AIA Oregon Fellows Award

The Fellows Award is bestowed at the discretion of the AIA Oregon Fellows Committee to acknowledge significant contributions to the built environment or advancing community understanding of the impact of architecture and design. The Award is not limited to AIA members nor strictly to architectural works. The Fellows Award can be given to individuals, organizations, or significant events that meet these criteria and contribute to communities in a unique and rewarding way, and is meant to heighten public awareness of good design. There is no obligation that the Award be given annually.

2025 AIA Oregon Fellows Award Recipients

Willamette Light Brigade, Portland

The Willamette Light Brigade is a Portland-based nonprofit that enriches the public realm by harnessing the power of art and artful lighting to transform the cityscape. They light bridges, produce the dynamic Portland Winter Light Festival, and advocate for the importance of night-time identity and place-making using light and art.

For enriching the public realm, harnessing the power of art and artful lighting, and transforming the cityscape of Portland each winter by lighting bridges and producing the dynamic Portland Winter Light Festival, the Fellows of the Oregon Chapter of the American Institute of Architects proudly bestowed the Willamette Light Brigade with a 2025 Fellows Award. Their advocacy for night-time identity and place-making using light and art has provided the city of Portland with beautiful, safe and impactful community design.

Art in Public Places, Bend

Art in Public Places is a nonprofit organization that enriches the experience of the beautiful high desert community of Bend, Oregon for locals and visitors alike by bringing permanent, world class art installations to public spaces throughout the city.

For their contribution of thoughtful discourse on art in the built environment, The Fellows of the Oregon Chapter of the American Institute of Architects were proud to bestow this award on the Art in Public Places program of Bend, Oregon. Their contributions to the citizens and visitors of Bend have elevated citizens' collective experience and provided enjoyment appreciated deeply by all.

Nominations for the 2026 Fellows Award

Do you know of a project, person, or program that you think is deserving of this award - let the Fellows know!

Projects, people, and programs are limited to the state of Oregon. Past recipients include the McMenamin Brothers (for McMenamin's properties historic renovations); Portland Public Schools (for investment in and renovation of community schools) and the Halprin Landscape Conservancy for their restoration of urban parkland.

Nominations will be considered by the AIA Oregon Fellows Committee. Nominees are meant to remain as anonymous as possible and is not a formal application. Eligible awardees will be determined and kept confidential by the AIA Oregon Fellows committee.

Nomination is not a guarantee of award. If you have questions about the process, announcements, or AIA Oregon Architecture Awards / Professional Achievement Awards program, please contact Heather Wilson