As the highest honor bestowed by the Virginia Society to a Virginia-based architecture firm, the Fitz-Gibbon Architecture Firm Award recognizes a firm that has consistently produced distinguished architecture for at least ten years.

Only one award may be bestowed each year.

Evaluative Criteria

Consideration is given to:

• The firm’s recognition for design achievement, such as design awards and project publication;
• Breadth and scope of built work;
• Relationship of built work to purpose, environment, user, and physical context;
• “Staying power;”
• Consistency of philosophy, approach, and quality in body of work;
• Architectural professional leadership.

Submission Material

• Nomination form
• Nominator’s statement
  The statement should be no more than a paragraph and should include a concise description of the nominee and summarize how the nominee meets the criteria for the award.
• Complete history of firm, and list of projects.
  This should contain a complete history of the firm’s achievements and supporting material, detailing projects and other achievements and accolades. It should be no longer than 20 pages.
• Narrative, no longer than one page, addressing the evaluative criteria.
  The narrative should demonstrate consistency of philosophy, approach, leadership in the profession, and quality in body of work. It should show breadth and scope of work, and “staying power,” as well as the relationship of built work to purpose, environment, user, and physical context.
• Photographic support for the narrative.
• Three to five letters of recommendation.
  Letters of endorsement should reference the author’s relationship with the firm, cite specific examples of why the firm is qualified to receive the award, and note how the public or profession benefitted from the firm’s work.

Click here to submit.

Past Recipients

1987   VVKR, Incorporated, Alexandria

1989   Marcellus Wright, Cox and Smith, P.C., Richmond

1993   Johnson, Craven & Gibson, Inc., Charlottesville

1995   Carlton S. Abbott & Partners, Williamsburg

1997   Baskervill & Son, Richmond

1999   The Glave Firm, Richmond

2001   Kerns Group Architects, Arlington

2003   VMDO Architects, Charlottesville

2004   Hanbury Evan Wright Vlattas + Co., Norfolk

2005   LeMay Erickson Architects, Reston

2007   SMBW Architects, Richmond

2008   BCWH Architecture, Interiors, Planning, Richmond

2010   Ritter Architects, Alexandria

2011    Commonwealth Architects, Richmond