The Chicago chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Chicago) awarded the recipients of the 2012 Firm of the Year, Dubin Family Young Architect and the Distinguished Service Awards last week. Here’s a look at the winners:

The Firm of the Year Award award recognizes a single firm’s outstanding achievements, consistent excellence and ongoing contributions to the advancement of the architectural profession.

Farr Associates Team

The award went to Farr Associates, a leader in sustainable design for over 20 years. The firm has built seven LEED Platinum projects, two net-zero-energy buildings and three LEED-Neighborhood Developments. It was also the first firm in the world with three LEED Platinum projects. The jury that chose the award winner noted that Farr Associates was a unique firm with a “commitment to sustainability far surpassing industry norms and an impressive optimism for the future of our cities.”

"We are honored by this recognition of our firm’s integration of planning and architecture, our leadership in advancing sustainable design practice at all scales and our dedication to promoting sustainable urbanism around the world,” said Doug Farr, President and CEO. “We sincerely thank our client and collaborator partners who help us realize our dream of making future-minded places and buildings increasingly routine."


The Dubin Family Young Architect Award recognizes excellence in ability and exceptional contributions by a Chicago-area architect between the ages of 25-39.

This year’s recipient is Matt Dumich, AIA, project manager at Valerio Dewalt Train Associates. Dumich has 12 years of professional experience and has been extremely active and recognized in the industry. In 2008 he received the Graduate of the Last Decade (GOLD) Award from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Architecture and Urban Planning.

In 2009 he founded the AIA Chicago BRIDGE Mentoring program and in 2011 he formed the AIA Illinois Council for Emerging Professionals and was named as one of Building Design + Construction’s 40-Under-40 recipients. He has served as the Young Architects Forum (YAF) chair for AIA Chicago, as the YAF National regional liaison and on the YAF National advisory committee. Dumich became the AIA Chicago Board of Director’s treasurer in 2012. 

“As a young architect I have been fortunate to be mentored by strong leaders who have taught me the value of hard work and committed service,” said Dumich.

The Distinguished Service Awards are chosen by the AIA Chicago Board of Directors and recognize individuals and organizations that have given outstanding service to the Chicago architectural community, including service to the profession, public service and education. This year’s board chose to recognize Lynn Becker, Paul Knight and Vincent Paglione.

Becker, author of the ArchitectureChicago PLUS blog, was nominated for his ongoing contributions to architectural conversation in Chicago and beyond. Becker’s blog receives more than 500 individual visits each day. Visiting the blog “is a ritual for information, insight and reflection of the topical issues permeating Chicago architecture,” according to his nomination.

Knight, a principal at the residential energy-efficiency consulting firm Domus PLUS, has worked extensively in the low-income weatherization and affordable housing fields. He currently serves as the energy consultant to the Illinois Energy Efficient Affordable Housing Construction Program and provides training and technical assistance to the Illinois Low Income Weatherization Assistance Program. His nomination recognized that “Paul has influenced an entire generation of architects by educating us in terms of better practices, but his influences extend so far beyond the architectural community.”

For 33 years, Paglione was the associate dean with the College of Architecture and the Arts at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). Paglione was chosen for his service, leadership and his fostering of the profession to students at UIC. He mentored many students over the years, winning mentor awards from INOMA, Project Osmosis and HACIA Scholarship Foundation. He created a number of programs, including a summer architecture program for minority students and a Summer Institute for Architectural Theory. As his nomination emphasized, “his impact, service and commitment to students pursuing architecture and the arts has influenced the careers of countless individuals.”

Founded in 1869, AIA Chicago represents nearly 3,000 licensed architects, architectural interns and allied professionals in northeastern Illinois. After the meeting, guests enjoyed the chapter’s holiday party.