Edward C. Kemper Award
The Edward C. Kemper Award recognizes a member who has significantly impacted the architecture profession through service to AIA or an architecture-related organization.
For more information on opening and deadline dates, please see the AIA Awards FAQ.
Recognizing impactful AIA member service
The Edward C. Kemper Award recognizes a member who has had a significant impact on the profession through service to AIA or an architecture-related organization. The award is the highest service award AIA can confer upon a member. It is named in honor of Edward C. Kemper, who led AIA as executive director from 1914 to 1948.
Questions? Email AIA Awards
Below is high-level information about the program criteria to help you determine if you are a good fit for the Kemper program. For full criteria and guidelines, please refer to the submission guide in the Resources tab.
Eligibility
The Kemper Award is open to AIA members in good standing. To be eligible, nominees must affirm that neither they nor their firm employs unpaid intern architects, including working students (as defined in Section 11.0 of the AIA Rules of the Board).
Members of the AIA Board, Strategic Council, and past AIA National Officers are not eligible to be nominated until three (3) years have passed since the end date of their service.
Nomination
Any AIA member in good standing, as well as AIA Board members, Strategic Council members, components, and Knowledge Communities may make nominations for the Kemper Award.
Nominator responsibilities
If your nominator is an individual, they must affirm that neither they nor their firm employs unpaid intern architects, including working students (as defined in Section 11.0 of the AIA Rules of the Board).
Nominators are required to write a letter of support for the candidate that introduces the submission. Nominators also assist the candidate by acting as a point of contact for the reference writers and providing guidance as needed.
Finalist rollover
Finalists who are not selected may rollover their application materials to the next cycle for consideration in the initial pool of applicants.
Recognition
Recognition for this program typically includes the following elements but may be subject to change. Recipients will receive additional information about this cycle’s recognition benefits with their selection notification.
- Promotional recognition in AIA communication channels.
- Invitation for the recipient or a recipient representative to attend selected AIA Awards event celebrations, commonly held during the annual AIA Conference on Architecture & Design.
- Elevation to AIA Fellowship, as eligible.
Schedule & fees
For more information on opening and deadline dates, please see AIA Awards FAQ.
- Notification to finalists: Early November, 2024
- Notification to recipient: Early December, 2024, in alignment with AIA Governance Week
- Public announcement: Early December, 2024
Fee: There is no fee for this program.
2024 Jury
The AIA Board of Directors and Strategic Council are the jury for this program. To see a full list of those members, visit our Leadership Page.
2024 Advisory Jury
The Advisory Jury assists the Board and the Strategic Council in the selection of Kemper Award candidates by reviewing the nominees and identifying three finalists.
Yanitza Brongers-Marrero, FAIA, Chair, Moody Nolan, Columbus, Ohio
Imani Day, AIA, RVSN Studios, Detroit
Christopher Elcock, AIA, GWWO Architects, Baltimore
Petrina Gooch, Assoc. AIA, HED, Los Angeles
Rusty Smith, Auburn University, Auburn, Ala.
Contacting the jury
To protect the integrity of the awards process, active nominees are prohibited from contacting members of either the Advisory Jury or members of AIA Board of Directors and Strategic Council during the submission process. Communication with any of the above individuals from the time of submittal to completion of the jury process by the candidate or anyone acting on their behalf is cause for immediate disqualification.
Submission guide & forms
The 2025 AIA Edward C. Kemper Award Sample Application contains the program's criteria and guidelines and a preview of the fields you will be asked to complete on the submission site.
The DQ checklist includes potential criteria that can result in disqualification. Use it to cross-check your materials before you hit the submit button.
Previous submission examples
Reviewing previous submissions can be helpful as you prepare your materials. To request a copy of a submission not listed here, you can email our archivist.
Finalist information
If you are selected as a finalist by the Advisory Jury, the next stage of the awards process includes a vote by the AIA Board of Directors and Strategic Council (the Jury) at their joint meeting, typically in early December. During their deliberations, the Jury may have questions or request additional information.
Finalists are asked to provide contact information and ideally be available on the day of the vote to respond to any requests.
