The American Institute of Architects has conferred the 2015 Edward C. Kemper Award to Edward Mazria, AIA. Mazria is an architect, author, educator, and researcher, with a 40-year career leading innovative research in the fields of environmental design and energy consciousness. A central voice on how the built environment is affected by climate change, his contributions have catalyzed and reshaped our understanding of energy use and carbon emissions. He is the founder of Architecture 2030, a nonprofit research organization which develops planning, policy, and design solutions for low-carbon environments.
Through compelling research, imagery, and numerous public presentations, he has clarified that architecture is the gateway to long-term global sustainability. After founding Architecture 2030 in 2006, he issued the 2030 Challenge, which seeks to make new buildings carbon neutral by 2030.
The 2030 Challenge was immediately endorsed by the AIA, which implemented the goal into searches for new task forces and continuing-education requirements. In 2009, the AIA issued a complementary 2030 Commitment, which tracks a firm’s progress towards meeting the challenge.
His prior recognitions include an AIA Design Award, AIA Design Innovation Award, American Solar Energy Society Pioneer Award, the inaugural Hanley Award, and many others.
This year's jury for the Edward C. Kemper Award was made up of Donald King, FAIA, president of DKA Architecture in Seattle (chair); David Trevino, AIA, of the City of Dallas; Hiroshi Jacobs, Assoc. AIA, designer at Studios Architecture in Washington, D.C. and winner of an AIA Associates Award in 2014; Karen E. Williams, AIA, architect at PIVOT Architecture in Eugene Oregon; and Michael Pyatok, FAIA, principal at Pyatok Architects.
Last year’s recipient, Frederic Bell--who was named executive director of the AIA in 2001, was recognized for his work on several post-disaster programs related to New York City including New York New Visions, which introduced recommendations for rebuilding the city after 2001’s attacks, as well his contributions to the Post-Sandy Initiative Report. In 2010, Bell also incorporated his FitCity program into citywide design guidelines before introducing FitNation in 2011. (Bell also sits on ARCHITECT’s editorial advisory committee.)
Named for the AIA’s first executive director, the Edward C. Kemper Award is bestowed annually upon an architect who has made significant contributions to the profession through service to the AIA.
This is a breaking news story, and will continue to be updated.
Read more about the AIA's recent progress report on the 2030 Commitment here. Read the AIA's full press release on the Edward C. Kemper Award.
Follow ARCHITECT's coverage of the AIA Honor Awards.
