Finalists Announced for new AD Ex Community Cornerstone Award
The Dallas Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Dallas) and the Architecture and Design Foundation’s first annual Impact Dallas Gala will fête Larry Good and Deedie Rose on November 4 at Thompson Dallas within The National.
The George Foster Harrell Award recipent Deedie Rose AIA Dallas’ Lifetime Achievement award recipent Larry Good
AIA Dallas’ Lifetime Achievement award is the highest honor given to an architect by the organization, the nation’s 6th largest AIA chapter, and this year will be awarded to Larry Good, FAIA, founding principal and chairman of Dallas-based firm GFF.
The George Foster Harrell Award has been awarded just five times since it was established in 1980. The award recognizes an exemplary individual in the private sector who is a catalyst for change and has made and continues to make, a lasting impact on the region. Previous recipients include Margaret McDermott, J. Erik Jonsson, Frank Welch, FAIA, Stanley Marcus, and O’Neil Ford, FAIA. Joining the esteemed list of honorees is Deedie Rose, Hon. AIA in recognition of her role as a philanthropist and connector in moving forward some of Dallas’ most impactful projects.
The AD EX Community Cornerstone Award will be awarded for the first time to a non-architectural entity in recognition of outstanding contributions that enhance the quality of life by shaping environments and building community. The three finalists for the AD EX Community Cornerstone Aware are:
CitySquare: Selected for their innovative and comprehensive approach to addressing poverty and homelessness, providing precedent-setting solutions for providing resources to those most in need.
Jubilee Park & Community Center: Selected for their transformative work in housing, education, and community-services for the residents in the Southeast Dallas neighborhood of Jubilee Park.
Dallas ISD: Selected for their Choice Schools program, investment in architecture-based mentor programs and learning tracts, and use of the urban environment as a learning tool for their students, exemplified at CityLab High School.
Impact Dallas celebrates the role design plays in solving real-world problems, connecting communities, and improving people’s lives. As Zaida Basora, FAIA, executive director at AIA Dallas and Architecture and Design Foundation states, “Architecture creates the physical spaces and environments where we live, work and play; so not only do we experience it daily, but it can also serve to express our identity, tastes, and culture.”
Co-chair for Impact Dallas, Katherine D. Seale Co-chair for Impact Dallas, Todd Howard
Serving as co-chairs for Impact Dallas are Katherine D. Seale, a community activist and preservation advocate, and architect Todd C. Howard, AIA, a former AIA Dallas president and president of th+a architects. “Impacting our region is a task that extends beyond architects; it is a collaboration between community leaders, philanthropists, and all stakeholders who are striving to improve our city,” says Seale.
As AIA Dallas and the Foundation aim to bring lasting impact to Dallas and North Texas, the gala honors Good and Rose who both exemplify their shared mission. Basora describes, “The mission of the Architecture and Design Foundation is to foster access to architecture and design for all. We want to become a catalyst for increasing public awareness about how design impacts our lives. We do that through public programming, scholarships that make college and careers accessible and bring diversity and equity to architecture, and grants that implement community-based design projects. This year’s grant, Basora shares, “will benefit improvements to the welcome center and camper cabin units at Camp Summit, which provides barrier-free sleep-away camps for children and adults with disabilities.”
Impact Dallas will blend art, architecture, design, and culture, which fully activates the newly restored, iconic, and historic Thompson Hotel at The National. To celebrate architecture as functional art, the event leans into creativity at every turn from the hotel’s art collection, to live music, immersive design installations, unique experiences, and an art-and-architecture-focused auction. “The Impact Dallas Gala aims to raise $175,000 for these causes and more,” Basora emphasizes.
The identities and cultures of a community should work seamlessly and grow together. However, development and planning are often obscured to the general public until a problem arises. Basora explains, “The Architecture and Design Foundation is a convener for open dialogue about architecture. In terms of conservation, it can focus on the conservation of resources to provide tools and strategies for a more sustainable and resilient city or the conservation of historic places and structures. Architects do not work in isolation. To bring visionary projects to fruition, it takes the participation and investment of residents, leaders, designers, and visionaries all working together. This is what the Impact Dallas Gala will celebrate on Thursday, November 4th.”
The inaugural, signature event includes passed hors d’oeuvres, a three-course meal, and an open bar. Sponsorships are still available and include access to an exclusive pre-event reception. Tables are on sale now at dallasadex.org.