Purpose

The Richard Morris Hunt Fellowship is an intensive six-month, $25,000 award for registered architects to pursue research related to contemporary challenges in historic preservation and urban design. The American Architectural Foundation and the French Heritage Society established the Hunt Fellowship in 1990, and it continues to foster and support cross-cultural professional exchange between France and the United States. U.S. design professionals study in France and French design professionals study in the U.S. during alternating years. The Fellowship is underwritten by a generous grant from Lafarge.

Process

Interested Hunt Fellowship candidates should be U.S. citizens, registered architects with 5+ years work experience, able to converse about technical design issues with professionals in French, and have the ability to travel to France for up to six months during 2013. Please submit letters of interest in French and English and your curriculum vitae to Elizabeth Blazevich, U.S. RMHF Program Manager, at eblazevich@archfoundation.org by June 30, 2012.

In your letter of interest, please identify:

• Your proposed subject of study,
• Your academic and work experiences that prepare you to undertake this Fellowship,
• How you intend to structure your travel and research to maximize the six months of study, and
• How you will apply this international experience to your professional career after the Fellowship.

Review of Applications

Upon receipt of an applicant’s letter of interest, AAF will contact the applicant to arrange a phone interview. Once the phone interview is complete, the applicant may be invited to submit a written proposal, letters of support, and his/her portfolio. The Hunt Jury will consider innovative and thoughtful proposals that meet the intent of the Fellowship. By October 2012, select applicants will be invited to interview with the Hunt Jury in Washington, DC. Interviews will occur November 12, 2012.

For more details regarding the Hunt Fellowship, visit www.rm-hunt-fellowship.org.

Any questions about the application may be directed to:

Elizabeth Blazevich, U.S. RMHF Program Manager, at eblazevich@archfoundation.org.

RMHF Selection Timeline

Recent Hunt Fellowship Recipients

Robert J. Hotes, AIA, LEED AP, is the 2011 Richard Morris Hunt Fellow. Bob is an associate at Klein and Hoffman, Inc., where he focuses on the restoration and rehabilitation of historic buildings for institutional, governmental and other non-profit clients.  Prior to his current position, he worked at John Milner Inc. as Senior Associate and for the Philadelphia office of RMJM Hillier, where he was Senior Preservation Architect in the Preservation Architecture Practice Group, bringing with him a wide breadth of award-winning experience in the restoration and rehabilitation of historic structures, as well as the thoughtful design of new buildings and additions.

Bob received a BSE in Architecture and Civil Engineering from Princeton University and a Master of Architecture and Certificate in Historic Preservation from the University of Pennsylvania. In 1990, he pursued additional training as a US/ICOMOS preservation intern at the Institute Spetsproyectrestavratsiya in Moscow, and as an architectural conservator for a summer program at ICCROM, the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and the Restoration of Cultural Property in Rome.

As the 2011 Richard Morris Hunt Fellow, he intends to study the approaches to “compatibility” and “differentiation” adopted by French architects and historic preservation professionals when dealing with new design in historic contexts, with a particular focus on the new and innovative construction materials and conservation techniques being developed for these circumstances.  His study will explore the range of viewpoints in France on the design of additions and new construction in historic contexts, the variety of attitudes toward the pre-existing context (from stylistic continuity to striking contrast), and the various approaches and degrees to which architects and preservation professionals either conform to or challenge the issue of compatibility vs. differentiation.

Vanessa Fernandez, the 2010 Richard Morris Hunt Fellow, received her degree in architecture from the Paris-Belleville School of Architecture in 2004, with a specialization in the interaction between modern architecture preservation, construction history, and sustainable design. Since then, her professional experience has combined architectural practice, teaching, and research. For the past six years, she has worked as a project manager at J. Pierre Pranlas-Descours’ architectural office. She also designed semi-detached house extensions and renovations as a liberal architect.

