Burt Pinnock Recognized as 2022 Noland Medalist

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A career motivated by passion to preserve and advocate for historic black communities anchors the architect’s nomination

Burchell “Burt” Pinnock, FAIA, has been recognized with the William C. Noland Medal by AIA Virginia for his exceptional career and commitment to preserve and celebrate historic black communities and create opportunities for future generations within and beyond those communities. As the highest honor bestowed by AIA Virginia upon an architect, the Noland Medal is intended to recognize a distinguished body of accomplishments, sustained over time, spanning a broad spectrum of the profession, and transcending the scope of normal professional activities.

For more than 30 years, Pinnock was a voice for responsible design in many urban landscapes of Virginia, especially Richmond. His passion is found on a variety of cultural, master planning, residential, and adaptive reuse work for clients such as the City of Richmond, Black History Museum and Cultural Center, the Virginia Civil Rights Memorial Plaza, and the Richmond Slave Trail Commission. This important work and meaningful community impact led him to the appointment of the City of Richmond’s co-chair for the Richmond 300 Advisory Council.

Pinnock, seeing the opportunity to make a difference in Richmond’s urban neighborhoods, co-founded Storefront for Community Design, a nonprofit design center that works to create human connections, foster quality community development, and strengthen the legacy of Richmond’s urban areas. Richmond residents still live with the effects of inequitable planning practices and this volunteer-based collaborative draws on the talents of young architects and designers and city leaders to facilitate projects. Pinnock, a board member, also directly volunteers architectural services through dozens of pro-bono design sessions and helped facilitate large-scale community engagement workshops.

In his nomination letter, Professor of Humanities at the University of Richmond, Edward L. Ayers, recalled Pinnock’s remarkable skills while working on the university’s Burying Ground Memorialization Committee. The work required Pinnock to learn the complex history of the site, instruct the University of other work done in other places, translate design principles into language widely understood by non-designers, and win the trust of the descendants who were outraged and hurt by the university’s actions in the past.

Pinnock, says Ayers, accomplished all of the goals while also leading the committee’s members from the beginning to the end of its complex proceedings.

“Others can talk about the remarkable structures Burt has designed and overseen. I can testify to the remarkable sense of community and common purpose Burt created among people who shared little before he joined us,” Ayers noted in the nomination letter.

The honor is in memory of William C. Noland, FAIA, one of the founders of the AIA in Virginia, its second President, and Virginia’s first member to be elevated to AIA Fellowship.

Burt Pinnock will be celebrated at Visions for Architecture on Friday, Nov. 4, 2022, at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond.

Virginia Celebrates Four New Fellows in 2019

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The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is elevating 115 member-architects to its prestigious College of Fellows — an honor awarded to members who have made significant contributions to the architecture profession. AIA Virginia welcomes four new Fellows who will be celebrated at the Region of The VirginiasFellows Fête on March 23, 2019 and honored at a ceremony at A’19 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Meet Virginia’s New Fellows

Manoj Dalaya, FAIA

While logic and planning serve as the foundation for collaboration in the design process, artistic intention is essential in Manoj Dalaya’s approach to design. His high-performance, fortified spaces embrace art, environment, and community — all while integrating the security, infrastructure, and technological requirements of secure campuses. A principal at KGD Architecture, Dalaya serves on the AIA Northern Virginia Chapter Executive Committee and chairs their Design Awards Committee. He lends his architectural and real estate expertise to several Washington, D.C. area urban development committees and to architecture and real estate students at local universities. He was honored with AIA Virginia’s Award for Distinguished Achievement in 2018.

Jody Lahendro, FAIA

For nearly fifteen years, Jody Lahendro has served as Historic Preservation Architect at the University of Virginia where he manages work on more than 120 designated historic buildings — including the Academical Village designed by Thomas Jefferson.  Notably, he recently managed the award-winning Rotunda Renovation project.  Prior to time at UVA, Lahendro had his own architectural practice in Richmond for 18 years, specializing in historic preservation, restoration, and adaptive reuse.  He also served as preservation architect for the Taliesin Preservation Commission as it began its charge to preserve Frank Lloyd Wright’s home in Spring Green, Wisconsin.  Lahendro’s public service includes volunteer positions with local and state governments, non-profit organizations, and pro bono assistance to non-profits owning historic buildings. 

Burt Pinnock, FAIA

A Principal with Baskervill, Burt Pinnock has been a profound voice for creative, compelling, and responsible design in Richmond’s urban landscape. Once the Capital of the Confederacy and an epicenter of the nation’s slave trade, Richmond was also home to thriving, independent black communities. His body of work spans projects that seek to preserve and integrate those distinct identities into a more complete version that is contextual to both time and space. Burt has also served on a number of boards and commissions, including the Board of Zoning Appeals, Commission of Architectural Review, Urban Design Committee, Richmond Slave Trail Commission, LISC Advisory Board, Historic Richmond Foundation, Venture Richmond, and many more. He is also the creator and co-founder of Storefront for Community Design, a nonprofit that creates access to architecture and design services while also facilitating community engagement workshops for development efforts throughout the city.

Nick Vlattas, FAIA

Nick Vlattas is one of the founding shareholders in 1979 of Hanbury Evans Wright Vlattas + Company. Now known as Hanbury, the firm has been a respected voice in the planning, architecture, and interior design professions across the United States and abroad. The practice is based on a willingness to listen and learn, exploring transformational ideas with colleagues, clients, and consultants. This approach has garnered the recognition of both design and industry-specific award programs. As Chief Operations Officer, Secretary/Treasurer, Trustee, and architect at Hanbury, Nick has been responsible for quality of operations, financial management, human resources, and information technology. Nick served as President of AIA Hampton Roads, and on the Board of Directors for AIA Virginia for many years including serving as President in 2016 and Treasurer from 2010 to 2014. He is also a charter member of the Rotary Club of Oyster Point in Newport News.

About Fellowship

The fellowship program was developed to elevate those architects who have achieved a standard of excellence in the profession and made a significant contribution to architecture and society on a national level. Prospective candidates must have at least 10 years of AIA membership and demonstrated influence in at least one of the following areas:

  • Promoted the aesthetic, scientific, and practical efficiency of the profession;
  • Promoted the science and art of planning and building by advancing the standards of architectural education, training or practice;
  • Coordinated the building industry and the profession of architecture through leadership in the AIA or other related professional organizations; or​
  • Advanced the living standards of people through an improved environment.

Fellows are selected by a seven-member Jury of Fellows. This year’s jury included (Virginia’s own) Mary P. Cox, FAIA, Virginia Commonwealth University, who served as Chair; Peter Bardwell, FAIA, Bardwell + Associates, LLC; Mary A. Burke, FAIA, Burke Design & Architecture PLLC; Philip Castillo, FAIA, Jahn; Mary Johnston, FAIA, Johnston Architects, LLC; Paul Mankins, FAIA, Substancearchitecture; and Nancy Rogo Trainer, FAIA, Drexel University.