Five young architects, including a mayor, an expert on historic preservation, and an op-ed columnist, have been named winners of the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) annual Young Architects Awards. The awards honor individuals who have shown exceptional leadership and have made significant contributions to the profession. The young architects (defined by the AIA as those who have been practicing 10 years or less, regardless of age) who will be honored at the AIA Convention this month are P. Thomas "Gunny" Harboe, AIA, Elizabeth Chu Richter, AIA, George A. Takoudes, AIA, J. Scott Busby, AIA, and Jeffry Lee Kagermeier, AIA.

Harboe, a project manager for McClier in Chicago, was instrumental in the recent restoration of that city’s Rookery Building and Reliance Building. Chicago Tribune architecture critic (and record contributing editor) Blair Kamin selected Harboe as a 1999 Chicagoan of the Year in the field of architecture. Harboe was the 2000 president of AIA Chicago.

Richter and her husband, David Richter, fAIA, are partners in Richter Architects, Corpus Christi, Tex. She writes op-ed columns about the built environment for the Corpus Christi Caller and the Dallas Morning News, and created a statewide public radio series called "The Shape of Texas," to raise public awareness of architecture.

Takoudes was the youngest person to be named an associate at Payette Associates in Boston after passing all sections of the ARE in one attempt. He helped establish the Young Designers Professional Development Institute, a program of the Boston Society of Architects that assists young architects with practical courses and career guidance.

Busby, a project manager at Barber & McMurry in Knoxville, was president of the Young Architects Forum in 1998 and has been a leader in young architect activities in both Virginia and Tennessee. As a member of the Northern Virginia AIA Young Architects Forum in the late 1980s, Busby developed IDP and ARE preparatory seminars. He formed the AIA Tennessee Young Architects Forum in 1992 and has served on the AIA East Tennessee Board of Directors for seven years.

Kagermeier, principal of Kagermeier Skaar Asleson Architects, has been mayor of Mankato, Minn., since February 2000, after winning as an independent.
He has served on the AIA Minneapolis Board of Directors, was commissioner of the Mankato Housing and Redevelopment Authority, and was a member of the Mankato Downtown Infrastructure Committee.

John E. Czarnecki, Assoc. AIA

P. Thomas "Gunny" Harboe, AIA

Elizabeth Chu Richter, AIA

George A. Takoudes, AIA

J. Scott Busby, AIA

Jeffrey Lee Kagermeier, AIA