Fay Jones School Celebrates Namesake, Professor Marlon Blackwell with Jan. 31 Events

Mark Jackson/CHROMA

The Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design will recognize Marlon Blackwell, winner of the 2020 AIA Gold Medal, on Jan. 31 in Vol Walker Hall.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design will host celebratory events and "A Conversation on Architecture" starting at 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31, in Vol Walker Hall on the University of Arkansas campus.

The events will honor Fay Jones, the renowned Arkansas architect, on what would have been his 99th birthday. They also will recognize Marlon Blackwell, who has been named the recipient of the 2020 Gold Medal from the American Institute of Architects.

Blackwell, who has taught in the school since 1992, is a Distinguished Professor and the E. Fay Jones Chair in Architecture. Jones, who practiced architecture in Fayetteville, was a longtime professor and first dean of the school that now bears his name. He received the AIA Gold Medal in 1990.

"A Conversation on Architecture" will take place from 5-6 p.m. in Ken and Linda Sue Shollmier Hall, Room 250 of Vol Walker Hall. Those participating include:

• Toshiko Mori, FAIA of Toshiko Mori Architects and the Robert P. Hubbard Professor of Practice at Harvard University Graduate School of Design, and recipient of the 2019 AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion for Excellence in Architectural Education;
• Juhani Pallasmaa, SAFA, HFAIA, of Juhani Pallasmaa Architects in Helsinki, Finland, and a Pritzker Architecture Prize jury member from 2009-14;
• Tod Williams, FAIA, of Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects and recipient of the 2019 Praemium Imperiale Medalist (with Billie Tsien);
• Marlon Blackwell, FAIA, of Marlon Blackwell Architects and 2020 AIA Gold Medalist.

Mori, Pallasmaa and Williams comprise the external team that is evaluating the conceptual design proposals from six finalists firms for the planned Anthony Timberlands Center for Design and Materials Innovation at the U of A.

A 6:15 reception will follow the conversation, in Young Gallery, with the program starting at 6:30 p.m. Chancellor Joseph Steinmetz will present remarks.

Those planning to attend these Jan. 31 events may RSVP to Mary Purvis at mpurvis@uark.edu.