CALL FOR NOMINATIONS 2022
THE ROBERT KENNARD, FAIA AWARD FOR EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSIVITY
The Robert Kennard, FAIA Award for Equity, Diversity & Inclusivity
Who/What this Award Honors:
This award distinguishes an architect, designer or architectural practice that embodies social responsibility and actively addresses equity, diversity and inclusivity in the profession. This social engagement or initiative isn’t restricted to architecture—it can be expressed in any area of the nominee’s life or work. The purpose of this award is to recognize exemplary practices that promote ethnic and cultural diversity, gender equity, and the inclusion of marginalized groups of citizens through design and/or practice.
**Nominations and Self-Nominations Close: Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at 11:59P | To nominate or self-nominate, click here.
About the Award:
Recognized for his significant contributions to Los Angeles’ civic landscape, Robert Kennard, FAIA is remembered for his commitment to mentorship and encouraging young people, especially underrepresented ethnicities and women, to pursue careers in architecture. As an active and engaged community member, Mr. Kennard founded the Minority Architecture and Planning organization, a precursor of the National Organization of Minority Architects. He was involved, from its inception, with the Inner City Cultural Center, a multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural arts organization founded after the 1965 Watts rebellion, along with numerous other civic organizations. In 1991 he received the AIA Whitney M. Young Jr. Award in recognition of his mentorship of young people. Mr. Kennard’s legacy lives on through the students and others who he influenced from his firm’s establishment in 1957 until his death in 1995.
ELIGIBILITY
+ “Architects/designers” [individuals] must be Members in good standing (AIA or Assoc. AIA)
+ “Architectural organization” [groups, firms, companies] must contain Members in good standing (AIA or Assoc. AIA)
NOMINATION/SUBMISSION PROCESS
+ Nominations may come directly from the AIALA Board of Directors or AIALA Staff, and the AIALA membership through a nomination form that will be available through the AIALA website.
+ The online nomination form will allow AIA members to nominate other members. The nominator/submittor serves as a reference or “vote of confidence” on behalf of the nominated.
+ Members may also self-nominate for consideration, but must provide another AIA member to serve as a reference for their submission.
+ Nominations include a 250 words (max) submission document
**Nominations Close Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at 11:59P**
SELECTION
+ Selection by the AIALA Board of Directors
AWARD PRESENTATION
The 2022 recipient of the Robert Kennard, FAIA Award for Equity, Diversity & Inclusivity will be recognized with other Presidential Honorees at the 2022 Design Award Ceremony in October.
About the AIA|LA Presidential Awards
The Los Angeles Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA|LA) has an enriched tradition of recognizing distinguished professionals with an annual allocation of AIA|LA Presidential and Board of Directors Awards. These Awards provide the foundations of what the Los Angeles Chapter stands for: recognition of excellence in design and to provide rewards for those individuals whose passion, talent and dedication make an undeniable and permanent contribution to our city’s built environment and our community. Honorees of the AIA|LA Presidential Awards shall be individuals, firms and organizations whose work and conduct exemplify and further the core values of the Chapter. These core values include: commitment to equity, diversity, inclusivity and human rights; architecture that strengthens our communities; sustainable and environmentally-conscious practices; providing economic opportunity; and advocacy for the profession at the social and political level.
In recognizing that architecture and design matter, and that communities are built on the leadership provided by the profession, the AIA|LA Presidential and Board of Directors Awards enable the Chapter to bestow upon select individuals an honor that has become highly regarded in Southern California.
