While hundreds of students, family, and alumni toured the towering highrise models and home miniatures at the 2023 Open House at IIT College of Architecture, a dozen visiting jurors were exploring S. R. Crown Hall for especially creative or outstanding projects that celebrate what the College embodies. The winners of these awards were presented at the Spring Awards Ceremony on May 12, 2023.
Faculty members proudly awarded the scholarships, starting with undergraduate students. The
Samuel Horwitz Memorial Scholarship and Dwight T. Black Memorial Scholarship are tuition awards for students whose studio projects demonstrate outstanding talent and professional promise.
- Samuel Horwitz Scholarship (1st Year): Nathan Kalman
- Samuel Horwitz Scholarship (1st Year): Paul Lim
- Samuel Horwitz Scholarship (1st Year) Honorable Mentions: Allison Murray, Casey Kowalsky, Helen Hauser
- Samuel Horwitz Scholarship (2nd Year): Maddigan Cox
- Dwight T. Black Scholarship (3rd Year): Nick LeDonne
- Dwight T. Black Scholarship (3rd Year) Honorable Mention: Jlees Ahmed
- Dwight T. Black Scholarship (4th Year): Elle Dils and Helen Leach for “Bronzeville Montessori” (Mills Studio)
Graduate programs issued their own slate of awards, which either support tuition costs or encourage winners to travel and enhance their architecture education.
- The Brothers Finfer Scholarship 1st Place: Victor Reyes, Sneha Roda, and Lara Tekneyan for “Stones in a River” (Brock Studio)
- The Brothers Finfer Scholarship 2nd Place: Autumn Damiani, Avinashkaur Khalsa, and Mohammed Shariff for “Ulysses” (Brininstool/Metter Studio)
- George Danforth Traveling Fellowship: Richa Asangi, Ayishwara Pawar, and Samad Vahora for “Eco Catalyst” (Conger-Austin and Endres Studio)
- George Danforth Traveling Fellowship: Mathieu Lubingo, Alan Monzalvo, and Preet Parekh for “Vertical Urban Habitats” (Lee Studio)
- George Danforth Traveling Fellowship: Moid Ali and Trae Horne for “The Seam” (Utrabo and Mireles Studio)
- George Danforth Traveling Fellowship Honorable Mention: Carolina Arboleda Gonzalez, Camila Rossi Pinheiro, and Sergio Sedano for “Calumet Hydro Hubs” (Halpin & Felsen Studio)
- Jerrold Loebl Traveling Prize: Hans Friedl for “Eco-Court” (Villalobos and Denison Studio)
- Jerrold Loebl Traveling Prize: Cecilia Charney for “Soapsud Scripture” (Johnson Studio, Berlin)
- Jerrold and Ruth Wiel Loebl Scholarship: Aska Desai, Jorge Mayorga, and Lara Tekneyan for “Essential Homes” (Rubio Studio)
- Nagle/Hartray Scholarship: Jil Arets and Safa Shukairy for their project, “The Submarine”
As usual IIT College of Architecture students are equipped to do well in competitions sponsored by local nonprofits and professional organizations, some of which have not announced finalists yet.
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Chicago Foundation administers the juried Chicago Award, also known as the Benn-Johnck Award, as a prize for projects of exceptional merit. The 2023 nominees from the IIT College of Architecture are:
- “The Cloud: Seed for the Future” by Jusang Lee and Chelsea Nguyen with Adjunct Professor Michal Ojrzanowski
- “Eco Catalyst” by Richa Asangi, Ayishwara Pawar, and Samad Vahora with Studio Professor and Assistant Dean Susan Conger-Austin and Assistant Professor Paul Endres
- “Soapsud Scripture” by Cecilia Charney with Senior Lecturer Leslie Johnson
- “The Seam” by Moid Ali and Trae Horne with Victor A. Morgenstern Family Visiting Chair Gustavo Utrabo and Adjunct Professor Brianda Mireles
- “Vertical Urban Habitats” by Mathieu Lubingo, Alan Monzalvo, and Preet Parekh with Adjunct Professor Brian Lee
The Schiff Foundation Fellowship for Architecture, administered by the Department of Architecture and Design at the Art Institute of Chicago, recognizes the work of young, talented architects in Chicago institutions. The 2023 nominees from the IIT College of Architecture are:
- “Calumet Hydro Hubs” by Carolina Arboleda Gonzalez, Camila Rossi Pinheiro, and Sergio Sedano with Faculty Member JoBeth Halpin and Associate Professor Martin Felsen
- “Eco Catalyst” by Richa Asangi, Ayishwara Pawar, and Samad Vahora with Studio Professor and Assistant Dean Susan Conger-Austin and Assistant Professor Paul Endres
- “Soapsud Scripture” by Cecilia Charney with Senior Lecturer Leslie Johnson
- “The Seam” by Moid Ali and Trae Horne with Victor A. Morgenstern Family Visiting Chair Gustavo Utrabo and Adjunct Professor Brianda Mireles
- “Vertical Urban Habitats” by Mathieu Lubingo, Alan Monzalvo, and Preet Parekh with Adjunct Professor Brian Lee
Students in the Master of Landscape Architecture + Urbanism (MLA+U) were presented awards based on leadership, merit, and commitment to bettering the public.
