Debra Lupton, BDES 1977, MAARC 1979, was elected to this year’s class of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) College of Fellows. She was honored at the recent AIA Conference on Architecture 2017 in Orlando.
DCP Alum and member of the AIA College of Fellows Class of 1993 John Ehrig, BARCH 1973, nominated Lupton for this honor.
“Debra has consistently stretched the boundaries of our profession to connect with all members of the architecture/engineering/construction community,” Ehrig stated. “As an architect and CEO business pacesetter, she also assumed the mantel of political catalyst to elevate and protect the entire design profession on the legislative front for decades.”
Ehrig stated that Lupton has these three qualities inherent in her DNA: her love of architecture, her quest to improve all aspects of integrating engineering with architecture and her conviction to share her knowledge.
“I grew up a military brat so the concept of service to your profession was a value instilled in me at an early age,” Lupton said. “It is not enough to do your job well. Giving back by advancing all aspects of architecture is a responsibility we each must embrace.
“For me, service to the profession entailed applying my architectural training in non-traditional ways – as an AIA activist, interpreter, integrator, sustainability champion and business pacesetter,” Lupton added. “Changing the paradigm of the intersection of architecture and engineering was timely, as our practices faced a sea-change on all fronts in the last decade.”
The Fellowship program was developed to elevate those architects who have made a significant contribution to architecture and society and who have achieved a standard of excellence in the profession. Election to fellowship not only recognizes the achievements of architects as individuals, but also their significant contribution to architecture and society on a national level.
Out of a total AIA membership of over 90,000, approximately 3 percent of members are recognized as fellows.
“Getting elevated to Fellow validated my career-long efforts to improve the profession by mentoring, providing political and business leadership and stepping up on the technical side to integrate sustainable design process,” Lupton explained.