In 2006, she took an active role in creating the 20th-century architectural and urban heritage preservation training course at the Paris-Belleville School of Architecture (ENSAPB) in DSA Architecture and Heritage, and last year she was appointed Assistant-Lecturer at the Toulouse School of Architecture (ENSAT).

Since March 2008, Vanessa has focused her research on the field of modern architecture conservation/restoration. She was awarded a grant by the Foundation Le Corbusier in July 2008 and began her PhD thesis in the History of Techniques and Environment (Director A. Guillerme). She has been a member of DOCOMOMO France (Documentation and Conservation of the Modern Movement) since 2002. For her work and research, she has received several awards.

• Sands Bethlehem Sustainable Master Plan, Bethlehem, Pa.
• Brownsville Publicly-Assisted Housing Re-Imagined, Brooklyn, N.Y.
• Chicago Central Area DeCarbonization Plan, Chicago, Ill.
• Mariposa Corridor: Connecting Fresno’s Past and Future, Fresno, Calif.
• City of Macon Second Street Multi-Modal Transportation Project, Macon, Ga.
• Overtown Folklife Village Revitalization, Miami, Fla.
• Mill River Industrial Village, New Haven, Conn.
• Peñuelas Solar Park, Ponce, P.R.

The selected teams—consisting of city leaders, developers and design professionals—will join national sustainable design experts for one of two intensive, three-day design workshops: San Francisco, Calif. (April 11–13) and Baltimore, Md. (July 18–20).

Teams compete to attend SCDA, which provides resources, education and best practice support needed to make environmentally responsible design decisions. SCDA helps these teams to formulate action plans for their projects while providing the design leadership training and technical assistance needed to address the specific design challenges that they face in their cities.

Since establishing SCDA in 2009, AAF has served 23 development teams in cities across the country through the program.

For additional information about the American Architectural Foundation and the Sustainable Cities Design Academy, visit www.archfoundation.org.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN ARCHITECTURAL FOUNDATION
Established in 1943 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the American Architectural Foundation (AAF) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that educates the public about the power of architecture to improve lives and transform communities. Through national programs including the Sustainable Cities Design Academy, Great Schools by Design, the Mayors’ Institute on City Design, and the Architecture + Design Education Network, AAF promotes design leadership and literacy at the local level, where everyday decisions can have a transformative impact on the places that shape our lives and our society. Each year AAF is on the ground in more than 75 cities across the country, helping local leaders to use design as a catalyst for innovation and action.

Media Contact:
Liz Blazevich
Program Director, Sustainable Cities Design Academy
American Architectural Foundation
202.639.7615
eblazevich@archfoundation.org

Featured image: View of Mariposa Plaza transformed into the heart of the Fulton Corridor.

USGBC is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. USGBC works toward its mission of market transformation through its LEED green building certification program, robust educational offerings, a nationwide network of chapters and affiliates, the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, and advocacy in support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities. Over 44,000 projects are currently participating in USGBC’s LEED green building certification system, totaling over 8 billion square feet of construction space in 50 states and 120 countries.

According to Ron Bogle, president and chief executive officer of AAF, “The leadership of the U.S. Green Building Council has transformed our thinking about design. They have touched practically every building type on every continent, and their impact is potent. For example, with the launch of the Center for Green Schools, USGBC has shifted the center of gravity and brought laser focus to the global discussion on green and sustainable schools.”

AAF Board of Regents Chair G. Sandy Diehl III said, “USGBC and its programs have elevated the cause of sustainability to a new level in architecture. USGBC provides educational programs on green design, construction and operations for professionals from all sectors of the building industry. In addition, in creating Greenbuild, USGBC now hosts the largest international conference and expo focused on green building. For them, “green” isn’t a buzzword. It’s a vital goal that must be pursued through aggressive strategies with measurable and substantial impact.”

“On behalf of the entire USGBC family, we are deeply honored that AAF has chosen our organization as the 2012 recipient of its prestigious Keystone Award,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, chief executive officer and founding chair, USGBC. “In ways both small and large, architecture plays a huge role in how we relate to the world around us and with each other, and a sustainable approach to this work builds on architecture’s long tradition of creating buildings that both protect us and nourish us in countless ways.”

