As the School of Architecture community is still adjusting to new living and learning arrangements in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, we are further extending the deadline for applications for the 2020 SoA Design Awards for faculty and students to Tuesday 31 March at 11:59pm EST. Several additional awards have later deadlines; see below for more information.
If you feel that you will be unable to meet the submission deadline, please reach out to Steve Lee to let him know. For awards that include a travel component, students will be permitted to postpone their travel plans as needed.
If you intend to apply for one or more of the awards but have not yet started your application(s) in SlideRoom, we encourage you to do so NOW. The links to apply are accessible via the individual awards pages, linked to below. Only once you have started your application will we be able to troubleshoot any issues that may arise ahead of the deadline.
Learn more and apply on the SoA Awards page.
Undergraduate Student Awards
Burdett Assistantship
B.Arch Student Award | Applications due Tue 31 Mar @ 11:59pm EST
The Burdett Assistantship was established in recognition of Bob Burdett’s long and outstanding service to the University and profession. This award is open to all students pursuing their first professional degree in architecture, and is intended to support projects and activities that will enhance the winning student’s future work. According to its charter, the winner of the Burdett Assistantship “shall possess love of their subject, integrity, patience, fairness, and respect for others since these are the qualities exemplified by Bob Burdett throughout his career.” One $4,000 scholarship will be awarded to a B.Arch candidate. For more information, and to apply, visit: https://soa.cmu.edu/burdett-assistantship
Alwin Cassens, Jr. Memorial Fund in Architecture
Student Award | Applications due Tue 31 Mar @ 11:59pm EST
The Alwin Cassens, Jr. Memorial Fund in Architecture provides financial support to School of Architecture students who are traveling for conferences or other related travel in support of their academic pursuits in the area of public interest design. The fund was established in 2015 by Diane Cassens Cummins and Richard Cummins, and Joan Cassens Zinner (MM ’66) in memory of Diane and Joan’s father Alwin Cassens, Jr. (A ’34). The award amount will total $2,200. For more information, and to apply, visit: https://soa.cmu.edu/cassens-memorial-fund-in-architecture
Ferguson Jacobs Prize in Architecture
Student Award | Applications due Tue 31 Mar @ 11:59pm EST
The Ferguson Jacobs Prize in Architecture has been established to promote continuity of the classical tradition in contemporary architectural practice. It encourages design excellence based on long-standing design principles that promote beauty and harmony in the built environment. Endowed by Mark Ferguson (Arch ’78) and Natalie Jacobs (Arch ’79), this prize of $5,000 is available in alternating years to students and faculty in the School of Architecture. The 2020 prize is open to all students in the School of Architecture. The prize supports projects that explore the classical tradition as vital knowledge to an architect’s education, practice, and scholarship, or to individual apprenticeships and internships with a classical focus. Emphasis is placed on the dissemination of knowledge of the classical tradition and impact on the wider School of Architecture community. For more information, and to apply, visit: https://soa.cmu.edu/ferguson-jacobs-prize-in-architecture
Fourth-Year Design Awards: Luther S. Lashmit & Louis F. Valentour Traveling Scholarships, Ralph H. Burt Jr. and Alva L. Hill Scholarship, Stewart L. Brown Memorial Scholarship
B.Arch Student Award | Applications due Tue 31 Mar @ 11:59pm EST
The School of Architecture recognizes and celebrates design excellence through the Bachelor of Architecture Fourth-Year Design Awards program. All fourth-year students pursuing a Bachelor of Architecture degree are invited to submit a digital portfolio and a personal statement positioning their work in relation to the year’s theme. The 2020 theme for the first three awards is Versatility, which emphasizes the designer’s ability to be multifaceted, dexterous, and resourceful—architects always try to accomplish more with less and design spaces that are able to adjust to unpredictable futures. Recognizing the value of versatility, how does your work reflect a capacity to adapt and operate at diverse ranges?
Four awards are available to fourth-year Bachelor of Architecture students: The Luther S. Lashmit & Louis F. Valentour Traveling Scholarships, the Ralph H. Burt Jr. and Alva L. Hill Scholarship, and the Stewart L. Brown Memorial Scholarship.
