(Pictured above: Fellows Stuart Coppedge, Bill Bates, and Jeff Murray at the 2024 AIA Pittsburgh Fellows Dinner)
By Stuart Coppedge, FAIA
On the afternoon of June 22, 2018, I, along with 154 other newly invested Fellows of the American Institute of Architects, walked (floated!) out onto the sunlit steps St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan. Skipper Post, the 2018 Chancellor of the College of Fellows, had just placed the Richard Upjohn Medal around my neck. Good friends and now “fellow Fellows” – Carl Elefante, Ed Vance, and Peter Kutner, each of whom I had served with on the AIA National Board and had in his own way encouraged my professional journey – probably broke some sort of protocol with enthusiastic on-stage hugs. I remember the sound of the organ playing a triumphant recessional hymn and the smiles on seemingly everyone’s faces, the newly minted Fellows, their families (including my sons and their wives), and their friends and colleagues. Something special had just occurred as all of us, individually and collectively, were “recognized with AIA’s highest membership honor for [our] exceptional work and contributions to architecture and society.”
Frankly, I have never considered myself or my work to be “exceptional.” What I did think was exceptional that memorable day six years ago, and still do even more now, is the cadre of people who have encouraged, guided, and challenged me throughout my life and career: my parents, who always taught me to do what I felt called to do but to do it really, really well; my professors in architecture school who both humbled me and praised my work while demanding creative thinking and excellence in execution; my employers and fellow practitioners who recognized my contributions while encouraging me to serve the largest community possible even when designing a small project; my former wife, who gave me space to pursue this amazing profession; and my sons, who would say things like, “Of course you can do that, you’re our dad.” And that brings me to the whole point of this narrative. More than a recognition of me, my elevation to Fellowship was a recognition of everyone who contributed to my growth as a person and my success as a professional.
Wearing the lapel pin and using “FAIA” after my name is, to me, a high privilege, and one not to be taken lightly. In many ways it is like sealing a set of construction documents. You are taking responsibility for something important you’ve done that has a very large immediate and continuing impact. Just as we want our buildings to matter, our AIA Fellowship should matter, but not because it’s cool or makes us feel special. It should indue us with energy and focus to change the built environment and our profession for the better. Personally, this means recognizing the head start I received in life and in the profession simply by virtue of my birth as a white male raised by college educated parents. I certainly feel no shame or embarrassment for that fact; it does, however, place a responsibility on my shoulders to support and encourage others who are on a journey that is different, and in many cases, much more difficult, than mine. Like architectural registration, we don’t need lower standards. We do need to streamline that often onerous, and even lonely, path with mentorship and facilitation for those who seek personal impact and professional success in our ever-evolving profession. As a Fellow, part of my responsibility is to work toward an inclusive profession that reflects the society it serves.
AIA Fellowship is certainly an acknowledgement of past work and contributions. It’s an indication to everyone, especially those in your professional circle, that you’ve done something worthwhile, that you “know stuff”, that maybe what you say and do carries some weight. Fellowship, however, brings a set of expectations for how you practice and serve. As a Fellow, you are a torchbearer for ethical practice, not just in the business sense but in recognizing the “ripple effects”, positive and negative, large and small, your work has on people and the environment.
I remember a conversation with my father decades ago after receiving my scores on college entrance exams. “Well, now you’ve done it,” he said. “You’ve just proved you have no excuse for not doing well in school and work.” Fellowship is a little like that. It’s proof that you have the skill and ability to engage with, and positively influence, the world around you. I know when something I’m involved in needs a leader, often someone says, “Stuart’s an AIA Fellow. He should do this.” And I do, because I can. And so can you.
For those members interested in learning more about AIA Fellowship, please visit the AIA Pittsburgh Fellows page.
Stuart Coppedge, Senior Architect at Desmone Architects, served on the AIA National Board and is currently serving on the AIA Pittsburgh Board. Previously, Stuart led the team at RTA Architects in Colorado Springs that designed the new Pikes Peak Summit Visitor Center. This is the first building above 14,000 feet to achieve LEED & Living Building Challenge certification.