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.

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 of University of Oregon
• Kenneth Schwartz of Tulane University

ACSA/AIAS New Faculty Teaching Award

• Omar Al-Hassawi of Washington State University
• María González Aranguren of University of Virginia
• Cathi Ho Schar of University of Hawai’i at Mānoa

Diversity Achievement Award

• From Settler Colonies to Black Utopias: The Dialectics of American Architecture in Black and White - Charles Davis of University At Buffalo, SUNY

*Diversity Achievement Award Honorable Mention

• Women’s Reunion + Symposium - Sara Bartumeus Ferre, Marci Uihlein, & Andrea Melgarejo De Berry of University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Faculty Design Award

• ALFAMA 2.0 // RE-habilitation // RE-vitalization // RE-structuration // - María González Aranguren of University of Virginia
• Drawing Fields - Erik Herrmann & Ashley Bigham of The Ohio State University
• New Investigations in Collective Form - Neeraj Bhatia of California College of the Arts (CCA) & Cesar Lopez of University of New Mexico

Faculty Design Honorable Mentions:

• All Access - John Folan of University of Arkansas and Urban Design Build Studio (UDBS) with PROJECT RE_
• Expanded Views, With Rooms - Megan Panzano of Harvard University
• The Ripple Effects – Martin Luther King, Jr. & Coretta Scott King Memorial - Julian Bonder of Roger Williams University, Krzysztof Wodiczko & Maryann Thompson of Harvard University, & Walter Hood of University of California, Berkeley
• 2 Projects in 12 Constraints - Felipe Mesa of Arizona State University

To view the complete list of academic award recipients of click here. A virtual celebration of this year's winners will be announced at the ACSA 109th Annual Meeting on March 24-26, 2021.