In 2023, the AIA Central Pennsylvania Excellence in Design Awards jury will be chaired by Bradley Fritz, Senior Theater Design Consultant with Charcoalblue, Bradley will be joined by fellow Dallas architects, Kate Aoki, AIA and Peter Dearby, AIA. The jury will meet in late July early August to deliberate on the submissions to this year’s Excellence in Design Awards. Read on to learn more about the jurors and what they seek in this year’s submissions. [Pictured above, left to right: Fritz, Aoki and Darby]
Bradley Fritz, AIA
Senior Theatre Design Consultant, Charcoalblue
ABOUT
Bradley Fritz is a Senior Theatre Design Consultant with Charcoalblue, providing consultancy in all aspects of theater design, specializing in auditorium design and planning, seating, sightlines and accessibility. Based here in Dallas but working globally, his expertise in theatre performance, technical systems, and design helps Architects create beautiful and functional performance spaces customized for each client.
Among Bradley’s passions is championing equitable design and diversifying the Architecture profession. In 2021, after years of serving in diversity, equitability, and inclusion roles for both AIA Iowa and AIA Chicago, he joined the AIA Dallas Board of Directors and founded the LGBTQIA+ Alliance. He is a graduate of Drury University Hammons School of Architecture and earned his MBA through University of Illinois at Chicago.
Kate Aoki, AIA
Head of Exhibition Design, Dallas Museum of Art
ABOUT
Kate Aoki, AIA, is Head of Exhibition Design at the Dallas Museum of Art. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Textile Design from the Rhode Island School of Design and a
Master of Architecture degree from the University of Texas at Arlington’s School of Architecture, Kate is fortunate to practice in a profession that satisfies both her passion for fine art and the
design of space. She spent more than a decade working in the architecture field, most recently at DSGN Associates in Dallas as a Senior Associate, where she worked on a variety of projects that
addressed important community needs. As Head of Exhibition Design at the DMA, Kate designs intimate and expressive spaces in ways that engage visitors while inviting them to learn more
about the art they experience and the communities in which they thrive.
Kate has dedicated much of her time to participating on art and architectural committees, as well as studio and design award juries. She has a longstanding relationship with the Dallas
chapter of the AIA, where she is currently serving as President. She is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Dallas Architecture Forum and the Dallas Foundation for Architecture,
and she has spoken in the past on craft and the art of weaving, and design influences in Dallas.
Peter Darby, AIA
Founder and Principal, Urban Darby Architecture
ABOUT
Peter Darby is the Founder and Principal at Urban Darby Architecture, a consultant-based transportation architecture practice in Dallas focused on aviation, transit, and urban design mixed-use projects. Peter is originally from the Chicago area and attended Lake Forest College studying Urban Studies, has an undergraduate professional architectural degree from Virginia Tech and a master’s degree from Harvard Graduate School of Design. Before relocating to Dallas in 2013, Peter practiced in the Northeast, including Washington, DC, New York City, and Boston.
Peter currently serves on the AIA Dallas Board of Directors as President-Elect for 2023, as Vice President of Programs in 2022, and as Director of Education in 2021 and 2017. Peter is also past chair of the Historic Resources Committee and has been an active member of Public Policy, Communities by Design, Community Honors, Gala Planning, Codes and Standards, and COTE committees for AIA Dallas. Peter also currently serves on the AIA National Leadership team for AIA’s Regional and Urban Design Knowledge Community. Peter was the recipient of the AIA Dallas President’s Medal in 2021 and the AIA Dallas Presidential Citation in 2021 for his efforts in leading the AIA Dallas DART D2 Advisory Committee.
Peter also serves on other boards, including the Executive Committee for the Greater Dallas Planning Council and past Chair of the Urban Design Awards; Second Vice President with the Board of Directors for the U.S. Capitol Page Alumni Association in Washington, DC, including Director of Events leading national and regional programs. Peter served on the National Board of Directors for the Virginia Tech Alumni Association for six years.
IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO SUBMIT YOUR ENTRIES FOR EXCELENCE IN DESIGN AWARDS
Find past submissions, submission requirements and the submission entry form here.
