Each year, AIA Indiana Chapters and members are invited to submit nominations for the AIA Indiana Service Awards. Named for three of Indiana’s significant architects these awards have a strong history and importance to the architectural community of Indiana. Edward Pierre, Juliet Peddle and Walter Blackburn each affected Indiana architects in their own special way and are recognized for those special contributions.

ABOUT THE WALTER S. BLACKBURN AWARD
(Formerly the Don E. Gibson Award)

By unanimous approval at the May 2000 meeting of the AIA Indiana Board, the Don E. Gibson Award was retired and reborn as the Walter S. Blackburn Award. From this year forward, and to be awarded annually by the AIA Indiana Board of Directors, the Walter S. Blackburn Award is named in recognition and honor of Walter S. Blackburn, FAIA.

The son of Dr. Cleo W. Blackburn, director of the Flanner House from 1936 to 1975 and a prominent community leader in Indianapolis, Blackburn returned home in 1963 with an architectural degree from Howard University. He chose to return to Indianapolis where prospects for young black architects, even those with well known fathers, were less than auspicious. It was a courageous but judicious decision, and a decision based on the kind of commitment that had been an underlying theme of Blackburn’s life. Elected to the College of Fellows in the 1980’s, Blackburn understood that this honor and its purpose were best served if considered a stepping stone. His election to the College of Fellows was followed by his selection to chair AIA’s Diversity Taskforce in 1992, and shortly there after, his election as its Vice President, followed by a near miss to be named its President. Blackburn had served in most of the leadership chairs of AIA Indiana, and continued until his untimely death to provide insight and wisdom to the membership through the AIA Indiana Fellows Committee. His career also included many terms of service on the Indiana Arts Commission and the boards of numerous local arts organizations and nonprofit institutions.

A scholarship for the advanced studies in architecture or related profession is also bestowed with this award through the Indiana Architectural Foundation.

Past Recipients (Don E. Gibson Award)
1971 Richard Lugar
1972 Alice Weltry Nichols
1973 Eli Lilly
1974 M. Thomas Harrison
1975 John Taylor Windler
1976 William K. McGowan
1977 Jane Blaffer Owen
1978 Pegg Kennedy
1979 Dr. Richard Burkhart
1980 Richard Gordon Hatcher
1981 Frank P. Lloyd, M.D.
1982 Lilly Endowment
1983 Virginia Delap
1984 Anne Detmer
1985 J. Reid Williamson
1986 Foellinger Foundation
1987 David Hermansen
1988 Grazella Bush
1989 Ken Englund, Hon ISA
1990 Ball Corporation
1991 Janet Hollingsworth
1992 Mr. and Mrs. Judd Leighton
1993 No Recipient
1994 Jim Naus, CPA
1995 William Hudnut
1996 Marsha Weaver
1997 Mr. and Mrs. Cook
1998 Herbert and Melven Simon
1999 Dr. Jon Christian

Changed to the Walter S. Blackburn Award
2000 Dr. John E. Worthen
2001 Susan Williams
2002 William I. Miller
2003 (not awarded)
2004
2005 Robert W. Snyder, AIA
2006 Jo Ann Gora
2007 Scott Truex, AICP
2008

Protocol:

The Walter S. Blackburn Award is bestowed upon a non-architect public member or organization that has contributed on their time and person in service to or support of the architectural profession in Indiana, or an architect and member of AIA Indiana who has exemplified professional and public service as Blackburn did. Any non-architect public member or organization or AIA member in good standing with the association and profession, community and professional service, and support of the architectural are eligible for consideration. Their commitment to the profession, community and professional service, and support of the architectural profession in Indiana must be self-evident.

With assistance from the AIA member/nominator, the nominee should submit information for review and consideration by the AIA Indiana Awards Committee and Awards Jury. The submission may take any form the nominee chooses a portfolio, book, or paper but should include at least a resume and personal vita. The submission should address the reasons why that individual best represents the qualities espoused by the award. Three identical copies must be submitted. The submission must be delivered to AIA Indiana by July 27, 2008. The Awards Jury will review all nominees and recommend winners to the Awards Committee. The Committee will make recommendation to the AIA Indiana Board of Directors who will approve the decision at their August Meeting.

A representative from the recipient’s “home” Chapter will make the presentation, and serve as a host for the recipient at the Award Banquet. The recipient and their spouse or significant other or appropriate representative(s) of the organization are guests of AIA Indiana at the Award Banquet.

Award:

The Award is a black engraved plaque with meadow green infill.

Scholarship:

A scholarship toward an advanced degree in architecture or related profession will be awarded in the recipient’s name through the Indiana Architectural Foundation.

Click Here To View 2007 Service Award Recipients