image courtesy RIDING THE VORTEX.

“Everyone involved in VORTEX’s programming, whether they are a collaborator, panelist, or audience member, has emerged from the experience with a unique blend of intellect, creativity, and aspiration that empowers them to move confidently through the profession,” the AIA citation read. “Many often find support through the conne...

Architect and activist Pascale Sablan named 2021 Whitney M. Young Jr. Award recipient

2020-12-09T17:13:00-05:00

Dedicated professionals and leaders within the industry have been hard at work, pushing to raise awareness for underrepresented architects while making progressive changes within the industry. Pascale Sablan is no exception. As a senior associate for the New York-based firm S9 Architecture, her years of experience as a practicing architect are matched by her commitment to creating platforms where women and architects of color can be recognized and celebrated. Today the AIA announced Sablan as the recipient of the 2021 Whitney M. Young Jr. Award.

Established in 1972, the award is named in honor of civil rights leader Whitney M. Young Jr. The AIA explains the award is presented to an individual or organization that "embodies social responsibility and actively addresses a relevant issue, such as affordable housing, inclusiveness, or universal access."

ARIEL VIEW MILOT, HAITI VOCATIONAL SCHOOL CAMPUS. Image courtesy of Pascal Sablan/Courtesy of AIA

During a year filled with challenges i...

Gabrielle Bullock named AIA’s 2020 Whitney M. Young Award recipient

2019-12-12T15:43:00-05:00

NOMAArchitect and equity and inclusion advocate Gabrielle Bullock has been named as the recipient of the 2020 Whitney M. Young, Jr. Award by the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

The award, which has been given out since 1972, according to the AIA website, “distinguishes an architect or architectural organization that embodies social responsibility and actively addresses a relevant issue, such as affordable housing, inclusiveness, or universal access.”

An AIA announcement highlighting Bullock’s selection reads: “A consummate innovator in areas of equity and inclusion, Gabrielle Bullock, FAIA, has forged a new path for the future of the profession. Her voice as a leader has reverberated throughout her firm and the design community, leading to palpable changes and the realization that a more just and equitable profession is within reach.”

Director of Global Diversity at Perkins+Will: Work-Life Balance Isn't Just a Health Issue – It's About Talent Retention

Bullock is currently ...

Student-led Rural Studio continues to prove the value of socially engaged architecture

2014-12-12T19:29:00-05:00

Rural Studio, Auburn University's off-campus undergraduate program in Newbern, Alabama, continues to gain recognition for their student-led design/build projects that assist the communities in one of the South's most under-served regions. Rural Studio has won several awards from 1995 until most recently as the 2015 recipient of the AIA's Whitney M. Young Jr. Award. Named after the civil rights-era Urban League leader, the annual Whitney M. Young Jr. Award is given to an architect or architecturally related organization whose work greatly contributes toward progressive social advocacy and responsibility.

Established in 1993 by D.K. Ruth and Samuel Mockbee, the student-led Rural Studio has completed parks, museums, a fire station, Boys and Girls Clubs, parks, and homes throughout western Alabama -- a region where 40 percent of the population lives under the poverty line. One of Rural Studio's projects that has attracted attention in recent years is the 20K House Product Line, which is ...

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.