The honor is awarded to members who have made significant contributions to the architecture profession. The fellowship program was developed to elevate those architects who have achieved a standard of excellence in the profession and have made a significant contribution to architecture and society on a national level. Nominated in the category of education, research, literature, and practice, Jack has made career-long contributions to the practice of architecture through his firm management, administration, and project management work, as well as his commitment to design excellence.
It is one thing for a firm to have a gifted design architect such as Jack. It is quite another for this same person to be the managing principal, president, and CEO since 2004. This unique combination is precisely why the firm has continued a long tradition of heightened design excellence on all projects. The public libraries Jack has designed have improved countless lives. He has focused his career on creating transformative places that push the boundaries of library science, anchor communities, and inspire intellectual curiosity and wonder.
In his letter nominating Jack for elevation to the AIA College of Fellows, retired MSR principal Jeffrey Scherer, FAIA, states, “Jack is a humble, quiet and steady leader. . . . His steady, respectful, and knowledgeable leadership has cemented his respect in the communities he has served and within the firm. Under his leadership, the firm works with clients across the United States that respect the role of great design.”
This year’s seven-member Jury of Fellows included Chair Mary P. Cox, FAIA, Virginia Commonwealth University; Peter Bardwell, FAIA, BAREDWELL+associates, LLC; Mary A. Burke, FAIA, Burke Design & Architecture PLLC; Philip Castillo, FAIA, Jahn; Mary Johnston, FAIA, Johnston Architects, LLC; Paul Mankins, FAIA, substance architecture; and Nancy Rogo Trainer, FAIA, Drexel University.