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Gensler Vice Chair Earns Prestigious Award

Walter A. Hunt was praised for his fundraising efforts, which benefited New York's Center for Architecture.

Mairi Beautyman -- Interior Design, 10/17/2006 12:00:00 AM

Last week, a Gensler staffer took home one of the industry’s top honors: The 2006 President's Award from the New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA NY) and the Center for Architecture Foundation. Walter A. Hunt, vice chair of the global design, planning, and strategic consulting firm, earned the award for his strides to broaden the appeal of New York's Center for Architecture to the design community.

The Center for Architecture is a public venue which addresses design and architecture through diverse media, offering visitors learning opportunities which range from an exhibit on design's potential to address the obesity epidemic to a seminar on the benefits of underfloor air distribution.

Hunt, who served as president of AIA NY in 1999 and president of the Center for Architecture Foundation in 2004 and 2005, received the award last week at the Heritage Ball, held at New York’s Chelsea Piers. Rick Bell, executive director of AIA New York, praised hunt for his fundraising and leadership efforts on behalf of the chapter's Center for Architecture. Over seven years Hunt, along with Eugene Kohn, chairman of Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, served as co-chairs for the Center for Architecture Capital Campaign initiative. Through contributions from organizations including engineering, construction, and architectural firms, as well as vendors, consultants, manufacturers, and the City of New York, the campaign raised $6 million for the Center.

"Walter Hunt was the obvious choice for this year's award,” says FXFowle Architects president Mark Strauss, president of the AIA NY Chapter. "He set the stage for our contributions to public policy.”

The Center for Architecture Foundation is a non-profit organization which promotes public awareness and appreciation of the impact of architecture, design, and planning in the built environment.