AIA Iowa Recognizes Excellence in Architecture and Distinguished Service to the Profession

The American Institute of Architects, Iowa Chapter (AIA Iowa) has recognized RDG Planning & Design with two Excellence in Design Awards at the chapter’s awards celebration on Thursday, September 29, 2022. Conferred annually, the AIA Iowa Excellence in Design Awards celebrate contributions by AIA Iowa members and emphasize the importance of architecture across Iowa and beyond. The awards recognize recipients in the categories of Excellence in Design Honor, Merit, and Honorable Mention, as well as Excellence in Craft Honor and Merit.

RDG’s recognition includes a project award for the Lake Como Community Park Pavilion (Design Merit Award) and an individual award to RDG’s Cindi Michelsen (AIA Iowa Honorary Membership Award).

Located in Fort Worth, Texas the Lake Como Community Park Pavilion creates a place for the diverse community surrounding the park to gather. Centered within the pavilion the public installation “Do something GOOD for your Neighbor” is an original artwork commissioned by and included in the public art collection of the City of Forth Worth, Texas. The installation, comprised of weathering steel plates and carved wood benches, offers visitors a place to sit, rest and contemplate, while the shape invites visitors to gather and frames a gaze both outwards and inwards.

“The design was inspired by the rich history and strong sense of community we found in this part of Fort Worth,” said RDG Senior Partner Matt Niebuhr. “Members of the community were clear in wanting to honor both their past and demonstrate to future residents and leaders that these shared values have and will continue to endure.”

RDG’s Cindi Michelsen was honored with an AIA Iowa Honorary Membership Award. The award recognizes a person of esteemed character who is otherwise ineligible for membership in the Institute of the Chapter, but who has shown distinguished service to the profession of architecture. Michelsen has been with RDG for almost 40 years, and in that time, has served in a variety of roles. She began her tenure as a draftsperson, and then transitioned to the marketing team, developing marketing strategies and processes for the organization and across RDG’s markets and services. In her current role as marketing manager, Michelsen leads initiatives related to market strategy and research and provides direction to a team of coordinators to positively position the firm and win new work.

“For nearly 40 years, Cindi has been an integral part of RDG. During that time, Cindi has built her career on clearly communicating the important impact that architecture and its allied professions have on individuals and the communities in which we live,” said RDG partner Steve King, AIA. “While her work is primarily behind the scenes, Cindi’s efforts continue to make an impact on RDG and the broader profession. For all she has given to the profession, there is no one more deserving of the Honorary Member Award.”