Topaz Medallion


Deadline: TBD

Description
The AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion for Excellence in Architectural Education is awarded jointly by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) to an individual, who must be living at the time of nomination, who has spent at least a decade primarily involved in architectural education, and whose primary contribution to architectural education has been on the North American continent. 

Criteria
  • The candidate shall have evidenced great depth, having a cumulative effect on a long line of students.
  • The candidate shall have evidenced great breadth, having influenced a wide range of students.
  • The candidate shall be a person whose activities have consistently directed themselves toward the future as well as the past.
  • The candidate shall have evidenced the ability to transcend specific areas of expertise or shall have made connections between areas, in the event that the candidate’s areas of focus might be considered circumscribed.
  • The candidate shall be widely known by the quality of his or her products: by those who also taught, by those who practiced architecture, and by those who perhaps did neither.
Submissions
The entire submission must be submitted online to the AIA Honors and Awards Department and received by [date TBD]. (Submission Site - http://www.aia.org/practicing/awards/AIAB089259). For detailed submission requirements please refer to the main AIA Honors and Awards webpage at AIA Topaz Medallion.

Each submission shall contain the following information:
  • A one page nomination letter by the sponsor
  • A biography of the candidate not exceeding two pages
  • A statement of contributions not exceeding four pages
  • A roster of distinguished students
  • Supporting material (i.e., clippings, articles, etc.) relating to the purpose of the award not exceeding four pages
  • A maximum of 10 letters of support by those who know the quality of the nominee’s products: by those who also taught, by those who practiced architecture, and by those who perhaps did neither. Letters should be one page in length and explicit in their recommendation and contain specific reasons for support.
Schedule
The completed submission must be submitted online and received by [date TBD]
Selection & Presentation
A five-member committee consisting of two persons representing ACSA, two persons representing AIA, and a student representative from AIAS shall make the selection from among the candidates nominated. The ACSA representatives shall be appointed by the ACSA Board of Directors for a one-year term. The recipient shall receive a Topaz Medallion and certificate to be presented at the 102nd ACSA Annual Meeting by the Presidents of ACSA and AIA, and at the AIA National Convention and Expo. The recipient may use the title “Topaz Medallion, DPACSA” in perpetuity.

 

+ Download the complete 2013-2014 ACSA Architecture Awards Program (PDF)


 
2013-2014 Topaz Medallion Jurors: TBD

 

Recent Topaz Medallion Recipients

2013 Robert Greenstreet, Intl. Assoc. AIA
2012 George Baird, Intl. Assoc. AIA
2011 Lawrence W. Speck, FAIA
2010 Michael Graves, FAIA
2009 Adèle Santos, FAIA
2008 Stanley Tigerman, FAIA
2007 Lance Jay Brown, FAIA
2006 William G. McMinn, FAIA
2005 Edward Allen, FAIA
2004 Stanford Anderson, AIA
2003 Marvin J. Malecha, FAIA
2002 Jerzy Soltan

+ Visit the College of Distinguished Professors (DPACSA) website.