The American Institute of Architects Utah chapter recognized its 2009 Achievements in Architecture award recipients during a ceremony in November.
Thomas B. Kass received an Honorary AIA Utah Award. Kass, professor emeritus of the College of Architecture and Planning, has presented to students a clear and concise approach to the art of design, inspiring the growth and development of many architects who are now leading the design profession in Utah and throughout the country. His goal was always to inspire students to think beyond the problem and find the real issues of the idea, and was always quick to encourage and motivate his students.
Roger Borgenicht received an Honorary AIA Utah. Borgenicht is most widely recognized as the power and energy behind the growth and development of ASSIST. For the past 23 years, he has changed the face of the city in his belief the people and communities are what matter in architecture. He led the Poor Choices Threaten and Future Moves Coalition initiatives toward developing a wide range of transportation options and is a national leader in offering design solutions and advocacy for visitability and other accessibility options in residential design.
BORGENICHT
Robert Farrington, Jr. received the Distinguished Service Award. As the executive director of the Downtown Alliance for more than 17 years and now as director of Economic Development for Salt Lake City, Farrington has been a quiet catalyst for the most significant programs to develop and enliven downtown Salt Lake City, from First Night, the Farmers Market, development of the downtown arts and cultural district, location of major corporate headquarters downtown, among many other accomplishments.
Kenneth J. Naylor received the Bronze Medal—the highest award given by AIA Utah to a practicing architect. Throughout his 28-year career, Naylor has demonstrated leadership through his service to AIA, NCARB, and the state of Utah, particularly in the area of licensing and regulation of the practice of architecture. He was instrumental in the national NCARB decision to allow early access to the A.R.E., for authoring the rewrite of the Rules of Conduct, and was pivotal in the development and passage of the Model Law Definition of responsible control, paving the way for integrated project delivery.
KASS
The Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest award given to a retired architect, went to William Wing Louie, who was active in serving his community and AIA throughout his long career. The firm of Scott Louie & Browning during his tenure was a training ground for many of the state’s most talented architects, many of whom have gone on to develop their own successful firms. In addition, as one of Utah’s first minority architects, he set the example of graceful leadership, paving the way or those who would follow.
Louie dedicated his award to Roger Bailey, the first dean of the Graduate School of Architecture at the University of Utah. Louie said, “I would not have studied architecture without his influence.”
The Achievement Awards jury included: David Hart, chair, executive director of the Capitol Preservation Board; Patricia O’Leary, former dean of the College of Architecture and Planning at the University of Colorado; and Steven Panish, assistant vice president of Capital Programs at the University of Utah.
