MINNEAPOLIS, April 25, 2024 — Carl Gauley, AIA, is the 2024 recipient of the AIA Minnesota Residential Emerging Architect Award.

The Residential Emerging Architect Award is given every two years to an emerging residential architect, licensed 10 or fewer years, who demonstrates the emergence of a strong architectural voice through thoughtful attention to design, craft, and materials, or who has made early contributions to the advancement of residential design.
 
Gauley developed his craft at three nationally recognized Minneapolis architecture and design firms, including two—VJAA and Snow Kreilich Architects—that received the prestigious AIA Firm Award. At VJAA, Coen + Partners, and Snow Kreilich, Gauley contributed to a number of award-winning residential projects across the country. He launched his own residential practice, Grayspace Architecture, in 2019.

In a letter recommending Gauley for the award, Snow Kreilich’s Julie Snow, FAIA, noted, “Carl brings adaptability, creativity, and refinement to every project through an intense, iterative design process from conceptual exploration to detailing materials and systems.” A Grayspace Architecture client wrote, “I had a sense of what I wanted but lacked some of the design vocabulary to express it. Carl was able to translate a loose set of aesthetic sensibilities into a cohesive, functional, and supremely thoughtful whole.”

“I thrive on intense collaboration with each client, working to meet their budget and schedule while maximizing the project’s potential and creating inspired moments for everyday use,” says Gauley. “Every project, regardless of budget or scope, is an opportunity to challenge conventions and deliver meaningful, purposeful design solutions that enrich lives and communities.”
 
The 2024 Residential Emerging Architect Award jurors cited Gauley’s beautiful design work across a range of project types and scales, from larger homes and retreats to ADUs, small cabins, and saunas. They also lauded the architect’s commitment to design research and exploration.
 
“The awardee has a strong portfolio of built work,” said one juror. “The projects are sensitive to local ecologies and sophisticated in their craft.” Added another juror: “The projects are delightful and fun but demonstrate a mature architectural vision. Windows are sensitively integrated into building volumes and frame wonderful views. Interior finishes are thoughtful, exterior cladding simple but elegant.”
 
The 2024 AIA Minnesota Residential Emerging Architect Award jury included AIA Minnesota Committee on Design co-chair Doug Bergert, AIA; 2005 Emerging Architect Award recipient and 2017 Architect of Distinction Award recipient Christine Albertsson, AIA; Carly Coulson, AIA; 2017 Residential Emerging Architect Award recipient Jody McGuire, AIA; and David Wilson, AIA.
 
Gauley will receive his award at an AIA Minnesota Awards Celebration at Crown Roller Mill in Minneapolis in August 2024. Learn more about the Residential Emerging Architect Award here.
 
The American Institute of Architects Minnesota, founded in 1892, is dedicated to strengthening our communities, improving our built environment, and providing exceptional design. For more information on the organization and Minnesota architectural firms, visit our website and subscribe to ENTER, our digital monthly newsletter that explores the people and ideas shaping a better built environment for Minnesota.