AAF’s Keystone Award was established in 1999. Past recipients include former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, former Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr. of Charleston, S.C., the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), Save America’s Treasures, the philanthropic Pritzker family of Chicago, and the Office of the Commissioner of the Public Buildings Service of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). The 2011 Keystone Laureate was Amanda M. Burden, chair of the NYC Planning Commission and director of the NYC Department of City Planning.

USGBC will receive the Keystone Award at the 2012 Accent on Architecture Gala, which will take place on Friday, March 9, 2012, in Washington, D.C. The annual gala, presented by the American Architectural Foundation, is the nation’s preeminent celebration of leadership in architecture and design. At the event, AAF, in association with The United States Conference of Mayors, will also present the 2012 Joseph P. Riley Jr. Award for Leadership in Urban Design to Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter. In addition, Architectural Record will present its Good Design is Good Business Patron Award to Haworth, Inc., a global leader in the design and manufacture of office furniture and organic workspaces, as well as its Good Design is Good Business Architecture Award to the international architecture firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill LLP (SOM). Approximately 500 guests will attend the gala at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN ARCHITECTURAL FOUNDATION

Established in 1943 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the American Architectural Foundation (AAF) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that educates the public about the power of architecture to improve lives and transform communities. Through national programs including the Sustainable Cities Design Academy, Great Schools by Design, the Mayors’ Institute on City Design, and the Architecture + Design Education Network, AAF promotes design leadership and literacy at the local level, where everyday decisions can have a transformative impact on the places that shape our lives and our society. Each year AAF is on the ground in more than 75 cities across the country, helping local leaders to use design as a catalyst for innovation and action.

# # #

Media Contact:
Robin Buckley
703.533.9805 | 703.201.3524 (mobile)
rbuckley@archfoundation.org

To learn about sponsorship opportunities at the Gala, or to purchase individual tickets, click here.

Featured image © USGBC 2008

Please join us in recognizing the 2012 honorees:

U.S. Green Building Council
Keystone Award
Presented by AAF

The Honorable Michael A. Nutter, Mayor of the City of Philadelphia
Joseph P. Riley Jr. Award for Leadership in Urban Design
Presented by AAF in association with the United States Conference of Mayors

Haworth, Inc.
Good Design is Good Business Lifetime Achievement Patron Award
Presented by Architectural Record

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM)
Good Design is Good Business Lifetime Achievement Architecture Award
Presented by Architectural Record

Individual Ticket Information:

Friend-level tickets at $325 per person are SOLD OUT. A limited number of Patron-level tickets are still available at $750 per person. To purchase individual tickets, please fill out the form below and email or fax it to AAF at aclark@archfoundation.org or 202.626.7420.

Sponsorship Information:

Sponsorship opportunities and benefits for the 2012 Accent on Architecture Gala are detailed below. To become a sponsor, please fill out the commitment form below and email or fax it to AAF at aclark@archfoundation.org or 202.626.7420.

If you have any questions about sponsoring the Gala, please call Andrea Clark at 202.626.7577 or email aclark@archfoundation.org.

The application requires a letter of recommendation from a high school guidance counselor, architect, or other individual who is aware of the student’s interest and aptitude for architecture, and an application prepared by the student, including an essay, statement of disadvantaged circumstances, letters of recommendations, transcripts and a drawing. For further information contact Jamie Yeung at The American Institute of Architects: jyeung@aia.org or visit the AIA/AAF Minority Disadvantaged Scholarship application and eligibility requirements here.

Featured photo by Sarah Ross. 

The Hunt Fellowship is named for Richard Morris Hunt, the first American architect to study at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France. Hunt is one of the most renowned 19th-century American architects and helped to formalize architecture as a profession in the U.S. and promote urbanism. The Hunt Fellowship alternates each year between a French and American architect and carries a stipend of $25,000.