Luther S. Lashmit and Louis F. Valentour Traveling Scholarships: These awards recognize design excellence and support international travel and research. All Bachelor of Architecture students in their fourth-year of studies are eligible to apply. The application requires applicants to submit a travel or research proposal under the guidance of a faculty advisor that will be presented at the annual SoA Awards Ceremony in April. The award amount totals $5,000 for the Lashmit Scholarship and $9,000 for the Valentour Scholarship.
Ralph H. Burt Jr. and Alva L. Hill Scholarship: This award was established in 2010 in honor of Ralph Burt and Alva Hill, the founders of Burt Hill architecture, engineering, and planning firm. Preference is given to students whose work focuses on sustainable environments, performance-based design, and systems integration throughout the design process in alignment with the legacy of the work of Burt Hill. The award amount of $2,200 is to be awarded to a B.Arch student in their fourth year of study.
Stewart L. Brown Memorial Scholarship: As a supplement to the Fourth-Year Design Awards, the Stewart L. Brown Memorial Scholarship recognizes professional promise as measured in both attitudes and scholastic achievement. The award serves as a balance to the AIA Medal Award, which is given only on the basis of scholarship. A jury convened by the Pittsburgh AIA will review the portfolios and select up to four (4) students for interviews with members of the Pittsburgh AIA leadership. The interviews will facilitate the determination of professional promise and ultimate selection of the awardee. The award amount totals $9,000.
For more information, and to apply, visit: https://soa.cmu.edu/fourth-year-design-awards
Gindroz Prize for Summer Travel and Study in Europe
Student Award | Applications due Wed 15 Apr @ 5:00pm EST
The Gindroz Prize for Summer Travel and Study in Europe was originally established by the Marilyn and Ray Gindroz Foundation and formerly known as the Gindroz Prize for Travel. Its mission is to enrich lives and enhance education through travel and the study of traditional architecture, urbanism, and music in Europe. The award will provide a $6,000 prize to each of the following: one (1) School of Architecture student and one (1) School of Music student pursuing study in European towns and cities. BXA Architecture students are also eligible to apply. The prize recognizes the life-changing potential of becoming immersed in a culture, language, and environment that is different from one’s own. The prize emphasizes both intellectual and craft development. For more information, and to apply, visit: https://soa.cmu.edu/gindroz-prize
Measuring & Monitoring Services, Inc. Internship Fund
Undergraduate Student Award | Applications due Tue 31 Mar @ 11:59pm EST
The Measuring & Monitoring Services, Inc. Internship Fund was established through the generosity of James Halpern (BAC ‘81) to provide financial support to a School of Architecture undergraduate student who wishes to undertake a summer internship or related program under the guidance of established professionals. The internship fund recognizes the importance and advantage of being immersed for an extended period in the creative processes and organizational dynamics of an architecture firm, non-government organization, non-profit organization, or CMU faculty member. Funds may be used to supplement paid internships, to volunteer for non-profit or non-government organizations, or to participate in a research project with a CMU faculty member. Funds are not to be used to compensate for unpaid internships. The award amount will total $3,000. For more information, and to apply, visit: https://soa.cmu.edu/measuring-monitoring-services-fund
John Knox Shear Memorial Traveling Award
B.Arch Student Award | Applications due 11 May 2020 @ 11:59pm EST
The John Knox Shear Award is the highest honor granted by the faculty of the School of Architecture to a graduating student in the Bachelor of Architecture program. The award recognizes exceptional design and representation as demonstrated through studio work within the last two years of the program. In enabling a substantial travel experience, the award encourages an understanding and analysis of the built environment through direct engagement. The awardee is selected by SoA faculty. The award amount is $10,000. For more information, and to apply, visit: https://soa.cmu.edu/john-knox-shear-award
Graduate Student Awards
George W. Anderson, Jr. Award
Graduate Student Award | Applications due Tue 31 Mar @ 11:59pm EST
The George W. Anderson, Jr. Award may be awarded to graduate students studying in the School of Architecture who demonstrate through a completed project "an exceptional level of attention to detail and dedication to beneficially impacting the community." Graduate students applying for this award are required to submit a narrative describing how the completed project benefited the community, with an emphasis on the craft and detailing of the work. Designs are not to be new designs, but are expected to be designs that have been completed to date. Applicants are also required to submit a Pecha Kucha style presentation about the project (details regarding the presentation to be determined). It is anticipated that two (2) awards at $2,000, two (2) awards at $1,500, and one (1) award at $1,000 will be awarded. For more information, and to apply, visit: https://soa.cmu.edu/anderson-award
