´óÏó´«Ã½

The AIA Fort Lauderdale, the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects, recently hosted its annual awards events, bringing together leading architects, educators, and design professionals to celebrate outstanding achievements in design, innovation, and community impact. The events showcased projects that set new benchmarks for architectural excellence and recognized individuals making significant contributions to the profession, both locally and globally. 

Willa Granger , PH.D. was honored with the AIA Fort Lauderdale Educator of the Year Award for her exemplary contributions to architectural education. As the sole architectural historian at ´óÏó´«Ã½ since 2022, Granger has transformed how undergraduate architects engage with design history. Through immersive field-based studies and cultural explorations across South Florida, she highlights how socio-cultural history, and the humanities are essential tools for future designers. Her teaching emphasizes the role of empathy in design and how lessons from the past can inspire solutions for the future, earning her recognition from students and peers alike. 

Jeffrey Huber , FAIA, professor at ´óÏó´«Ã½â€™s School of Architecture and principal at Brooks + Scarpa, received multiple accolades at the AIA Miami and AIA Fort Lauderdale awards. On October 18th, Huber was recognized by AIA Miami for his groundbreaking work, including the Youth Sports Complex Field House in Pompano Beach, the Thayer Brick House (Lipton Residence) in Chicago, the Steeplechase Residence in North Carolina, and the Collaboratory at the University of Florida in Gainesville. A week later, on October 25th, Huber received the AIA Fort Lauderdale Honors Award for the Steeplechase Residence and the AIA Fort Lauderdale Merit Award for the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. These awards reinforce Huber’s influence across global design landscapes, showcasing his commitment to sustainable, innovative architecture. 

Dustin White was recognized with the AIA Fort Lauderdale Citation Award for his Coral Table project. Created for the Natural Things exhibition at the Marmomac Stone Exhibition in Verona, the table is a stunning example of craftsmanship and material innovation. Carved from a single block of Tuscan Palissandro Bronzetto marble, the three-meter-long table explores natural erosion and coral growth patterns, blending digital stereotomy techniques with traditional stonework. Its asymmetrical and porous design highlights the marble's natural beauty while pushing the boundaries of contemporary stone fabrication. 

Dr. Shermeen Yousif received the AIA Fort Lauderdale Citation Award for theoretical research for her project, Deep-TEK: Towards FINE-TUNING Deep Learning Models to Learn from Traditional Ecological Knowledge. Focused on Florida vernacular architecture, particularly the Florida Cracker style, Yousif’s research introduces an AI-driven framework to analyze and adapt resilient design strategies from historical structures. By fine-tuning generative AI models with datasets rooted in Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), her work highlights the environmental intelligence of vernacular design, promoting sustainable solutions adapted to local climates. Recognized multiple times by AIA Florida, including past awards in 2022 and 2024, Dr. Yousif continues to shape architectural research and education at ´óÏó´«Ã½.