2025 AIA Gold Medal Awarded to Deborah Berke, FAIA
Deborah Berke, FAIA, LEED AP, is a transformative figure in architecture whose career spans over four decades. She has combined design excellence, academic leadership, and a commitment to social and environmental responsibility. From founding her practice, Deborah Berke Partners (now TenBerke), in 1982 to becoming the first female dean of the Yale School of Architecture, her journey exemplifies innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability.
-
Christopher Payne/EstoTenBerke’s largest project to date, Princeton University’s Residential Colleges was conceived as a village. The new buildings forge connections: to campus, woodlands, recreation, and between students. -
Christopher Payne/EstoDeborah’s award-winning adaptive reuse project, the Richardson Olmsted Complex, offers a compelling example of how vast structures can be repurposed and contribute to their surrounding communities -
Chris CooperThe award-winning Cummins Indy Distribution Headquarters in Indianapolis preserves extensive open green space for a new public park and reinforces the “street wall” of a major downtown thoroughfare. -
Chris CooperDeborah is known for designing flexible and welcome learning spaces like the Rockefeller Arts Center at SUNY Fredonia.
Berke's approach to architecture celebrates the extraordinary within the ordinary, a philosophy encapsulated in her seminal book The Architecture of the Everyday (1997). Her projects embody this ethos, ranging from intimate homes like the Tiny House in East Hampton to adaptive reuse landmarks such as NXTHVN in New Haven, an arts incubator revitalizing former factory buildings. Across a diverse portfolio, her work balances modern aesthetics with vernacular sensitivity, showcasing how design can enrich daily life while fostering community and care.
Her practice has consistently prioritized adaptive reuse, transforming historic structures into vibrant, functional spaces. Projects like the 122 Community Arts Center in New York and the Richardson Olmsted Complex in Buffalo illustrate her dedication to preserving and enhancing architectural heritage. Her design for the 21c Museum Hotels reimagines disused buildings into unique cultural destinations, integrating contemporary art with hospitality to catalyze urban revitalization.
Berke's commitment to sustainable design is evident in projects such as the Dickinson College High Street Residence Hall, which achieved LEED Platinum certification, and the Brown University Brook Street Residence Halls, contributing to the university's net-zero carbon goals. Her work not only integrates environmentally conscious strategies but also emphasizes the social dimension of sustainability, creating spaces that promote equity and inclusivity.
As an educator, Berke has profoundly influenced architectural pedagogy. At Yale, she has advanced financial aid initiatives, increased accessibility, and championed interdisciplinary programs, making architecture education more inclusive. Her tenure as dean has been recognized with the AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion, the highest honor for architectural education, reflecting her role in shaping future generations of architects.
Berke’s leadership extends to her service on prestigious boards and juries, including the Pritzker Architecture Prize and the Norman Foster Foundation. She has been honored with numerous awards, such as the Cooper Hewitt National Design Award and the Berkeley-Rupp Prize, acknowledging her contributions to advancing women and sustainable practices in architecture.
Throughout her career, Berke has exemplified the power of architecture to transform lives and communities. Her work, teaching, and advocacy collectively underscore a profound belief in design as a tool for social good, leaving an indelible mark on the field and inspiring a more inclusive and sustainable architectural future.
The AIA Board of Directors and Strategic Council select the winners for this program. The finalists were selected by the following advisory jurors.
Advisory Jury 2025
Anne Hicks Harney, FAIA, Chair, Long Green Specs, Manasquan, N.J.
Kjell M. Anderson, FAIA, LMN Architects, Seattle
Ung-Joo Scott Lee, AIA, Morphosis Architects, New York City
Amy Slattery, AIA, Odimo, Kansas City, Mo.
Megumi Tamanaha, AIA, ARO, New York City
Roderic Walton, AIA, Moody Nolan, Chicago
Korey White, AIA, DLR Group, Quincy, Ill.
Taryn Williams, SGH, Washington, D.C.
The Gold Medal is AIA’s highest annual honor, recognizing individuals whose work has had a lasting influence on the theory and practice of architecture.
The AIA Framework for Design Excellence is based on 10 principles all designers can use to promote a zero-carbon, equitable, resilient, and healthy built environment.
