It was announced yesterday, September 28th that the AIA Northwest & Pacific Region's recipient of the 2011 Medal of Honor is Robert Frasca, FAIA. The medal, given annually, is the Region's highest individual honor whose stated purpose is:
"The Medal of Honor is established to select and recognize an individual member of the AIA Northwest & Pacific Region who has consistently demonstrated excellence in design, the practice of Architecture, Architectural Education and Service to the Profession, which has promoted public understanding of Architects and Architecture, and who has made notable contributions."
The 2011 Medal of Honor Jury made its decision unanimously citing Bob's significant contributions to the Region's design quality, the role of his urban design driven approach in making "Livable Cities" and his many professional contributions through his service to the AIA. The jury, in making the award, observed that Bob epitomizes the idea of the "Citizen Architect" who, through their efforts, creates a collaborative environment that nurtures and realizes the highest ideals of design and planning.
The Medal of Honor will be presented to Bob on November 15th during the gala Awards dinner at the AIA Northwest & Pacific Region'Committee on Design 2011 Conference in Tokyo Japan.
Bob joined Wolff & Zimmer in 1959 and was made Partner-in-Charge of Design for ZGF in 1966. Over the ensuing 50 years his influence and impact on the region has been significant and widespread as ZGF has evolved from a local Portland firm to a major regional firm and on to its role today as one of the most influential architectural firms in the country.
Bob's design philosophy is deeply rooted in the values of Portland and the Pacific Northwest. The particulars of program, climate, and place inform each project. Bob Frasca was an early contributor to the quality of Portland's urban fabric, advocating for a strong marriage of architecture and urban design. Thanks to his planning and design of a number of influential projects such as the Portland Downtown Plan, Waterfront Park, the Justice Center, Oregon Convention Center, and Portland International Airport, to name a few, he laid the foundation for Portland's national reputation as one of the most livable cities in the world. In a February 1987 Portland Magazine article, he commented that "there's a willingness to experiment with new ideas and take a chance here. Portland and its people are unique, in that they understand that buildings are with us for a very long time, and that immediate gratification isn't always the answer."
Although Bob's ethic of environmental stewardship has always been fundamental to his work, its influence has expanded as the Northwest region, today, is often credited for its cutting edge green design, with Portland and Seattle often topping the list of cities with the most LEED certified buildings, many designed by ZGF. Based on a portfolio of work under Bob's direction, ZGF received the Pacific Northwest's first national AIA Architecture Firm Award in 1991, further enhancing awareness of the quality of design in the NWP region.
Bob's leadership in the AIA's Committee on Design for many years, and as chair in 2001-2002, has also put the spotlight on design quality in our region. And lastly, though not at all least, the nurturing of young design talent through his 50 years at ZGF has and continues to impact the quality of work coming from our region. Bob's leadership has allowed ZGF to take its "brand" of design quality far beyond our region, nationally and internationally. Other highly regarded design professionals who began their careers at ZGF, under Bob's direction, were instilled with a strong design ethic that is apparent in our region today.
Advancing the profession. Bob has chaired the AIA National Honor Awards program, the AIA Topaz Awards program, and has served as juror for numerous AIA chapter programs within the AIA Northwest Pacific Region and around the country, as well as other national design awards programs. Bob served on design review boards for the University of California San Diego and Davis campuses. Through his service on the University of Washington Architecture Commission for 27 years he pushed hard to elevate the design quality of work on that campus. He has been a visiting professor and critic-in-design for numerous schools of architecture across the country. Additional tributes to Bob's service within the industry and the community include the Watzek Award for Contributions to the Enrichment of the State of Oregon, and the Honored Citizen Award from the Architectural Foundation of Oregon.
The AIA Northwest Pacific Region is honored to present Bob Frasca with the 2011 Medal of Honor.
Please join us in celebrating Bob's contributions to our profession at the Fall COD conference, jointly held with AIA Japan and the AIA Northwest Pacific Region. Early bird registration ends Friday, September 30th. http://www.aia.org/conferences/AIAB089020
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Anne Schopf FAIA
Design Partner
Mahlum Architects
Seattle WA
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