LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The American Institute of Architects (AIA) of Kentucky has given Luckett & Farley its 2020 Distinguished Firm Award.

AIA chooses one member firm each year to win the award based on consistent leadership and vision, exceptional design and the implementation of architecture that enhances the quality of our environment. AIA Kentucky’s Special Awards Committee cited Luckett & Farley’s “recognition through recent design awards and its ability to prosper and thrive through recent transitions.”

Luckett & Farley was also honored by AIA Kentucky for its achievements in new construction and design, winning awards for an innovative bus shelter as part of the Louisville Metro Housing Authority’s Vision Russell Neighborhood Initiative and a proposed cutting-edge event space and tasting room for Rabbit Hole Distillery.

“We’ve worked hard at Luckett & Farley to enhance our focus on design and deepen our client and market understanding, and we are thrilled the AIA recognized those efforts,” said President and CEO Aric Andrew. “We’ve made transformative changes in the way we do business and our clients and the communities we serve are reaping the benefits every day. Winning the Distinguished Firm Award this year is a testament to the impact of our design vision from our own neighborhood to the corners of the state and beyond.”

Under Andrew’s leadership the firm transitioned to a client-centered studio model, integrating its talented architects, engineers and interior designers into industry-specific teams. This focus leads to expertise in the nuanced needs and trends of each industry served by the firm. Whether for its civic, corporate commercial and hospitality, distilled spirits, federal government, higher education or industrial clients, Luckett & Farley infuses design and relevant innovation into every project.

The world-class architecture firm has successfully navigated many changes to adapt to client and societal needs over the past 167 years. Luckett & Farley continues to invest in talent and focus on design innovation, including last year’s creation of the design director role and the selection of Nathan Smith to fill it. Smith’s creativity and leadership has elevated the firm’s quality of design on projects ranging from urban landscape-changing architecture to thoughtful master plans and detailed industrial facilities.

“I love working with such an exceptionally talented team across the architecture, interior design, and engineering disciplines,” said Smith. “As design director, I want to keep pushing the team to deliver their best work, to solve problems, and to discover better ways to enhance the world around us through structures. When we do this, not only do we delight our clients and users, but we design a better world.”

Supporting Andrew and Smith at Luckett & Farley is Paul Sirek, the firm’s architectural discipline manager. Sirek is responsible for helping the firm attract and hire new talent, facilitating continuing education opportunities, and ensuring the firm’s rigorous quality control standards are met throughout the design process.

“I am continually impressed by the level of quality design that the studios here at Luckett & Farley are able to produce,” said Sirek. “The two projects to receive this year’s awards were especially strong and are a direct result of our daily emphasis on making an impact through the built environment.”