The Seattle Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, AIA Seattle, announced the names of those receiving AIA Seattle Honors for their achievement in championing outstanding design in our city and region. Each year, AIA Seattle recognizes leadership and achievement in design and the built environment through its honors program. Honors acknowledge excellence, inspire by example, and strengthen ties between architects and the many other professions that partner with them to make a difference through design.

The honorees will be recognized at a formal event held on May 30, 2009 in Seattle. A portion of the proceeds benefit the AIA Seattle Travel Scholarship for Emerging Professionals.

Those honored are:

AIA Seattle Medal of Honor
George Suyama FAIA

AIA Seattle Honorary Membership
Kevin Daniels
Hon. Jay Inslee
Jeff Benesi
Jim Kelly

Allied Organization Award
Sound Transit

Community Service Award
Jan Gleason FAIA

Young Architect Award
Meredith Everist AIA

AIA Seattle Medal of Honor

George Suyama FAIA
George Suyama has created a distinguished body of work that dissolves the division between architecture and applied art. His consistently outstanding designs, a standard for Northwest architecture, originate from the same sensibility that inspires his public arts advocacy. George shows his commitment to the advancement of the arts through volunteer positions and by appointment to numerous arts organizations, including Henry Art Gallery, On the Boards, Seattle Arts Commission, Downtown Seattle Transit Project Arts Committee, and the Pike Place Market Commission. The 1998 creation of Suyama Space in the offices of Suyama Architects reflects George Suyama's commitment to public understanding of contemporary art. In George's work the simplicity, flexibility, and transparency of Japanese tradition are transformed into a contemporary language of indoor-outdoor spaces. He forges an evolving architecture that reveres nature, taking cues from context, climate, and indigenous myth.

AIA Seattle Honorary Membership

Kevin Daniels
Kevin Daniels is the President of Nitze-Stagen & Co., Inc. and Daniels Development Co. LLC. Both companies focus on the investment into, and redevelopment of, landmarked structures and community redevelopment projects in the Pacific Northwest. A dedicated community leader, Kevin has served on the boards of numerous local and national organizations, including the National Trust for Historic Preservation. As a leading voice for historic preservation, Daniels has been recognized with two National Preservation Awards, the Washington State Special Achievement Award, and many other local and national honors. Current developments include a 44 story high rise in downtown Seattle as part of the preservation of the last historic Sanctuary building within the central business district, the transit oriented development of the north lot at Qwest Field in a joint venture with Opus NW, and an inter-modal office campus near King Street Station.

Jay Inslee
Jay Inslee has worked at the federal level – as representative for the 4th Congressional District from 1992-1994 and the 1st Congressional District since 1999 – to protect the environment of Washington state and address the problem of global warming. He fought to restore protections for roadless areas in national forests and led a successful campaign in the House to keep limits on oil-tanker traffic in Puget Sound. Since 2005, Jay has used his seat on the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee to promote his vision for a clean energy future, the New Apollo Energy Act, and to advance other legislation that would reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. His dedication to green building principles supports architectural response to today’s environmental challenges.

Jeff Benesi
Jeff’s passion in landscape and urban design is evident in his broad portfolio of work from transit oriented developments and park design to large master planning projects. A natural educator and artist, he uses these skills to convey conceptual ideas and technical details to clients so they may make informed decisions and choices. Working collaboratively with stakeholders, other design professionals, he creates solutions that integrate the client and community vision into every project.

Jim Kelly
Jim Kelly is the Executive Director of 4Culture, King County’s cultural services agency. In 2003, Jim managed the transition of the Office of Cultural Resources into a public development authority, called 4Culture, combining the offices of the King County Landmarks and Heritage Commission, Public Art Commission and Arts Commission. 4Culture transitioned these distinct agencies into four program areas which share the mission to advance community through culture. 4Culture preserves our shared heritage and aims to place art and culture at the center of every civic endeavor, stimulating activity and infrastructure that distinguish our region as vibrant and unique.

Allied Organization Award


Sound Transit

Community Service Award

Jan Gleason FAIA
Jan’s decades of socially responsible practice have culminated in her role as Executive Director of Environmental Works, a Seattle-based community design center which since its establishment in 1970 has made quality design available to non-profit facilities. Jan’s practice experience, professional reputation, and design acumen have advanced the importance of Environmental Works as one of the nation's best respected community design centers, and helped bring value and awareness to the profession's community service mission.

Young Architect Award

Meredith Everist AIA
Meredith joined Baylis Architects in 2005, where she chairs the firm’s Sustainable Design Committee, and has successfully implemented LEED and carbon reduction strategies into all of its projects. Two recent and notable projects that demonstrate Meredith’s design and technical expertise include a new facility for Youth Eastside Services, and an office building for First Savings Bank Northwest. Building on her post-graduate studies in "Architecture and Children", Meredith is a strong advocate for fostering creative thinking through integrated learning techniques. She serves on the Executive Board for Friends of the Children, a community organization that serves "at-risk" youth through-out King County, and is an ative professional liason for a child in the Friends of the Children program