AIA Tennessee Achievement Awards

These awards are the highest honors that AIA Tennessee can bestow on an individual. They are conferred by the AIA Tennessee Board in recognition of a significant body of work influencing the built environment.

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Samuel Morgan Service Award
William Strickland Achievement Award

The Samuel Morgan Service Award for Architecture in the Public Realm

AIA Tennessee established The Samuel Morgan Service Award to recognize architects, public officials, & others who design notable public facilities and/or advocate for design excellence in public spaces. The Award is modeled after the AIA National Award for Excellence in Public Architecture.

Samuel Dold Morgan (1798-1880), born in Staunton, Virginia on November 8, 1798, moved to Nashville in 1833 and opened a dry goods store. He built a flour mill in Wilson County, and a foundry and machine shop in Nashville. In 1844 he was named to the Commission supervising the construction of the Tennessee State Capitol. He continued to serve on the Commission until the Capitol was completed in 1859, and was the group’s Chairman from 1854 to 1861. He was a founding member of the Tennessee Historical Society in 1849. Morgan died in 1880. Strickland had been buried in the north portico of the Capitol, and for his equal service, Morgan was buried in the south portico.

The “Merchant and Manufacturer” wrote in 1914 these appropriate final words about the two men responsible for the Capitol:  

“These two geniuses, Strickland and Morgan, lived and worked for ten years together.  The Phidias of this, the Athens of the South, lies buried by resolution of the General Assembly of Tennessee, within the walls of the north peristyle of the great temple that he designed.  At the south end, the Pericles of Nashville, the wise, the just, the learned Samuel Morgan, by resolution of the General Assembly, expressing full appreciation for that great man’s life and greater service to Tennessee, it was provided that his body should forever rest within the walls of this building.  It is the grandest mausoleum any man has in America.  It is the least that Samuel Morgan deserved.”

The Award is open to a single individual or two individuals, (living or deceased), who through their efforts have created a singular body of distinguished architectural work. Award nominees may be:

A Tennessee licensed, private sector architect or a public service architect with a portfolio of public facilities. This category recognizes achievements of those architects who, by their skill, professionalism, dedication, ability, and commitment, have consistently fostered quality in the public built environment and such quality is uniquely attributable to each recipient in the pursuit of design excellence.

or

A Tennessee public official or other private individuals deemed worthy. This category recognizes achievements of those individuals who have consistently fostered by their skill, professionalism, dedication, ability, and commitment, quality in the public built environment and such quality is uniquely attributable to each recipient in the pursuit of design excellence. 

1. Nomination letter: 1 page letter (maximum of 500 words) by an AIA Tennessee member summarizing the contributions made by the nominee.

2. Biography: 3 page (maximum) summary of the nominee’s history including education, professional experience, and list of relevant activities by year, organization, role, etc.:

1. Executive Summary for items 2-8 below 
2. Service to the community [boards, committees…]
3. Service to the profession [AIA components, other entities…]
4. Service to education [teaching, mentoring…] 
5. Publications [architecture, related industries…]
6. Presentations [speaking, roundtables…] 
7. Juries [ AIA, related industries…] 
8. Recognition [awards, honors…] 

3. Exhibits: 15 pages (maximum) of work examples with images, drawings, and supporting information for a maximum of five projects relevant to the submission.

4. Letters: A maximum of three one-page letters of support with at least one from a member in an AIA component in Tennessee, that are explicit in their recommendation and contain specific reasons for support. Each letter is to be written on company letterhead or email containing an original or digital signature.

All submissions must be received by 5:00 PM, CDT, May 1, 2026.

Download the submission requirements: Word or PDF

Click here to view the 2026 online Submission Form. All submissions must be received by 5pm/central, May 1, 2026.

Samuel Dold Morgan
Portrait in the Tennessee State Capitol, Nashville, TN.

The William Strickland Achievement Award for the Profession of Architecture

The William Strickland Achievement Award for the Profession of Architecture is AIA Tennessee’s highest annual honor, recognizing individuals whose work has had a lasting influence on the theory and practice of architecture. The Award is modeled after the AIA National Gold Medal.

William Strickland (1788-1854), master architect and designer of the Tennessee State Capitol, was born in 1788 in Navesink, New Jersey. He established his architectural practice in Philadelphia. Strickland designed a number of important institutional buildings in his home city, including the Second Bank of the United States (1824), the tower of Independence Hall (1828), and the Merchants Exchange (1837). In 1837 he was honored by being asked to design a new sarcophagus to hold the remains of President George Washington.