The American Architectural Foundation and French Heritage Society conceived the Hunt Fellowship as a means to introduce experienced preservation architects in France and the United States to preservation practice and technique in each other’s countries. Awarded in alternate years to an American and to a French fellow, the program includes extensive travel and interaction with local preservation professionals in the host country. It affords design professionals the opportunity to broaden their outlooks on architectural heritage. Americans see a variety of current projects and are introduced to the state institutions that govern French historic monuments and landscapes. French recipients are introduced to federal, state and local preservation organizations, professionals in public and private practices and visit significant historic sites and projects applicable to their proposed study in the United States.

For more information, visit www.rm-hunt-fellowship.org.

22 alumni fellows from France and the U.S. constitute an active professional network for the program:

2011 Robert J. Hotes, AIA, LEED AP

2010 Vanessa Fernandez

2009 Tina Roach, AIA, LEED AP

2008 Diego Rodriquez, DSA

2007 Wendy Hillis, AIA

2006 Christophe Loustaü, DSA

2005 Mary Brush, AIA

2004 Pascal Filâtre, DSA

2003 Kyle R. Brooks, AIA

2002 Sabina Fabris, DSA

2001 Raymond Plumey, FAIA

2000 Stéphanie Zugmeyer, DSA

1999 Elizabeth Newman, AIA

1998 Stéphanie Celle-Riccio, DSA

1997 Yves Patrick Deflandre, AIA

1996 Jérôme Francou, DSA

1995 Linda Stevenson, AIA, LEED AP

1994 Ruth Todd, AIA, AICP, LEED AP

1993 Jean-Christophe Simon, DSA

1992 Bonita J. Mueller, RA, DESCHMA, PMP

1991 Pierre-Antoine Gatier, DSA

1990 John Robbins, AIA

Mayor Riley was first elected by the residents of Charleston, SC, in 1975 and is serving an unprecedented ninth term in office. Under his leadership, Charleston has developed nationally acclaimed affordable housing and has experienced remarkable revitalization of its waterfront and historic downtown business district.

As a founding father and champion of the Mayors’ Institute on City Design, Mayor Riley has also helped provide critical urban design support to more than 800 mayors across America. For his efforts, he is widely recognized as one of our nation’s most visionary civic leaders.

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley was honored with the 2011 Joseph P. Riley Jr. Award at the Accent on Architecture Gala in Washington, D.C., on February 4, 2011. Since his election in 1989, Mayor Daley has demonstrated an uncompromising commitment to excellence in urban design and sustainability. In addition to bringing his design leadership to such iconic projects as the 24.5-acre Millennium Park, Mayor Daley is recognized as one of the first mayors to make sustainability a universal priority. Under his leadership, Chicago has built more U.S. Green Building Council LEED-certified structures than any other city in the United States, with more than 160 to date. Chicago has also built or upgraded over 215,000 units of affordable housing during his tenure and invested more than $5 billion in capital improvements, which includes 46 new schools. Through his efforts, Mayor Daley has demonstrated how an innovative, artistic vision coupled with the power of design can transform a city and the lives of its residents.

— A. O. Scott, Film Critic, The New York Times

Among those featured in the film are 2011 AAF Keystone Award Laureate NYC Planning Commissioner Amanda Burden and several friends of AAF, including:

Ellen Dunham-Jones, Professor of Architecture and Urban Design, Georgia Tech University
Jan Gehl, Founding Parnter, Gehl Architects
Bruce Katz, Vice President and Director, Metropolitan Policy Program, Brookings Institution
Grover Mouton, Director of the Tulane Regional Urban Design Center and Adjunct Associate Professor of Architecture, Tulane University
Ric Scofidio, Principal, Diller, Scofidio + Renfro
Michael Sorkin, Principal, The Michael Sorkin Studio, Distinguished Professor of Architecture and Director of the Graduate Program in Urban Design, City College of New York

For more information on the film and for showtimes and tickets, visit Urbanized’s website.

Featured photo by DOWA. Video produced by GVI.