Acknowledging Those Who Advance Architecture

Architecture does not exist in a vacuum – the industry wouldn’t thrive without the contributions of those who help advance the profession but received their education or experience in a different field. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) recognizes this and bestows honorary membership to those professionals who have shown exemplary service to architecture. This year, Page Senior Principal and candidate for AIA Director-at-Large James Wright, FAIA, served as the chair of the three-person jury which selected the 2018 AIA Honorary Members.

He worked with Charles Davis Smith, FAIA and honorary AIA member Diane Harp-Jones to select this year’s recipients: Zurich Esposito, Executive Vice President for AIA Chicago; Nadav Malin, President of BuildingGreen; Nasher Sculpture Center founders and art philanthropists Nancy Nasher and David Haemisegger; Joseph Simonetta, executive director and lobbyist of AIA New Jersey; and Julie D. Taylor of public relations firm Taylor & Company.

James said, “I’m a big proponent of recognizing the diverse contributions of individuals by including them in our membership ranks. Being an honorary member of AIA instantly tells clients and colleagues that an individual has made extraordinary contributions to architecture and we’re all the better for it.”

In 2015, James had successfully nominated the first-ever Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Architecture from the Institute’s International Region, which he helped found. That year’s panel of jurors agreed that Hayder Ahmed Ali of Khartoum, Sudan, had demonstrated excellence in architecture by global standards through design that addressed the challenging climate in Sudan while honoring the country’s architectural heritage. Additionally, Hayder frequently applies his talents to commissions that support Sudan’s social infrastructure such as dignified and appealing facilities benefitting orphaned and homeless children, citizenry displaced by political strife and young people seeking higher education.

To learn more about each 2018 AIA Honorary Member, click here.