Philip Trammell Shutze and His Eponymous Awards / The Southeast Chapter Takes the Stage

A message from our President, Paul Gunther

Saturday, February 12, 2011 signals the fifth annual Philip Trammel Shutze Awards presented by the Institute’s Southeast Chapter. This year it takes place with a celebration and ceremony held at Atlanta’s fabled Piedmont Driving Club where our namesake’s deft design hand i s much in 20th century classical evidence. The winners will be posted next week so do check back; A la Oscars, results are secret until the occasion itself … (With any luck, however, Facebook and Twitter will beat us to it for those who follow there.)

With the 30th anniversary of the national career-recognizing Arthur Ross Awards for Excellence in the Classical Tradition approaching auspiciously in May, it bears recalling that its inaugural architect winner in 1982 was Shutze himself – received just months before his death.

The link is therefore strong. It is appropriate that the first Chapter-coordinated awards program, as first conceived by former Southeast President and professor, Elizabeth Dowling, William Harrison, and their volunteer colleagues makes it so. (Bill served as the Ross Awards jury chair for 2011 and will assist Peter Pennoyer in making the May 2 presentation).

The New England Chapter learned valuable lessons from them with the last year’s launch of the Bulfinch Awards, which are likewise keyed to recent regional accomplishments in a variety of built categories.  A gradual national expansion of such yearly recognition holds as a goal when and if all other Chapters decide its time.

Kudos are due to New York-based architect trustee, Gary Brewer, who served as the 2011 Shutze Awards jury head along with Southern Living editor, Birmingham–based Lindsay Bierman, and the Providence (R.I.) Journal's discerning architectural critic, David Brussat. Gary will narrate the honors as is tradition and I will give the benediction.

Meanwhile, take due advantage of all activities upcoming as we share them today.

Warm regards,
Paul Gunther

P.S.  Join me in welcoming Anne Lawson to the staff in the new post of Registrar.  You’ll be hearing much more about what she is up to in the weeks ahead.