Fay Jones School Alumni, Design Supporters Honored During Recognition Ceremony

Chieko Hara

Guests mingle during the Winter Fest Reception hosted by the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design in December. During the following ceremony, alumni design award winners were recognized, as well as Awards for Distinction honorees and Golden Graduates, alumni who graduated from the university 50 years ago.

The Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design at the U of A recently honored several individuals who have made contributions to the school, university and culture of design with Awards for Distinction. These awards were presented, along with annual alumni design awards, during the school's Winter Fest Reception and Alumni Recognition Ceremony, held Dec. 14 in Vol Walker Hall on the university campus. The school also recognized Golden Graduates, alumni who graduated from the university 50 years ago. 

"The annual Awards for Distinction offer the school the opportunity to recognize valued members of our alumni community, as well as our faculty and staff, as well as our extended community across Arkansas," said Peter MacKeith, dean of the school. "We are grateful for the example that each of these organizations or individuals sets for us and for their support of the school and its mission."

Dean's Medals

Dean's Medals were given to Urban Land Institute Northwest Arkansas, Evo Business Environments and the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts. This distinction is awarded annually in recognition of the recipient's significant contributions to the architecture and design culture of the state of Arkansas, and to students and their education at the Fay Jones School.

Urban Land Institute Northwest Arkansas is a district council of the Urban Land Institute, a global organization dedicated to improving the quality of urban areas. The institute aims to shape the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide. Through programs and events, they strive to positively shape the future of real estate and land use disciplines throughout Northwest Arkansas. 

Evo Business Environments is a company that understands the evolution of business environments and helps others navigate those changes successfully. Evo helps with everything from furniture to parts of the built environment. Working alongside other professionals, their team provides design concepts, budgets, technical drawings, renderings and even virtual reality tours.

Founded in 1937, the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts (AMFA) is the largest cultural institution of its kind in Arkansas, offering a unique blend of visual and performing arts experiences and educational programming. AMFA features a diverse range of media and artistic perspectives within its permanent collection of 14,000 works of art, as well as through rotating temporary exhibitions. This commitment extends to diversity through its dynamic children's theater and performing arts program, Windgate Art School and community-focused educational programs for all ages.

Distinguished Service Awards

Distinguished Service Awards were given to Melissa Harlan, Bob Bledsoe and the late John Crone. This distinction is awarded annually in recognition of the recipient's significant contributions to the students and resources of the Fay Jones School, the university and the community.

Harlan, AIA, (B.Arch. '03) is an architect at Kiku Obata & Company. An Arkansan born in upstate New York, Harlan is passionate about her family, community-focused design and working towards a just and sustainable society. Harlan is a member of the AIA St. Louis Awards Committee, past chair of the AIA Small Project Design Knowledge Community and current president of the Professional Advisory Board at the Fay Jones School. Harlan served on the jury for the 2020 AIA Small Project Awards, 2020 AIA Small Project Grant, 2020 AIA Gold Medal and 2020 AIA Firm of the Year. She holds a Master of Architecture from Harvard University, a Bachelor of Architecture from the U of A and a B.S. in Agriculture from Arkansas State University.

Bledsoe will retire as executive director of the Garvan Woodland Gardens at the end of January. Under his leadership, he's seen the woodland garden in Hot Springs through 22 years. Over the last two decades, attendance at Garvan Gardens has grown from just under 40,000 to more than 200,000 annually. Garden visitors have traveled from all 50 states and all continents except for Antarctica. About 200 weddings take place each year in the glass, wood and stone Anthony Chapel. Before joining the garden, Bledsoe, who received his Doctor of Ministry and master's degree in divinity, worked as a licensed real estate broker in Hot Springs. In ministry work, he raised money for capital campaigns, made strides to enlarge the membership base and coordinated volunteers.

Crone, former landscape architecture professor and department head, joined the Fay Jones School faculty in 1980 and continued to teach for 33 years. Upon his retirement in spring 2013, he was the longest-serving landscape architecture faculty member in the school. Under Crone's leadership, the Landscape Architecture Department achieved full national accreditation status. His friendship with timber baron/philanthropist Verna Cook Garvan led her to bequeath the 210-acre botanical garden on Lake Hamilton, now known as Garvan Woodland Gardens, to the university. In 2011, the Arkansas chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects awarded him the Arkansas Pioneer Award. He passed away on Nov. 11, 2023.

Distinguished Alumni Awards

Distinguished Alumni Awards went to Tony Patterson (B.Arch. '00) and Jenny Tredway (B.I.D. '00). This distinction is awarded annually in recognition of an alumnus or alumna for significant, continuing contributions to the architecture and design culture locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.

Patterson, AIA, is a founding partner of Patterhn Ives. After graduating with honors from the U of A, he worked at Marlon Blackwell Architects in Fayetteville. Patterson has been a visiting instructor and adjunct instructor at Washington University in St. Louis, as well as a lecturer in architecture and advanced construction technology at the University of Michigan. He holds a Master of Architecture from Washington University in St. Louis.

Tredway, NCIDQ, has more than two decades of experience in the field. She has practiced in two vibrant and distinct locales — Dallas and Honolulu. Tredway was recognized with the ASID Legacy of Design Award in 2008. She has actively contributed to the industry's advancement, serving as an exam juror with the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) for three years, and has also taught practicum practice courses for the last two years.

Emerging Alumni Awards

Emerging Alumni Awards went to Shaina Armstrong (B.I.D. '11), Jenny Burbidge (B.L.A. '10) and Molly Evans (B.Arch. '17). This distinction is awarded annually in recognition of an alumnus or alumna for significant contributions to the architecture and design culture — locally, regionally, nationally or internationally — made within the first 15 years following graduation.

Armstrong, Associate ISHC and founder of SK Design Studio, was recently inducted into the International Society of Hospitality Consultants. She is a contributing member of the Professional Advisory Board at the Fay Jones School. She specializes in high-end hospitality design including hotels and resort projects around the world.

Burbidge, ASLA, is president of the Arkansas chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. She has served on the Northwest Arkansas Land Trust board since 2018 and is in her second year as board president. She is also on the Illinois River Watershed Partnership (IRWP) advisory committee.

Evans, who was also an Honors College member at the U of A, works as an architectural designer at Olson Kundig in Seattle. While a student, Evans was a member of the American Institute of Architecture Students, a member of the dean's student advisory board and an Individual Development Plan (IDP) student coordinator.