The Driehaus Foundation Announces $2 Million Legacy Grant for the ICAA

The ICAA is pleased to announce that it is the recipient of a two-million dollar legacy grant from the Driehaus Foundation in memory of its late founder Richard H. Driehaus, which will establish The Richard H. Driehaus Curricula for the Built Environment Endowment Fund. This grant, the single largest that the ICAA has ever received, is a living legacy to the late Richard Driehaus, who was a longtime supporter of the ICAA, serving on its board and helping to grow its robust educational programs. The grant was announced at ICAA’s 42nd annual Arthur Ross Awards Dinner and Ceremony recognizing excellence in the classical tradition in New York City on Monday, May 8th.

“Richard Driehaus’s dedication to classicism and his unshakable belief in the importance of placemaking rooted in precedent are fundamental to the mission of the ICAA, making it a tremendous honor to receive this unprecedented grant. Over many years I have had the pleasure of speaking at length with Richard about our shared belief in the vital role that education plays in nurturing and inspiring young practitioners who will shape the built environment,” said Peter Lyden, ICAA President. “With this grant, the ICAA will significantly expand the reach of our educational programming along with our engagement with relevant subjects including urbanism, sustainability, and healthy cities. The profound impact of this grant will be a lasting legacy to Richard Driehaus and his commitment to the classical tradition.”

The Richard H. Driehaus Curricula for the Built Environment Endowment Fund will give ICAA the resources to regularly update and expand its educational curricula and programming, particularly as new issues or areas of concern arise in architectural design. This initiative will launch new offerings regarding current issues like urbanism, sustainability, and healthy cities still highlighting the importance of historic preservation and precedent, especially how it pertains to shared public spaces.

“Richard had a long relationship with the ICAA and was always an enthusiastic and engaged supporter. We wanted to do something special to pay tribute to him by providing a grant to the ICAA that provides resources to both sustain and expand their exceptional work,” said Anne Lazar, Driehaus Foundation executive director. “The Driehaus Foundation is committed to continuing Richard’s philanthropy in the creative and robust manner he established. Thanks to his vision and generosity, we have the resources to do so.”

“This grant is transformational for us. Richard had a great love and appreciation for classical architecture, historic preservation and cities. He believed cities can adapt to change and new challenges in thoughtful ways that still preserve the past. He knew education was the key to doing so,” said Edith Platten, Vice President of Education at ICAA. “This grant allows us to build upon existing education programs and create new ones to reach a larger and more diverse audience and allow participants to consider design in a broader urban context.”

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