- The Caldwell Medal: Amanda Soto
- The Hilberseimer Medal: Nick Myers
- The Illinois Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (Illinois ASLA) Awards of Merit: Johann Friedl and Krista Dawson
- The Landscape Architecture Foundation’s 2023 University Olmsted Scholarship: Krista Dawson
- The Landscape Architecture Book Award in History, Theory, and Criticism: Johann Friedl
- The Landscape Architecture Book Award in Program Service: Mahmudur Rahman
- The LIRIO Landscape Architecture Summer Travel Award: Brendan Tyler Hall
- Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Scholarship for Master’s in Landscape Architecture: Juliana Cardozo Chamorro, Maurice Gaston, and Jonathan Cienfuegos
- The Studio Faculty Awards for the MLA+U Program: Huanyu Wang and Nick Myers
In addition, we are honored to celebrate MLA+U students who received national recognition this year:
- Mohammad Arabmazar: SWA Summer Internship Program in Los Angeles
- Juliana Cardozo Chamorro: 2023 Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Scholarship from SmithGroup
- Johann Friedl: 2023 Garden Club of America Hope Goddard Iselin Fellowship in Public Horticulture
- Maurice Gaston: Finalist for the inaugural Landscape Architecture Foundation Ignite! Program
- Brendan Tyler Hall: Cite/City Internship at Chartier Dalix through Villa Albertine and the French Consulate of Chicago
Doctoral student awards highlight a student’s research, dissertation defense, and contribution to architecture education.
- Architectural Research Centers Consortium | King Student Medal for Excellence in Architectural + Environmental Design Research: Amjad Alkoud for “Investigating the Impact of Ultra-tall Building Ordinances on the Future of Major Cities: Chicago and Dubai.”
- Award for the Best Defended Doctoral Dissertation in the 2022–2023 academic year: Liwen Kang for “Health and Well-being Benefits of Different Types of Urban Green Spaces (UGS): A Cross-sectional Study of Communities in Chicago, United States”
- PhD Program Spirit Award: Alejandro Saldaña Perales
Awards for utilizing the school’s library collection or recognizing standout design and craftsmanship in design/build electives were awarded to students of any program:
- Furniture Design/Build Award: Samuel Bennett, Zeid Amin, and Emmy Mollgren
- The Graham Resource Center Book Award: Moid Ali, Trae Horne, and Tiffany Chang
- The Graham Resource Center Book Award Honorable Mentions: Colin Fialkiewicz and Logan Plaisted
- Peterhans Visual Training Project Prize: Emmy Mollgren for their work in Visual Training II
- Peterhans Visual Training Project Prize: Jilliana Pilutti for their work in Design Communications I and II
- Peterhans Visual Training Project Prize: Maddigan Cox for their work in Design Communications III
- Peterhans Visual Training Project Prize: Omar Fuaad Godil for their work in Design Communications III
- Peterhans Visual Training Project Prize: Cecilia Charney for their work in Collage Making
Leadership awards are open to all students for going above and beyond the expectations of the studio, presented by faculty or professional organizations.
- B.Arch 1st Year: Casey Kowalsky and Yeong Jae Lee
- B.Arch 2nd Year: Anjishnu Dey and Hai Truong
- B.Arch 3rd Year: Larry Tchogninou
- B.Arch 4th Year: Daria DeWolf, Jonah Laduca, Omar Rodriguez, and Mark Schwandt
- B.Arch 5th Year: Trae Horne
- M.Arch 1st Year: Molly Gildar and Leigh Kadlec
- M.Arch 3rd Year: Negin Ghaedsharafi
IIT College of Architecture’s Peer Mentor Program unites first year undergraduates with more experienced students to explore Chicago’s built environment and instill critical thinking and sketchbook skills while providing a first taste of teaching. This year’s peer mentors are:
- Ekaterina Bystrova, Maria Elena Cortez, Autumn Damiani, Daria DeWolf, Hollis Kerr, Yun Woo Kim, Scott Rainen, Sadiqul Shehab, Lara Tekneyan, and Gregory Vergara; with alternates: Dorsa Seyedi and Aska Desai
The AIA Medal for Academic Excellence is awarded to the top graduates:
- B.Arch Medal: Elanderi Steyn
- M.Arch Medal: Mathieu Lubingo
The Alpha Rho Chi Medal, provided by the National Professional Fraternity for Architecture and the Allied Arts, is awarded to graduating students who have shown outstanding professional leadership.
- Alpha Rho Chi Medal: Cecilia Charney
IIT College of Architecture thanks the visiting jurors for their time and effort reviewing the students’ work:
- Monica Chadha, Civic Projects
- Penelope Dean, UIC School of Architecture
- Laura Ettedgui, Studio Gang
- Palmyra Geraki, Palmyra LLC
- Alison von Glinow, Kwong von Glinow
- Chandra Goldsmith Gray, Chandra Goldsmith Gray Landscape Architect and IIT College of Architecture Board of Advisors
- Judith De Jong, University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) School of Architecture
- Joy Meek, Wheeler Kearns Architects
- Florencia Rodriguez, UIC School of Architecture
- Mark Sexton, K+S Partners and IIT College of Architecture Board of Advisors
- Dan Wheeler, Wheeler Kearns Architects