Galen Hunter receives top AIA Arkansas award

Galen Hunter, a principal at Fort Smith-based MAHG Architecture, received the prestigious Fay Jones Gold Medal Award from the Arkansas Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The AIA also awarded Talicia Richardson, a former executive director of 64.6 Downtown.

Hunter was recognized for his accomplishments during more than 40 years of work in the architecture industry. In addition, he was recognized for his work with AIA Arkansas, including as chapter president, design awards chair, convention chair and a senior board member.

“His involvement in the community includes co-chair of the inaugural Future Fort Smith Committee, co-chair of the City of Fort Smith Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee, chair of the Community Development Advisory Committee and chair of the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority Real Estate Committee,” noted an AIA Arkansas statement.

The Gold Medal Award is named after the late Fay Jones, “whose work encompasses and embodies all the qualities AIA Arkansas admires in an architect and a person,” the association noted.

The architecture and design program at the University of Arkansas is named the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design. One of the most popular works by Jones, who was an apprentice to Frank Lloyd Wright, is Thorncrown Chapel near Eureka Springs.

“The award recognizes an individual architect who demonstrates touchstones of excellence through artistic vision and design, leadership and service to the state of Arkansas and the AIA Arkansas Chapter. Excellence is measured not only by the mark of architectural and individual achievement, but through the esteem and regard held for the architect by professional practitioners and the community as a whole,” AIA Arkansas noted about the top award received by Hunter.

Following are other awards presented during the recent AIA Arkansas convention held in Fort Smith.

Dick Savage Memorial Award
Lori Yazwinski Santa-Rita, a partner at Jennings+Santa-Rita Architects in Fayetteville. She served as the 2019 AIA Arkansas president, is a founding member of Women in Architecture Arkansas, and was a member of the AIA National Strategic Council as the Arkansas representative from 2021-2023.

Emerging Professionals Award
Timothy Varner, an associate principal at MAHG Architecture in Fort Smith. A graduate of Leadership Fort Smith, he chairs the Future Fort Smith Committee that is responsible for implementation of the city’s 10-year strategic plan. Varner also spearheaded a very successful tactical urbanism project to test out revitalization ideas in downtown Van Buren.

Diversity Award
Ernest Banks, associate AIA. Born in Little Rock he recognized early on the need for greater diversity in the field and uses this awareness to create spaces and opportunities that reflect the rich diversity of his community. In his hometown of Little Rock, he founded RISE (Reinvest in Students Everywhere), a scholarship program that is aimed at inspiring underserved students to pursue careers in architecture.

Michael Lejong Leadership Award
Chris East, a principal at Cromwell Architects Engineers. He has been involved in leading design-related community issues including the recent Downtown Little Rock Masterplan’s Development, Density and Urban Design Task Force. He also co-chaired the Greater Little Rock Chamber of Commerce’s Think Big program, Little Rock War Memorial Park taskforce and studioMAIN’s advocacy efforts to improve the I-30 corridor project, 30 Crossing.

Award of Merit
Preserve Arkansas. This organization works to build stronger communities by reconnecting Arkansans to our heritage and empowering people to save and rehabilitate historic places.

Award of Merit
Talicia Richardson, a former executive director of 64.6 Downtown, a nonprofit organization specializing in creative placement in downtown Fort Smith. Under her leadership, she led the effort to rebranding 64.6 Downtown as Main Street Fort Smith, increased the activation of Riverfront Park with the Levitt AMP Fort Smith Music Series, built community awareness of arts and cultural impact of various communities through Black, Asian Pacific Islander and Hispanic-Latino Heritage Months, and obtained National Main Street accreditation.