After accepting the invitation to design the Tennessee State capitol, he moved to Tennessee in April 1845. He immediately prepared a Greek Revival design and on July 4, 1845, the building’s corner stone was laid. Strickland worked directly with officials of the Capitol Commission, notably Samuel D. Morgan. The final stone was set in place on March 19, 1859. William Strickland died in Nashville on April 7, 1854, five years before the completion of the Capitol. The Tennessee General Assembly honored the architect’s wish to be interred in a niche carved into the north portico of the masterpiece he designed.

Eligibility
The Award is open to a single individual or two individuals, (living or deceased), who through their efforts have created a singular body of distinguished architectural work. Award nominees shall be in good standing of the AIA and active or emeritus members of AIA Tennessee. 

Considerations
Candidates will be evaluated on how well they meet the program criteria as they have demonstrated great depth in:

  • having a cumulative effect on the profession of architecture.
  • influencing the direction of the profession of architecture.
  • contributing to the profession of architecture consistently in informing the future as well as respecting the past.
  • transcending specific areas of expertise and positive impact if the candidate’s focus is considered circumscribed.
  • being widely known by the quality of their works be it the practice, teaching, and/or leading of architecture

Throughout the submission, where applicable and to the extent possible, you are encouraged to highlight any aspects of the nominee’s work or life experience that may have reflected contributions or sensitivity concerning areas of special interest to the Institute, its members, and the architecture profession, including but not limited to the Policy and Position Statements of the AIA. These might include such areas as diversity, sustainability, or the mentoring of emerging professionals, to the degree the nominee has had the opportunity to address them, or as these topics may enhance the nominee’s presentation. 

1. Nomination Letter: 1 page letter (maximum of 500 words) by an AIA Tennessee member summarizing the contributions made by the nominee.

2. Biography: 3 page (maximum) summary of the nominee’s history including education, professional experience, and list of relevant activities by year, organization, role, etc.:

1  Executive Summary for items 2-8 below 
2  Service to the community [boards, committees…]
3  Service to the profession [AIA components, other entities…]
4  Service to education [teaching, mentoring…] 
5  Publications [architecture, related industries…]
6  Presentations [speaking, roundtables…] 
7  Juries [ AIA, related industries…] 
8  Recognition [awards, honors…] 

3. Exhibits: 15 pages (maximum) of work examples with images, drawings, and supporting information for a maximum of five projects relevant to the submissio.

4. Letters: A maximum of seven one-page letters of support with at least one from a member in each of the AIA components in Tennessee, that are explicit in their recommendation and contain specific reasons for support. Each letter is to be written on company letterhead or email containing  an original or digital signature.

All submissions must be received by 5:00 PM, CDT, May 1, 2026.

Download the submission requirements: Word or PDF

Click here to view the 2026 online Submission Form. All submissions must be received by 5pm/central, May 1, 2026.

Samuel Dold Morgan Portrait in the Tennessee State Capitol, Nashville, TN.
William Strickland
1829 portrait by John Neagle

Past Samuel Morgan Achievement Award Recipients

Ann Roberts 2025 Samuel Morgan Lifetime Achievement Award
Ann Roberts
2025
Former Governor Phil Bredesen
2024
First Lady Andrea Conte
2024
Jerry Preston, FCSI
Jerry Preston, FCSI
2023
Mark Schimmenti, FAAR
2022
Mike Fitts, FAIA
2021
William B. Nolan
William B. Nolan
2019
L. Duane Grieve, FAIA
2018
Major General Jeff Holmes, AIA
2017
TK Davis, FAIA
2016
Marleen Davis, FAIA
2016
Dr. Joe Johnson
Dr. Joe Johnson
2015
Connie Wallace, Hon. AIA
Connie Wallace, Hon. AIA
2014
State Senator Douglas Henry 
2013
Stroud Watson
2012

Past William Strickland Achievement Award Recipients

Douglas (Doug) McCarty, FAIA
2025
Frank Ricks, FAIA
2024
Lee Askew III, FAIA
Lee Askew III, FAIA
2023
Barry Alan Yoakum, FAIA
2022
Ron V. Gobbell, FAIA
2021
Kem G. Hinton, FAIA
2019
Gary Everton, FAIA
Gary Everton, FAIA
2018
James F. Williamson, FAIA
2017
David Wooley, FAIA
2016
Seab Tuck, FAIA
2015
Louis Pounders, FAIA
2014
Bruce McCarty, FAIA
2013
Earl Swensson, FAIA
Earl Swensson, FAIA
2012

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