Burdett Assistantship
M.Arch Student Award | Applications due Tue 31 Mar @ 11:59pm EST
The Burdett Assistantship was established in recognition of Bob Burdett’s long and outstanding service to the University and profession. This award is open to all students pursuing their first professional degree in architecture, and is intended to support projects and activities that will enhance the winning student’s future work. According to its charter, the winner of the Burdett Assistantship “shall possess love of their subject, integrity, patience, fairness, and respect for others since these are the qualities exemplified by Bob Burdett throughout his career.” One $4,000 scholarship will be awarded to a M.Arch candidate. For more information, and to apply, visit: https://soa.cmu.edu/burdett-assistantship
Ralph H. Burt Jr. and Alva L. Hill Scholarship
M.Arch Student Award | Applications due Tue 31 Mar @ 11:59pm EST
The Ralph H. Burt Jr. and Alva L. Hill Scholarship was established in 2010 in honor of Ralph Burt and Alva Hill, the founders of Burt Hill architecture, engineering, and planning firm. Preference is given to students whose work focuses on sustainable environments, performance-based design, and systems integration throughout the design process in alignment with the legacy of the work of Burt Hill. The award amount is $2,200 to be awarded to a M.Arch student pursuing their first professional degree in architecture. For more information, and to apply, visit: https://soa.cmu.edu/burt-hill-scholarship
Alwin Cassens, Jr. Memorial Fund in Architecture
Student Award | Applications due Tue 31 Mar @ 11:59pm EST
The Alwin Cassens, Jr. Memorial Fund in Architecture provides financial support to School of Architecture students who are traveling for conferences or other related travel in support of their academic pursuits in the area of public interest design. The fund was established in 2015 by Diane Cassens Cummins and Richard Cummins, and Joan Cassens Zinner (MM ’66) in memory of Diane and Joan’s father Alwin Cassens, Jr. (A ’34). The award amount will total $2,200. For more information, and to apply, visit:
https://soa.cmu.edu/cassens-memorial-fund-in-architecture
Gindroz Prize for Summer Travel and Study in Europe
Student Award | Applications due Wed 15 Apr @ 5:00pm ESTThe Gindroz Prize for Summer Travel and Study in Europe was originally established by the Marilyn and Ray Gindroz Foundation and formerly known as the Gindroz Prize for Travel. Its mission is to enrich lives and enhance education through travel and the study of traditional architecture, urbanism, and music in Europe. The award will provide a $6,000 prize to each of the following: one (1) School of Architecture student and one (1) School of Music student pursuing study in European towns and cities. BXA Architecture students are also eligible to apply. The prize recognizes the life-changing potential of becoming immersed in a culture, language, and environment that is different from one’s own. The prize emphasizes both intellectual and craft development. For more information, and to apply, visit: https://soa.cmu.edu/gindroz-prize
Ferguson Jacobs Prize in Architecture
Student Award | Applications due Tue 31 Mar @ 11:59pm EST
The Ferguson Jacobs Prize in Architecture has been established to promote continuity of the classical tradition in contemporary architectural practice. It encourages design excellence based on long-standing design principles that promote beauty and harmony in the built environment. Endowed by Mark Ferguson (Arch ’78) and Natalie Jacobs (Arch ’79), this prize of $5,000 is available in alternating years to students and faculty in the School of Architecture. The 2020 prize is open to all students in the School of Architecture. The prize supports projects that explore the classical tradition as vital knowledge to an architect’s education, practice, and scholarship, or to individual apprenticeships and internships with a classical focus. Emphasis is placed on the dissemination of knowledge of the classical tradition and impact on the wider School of Architecture community. For more information, and to apply, visit: https://soa.cmu.edu/ferguson-jacobs-prize-in-architecture
Faculty Award
Isabel Sophia Liceaga Discretionary Fund
Faculty Award | Applications due Tue 31 Mar @ 11:59pm EST
The Isabel Sophia Liceaga Discretionary Fund was established to support faculty-led projects that critically engage students, advance the mission and reputation of the School of Architecture, and support the highest priority needs of the school and its constituents. The Head of the School of Architecture will review the proposals and make the selections. It is anticipated that there will be two (2) awards of $2,000 each. All current faculty of the School of Architecture are eligible to apply. For more information, and to apply, visit: https://soa.cmu.edu/isabel-sophia-liceaga-discretionary-fund