press release

VMDO Architects' founder receives award

VS-AIA bestows highest honor on Robert Vickery, FAIA

November 6, 2006 – The Virginia Society of the American Institute of Architects announced Robert Vickery, FAIA as this year's recipient of their highest honor - The William Noland Medal.

The medal is presented once annually to a Virginia architect honored for making significant and lasting contributions to the profession and society at large.

The selection committee cited Vickery's "decades of dedication to architecture, as a teacher and mentor, and as the founder of an award-winning firm."

Vickery is a Fellow in the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and Professor Emeritus from the University of Virginia. He received the medal at the state AIA banquet on November 3rd.

Vickery taught for 28 years at the University of Virginia where more than 3,000 students took his course "Concepts in Architecture." He also founded VMDO Architects, and while a principal designed many buildings and campus plans, 14 of which received local and state AIA design awards.

Local projects include Scottsville, Red Hill and Broadus Wood Elementary Schools and major renovations to Clark and Venable Elementary Schools.

Since retirement, he continues to consult on educational and architectural design issues.

Robert Vickery graduated from Washington University in 1960. He later taught at the school for seven years, serving as Director of Campus Planning from 1965 - 1968 and as Assistant Dean from 1968 - 1970. He was the architect for design of the Mallinckrodt Student Union & Performing Arts Center.

His wife, Mary Knudstad Vickery, is also a graduate of Washington University.

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Vickery, founder of VMDO Architects and the 2006 recipient of the the Virginia Society of the American Institute of Architects' highest honor- The William Noland Award.

VMDO Architects was founded in 1976 and is the youngest firm to receive the T. David Fitz-Gibbon Virginia Architecture Award, the most prestigious honor given by the Virginia Society of American Institute of Architects.

For further information, interview, and photography opportunities in reference to this project and VMDO Architects, please contact William Biship at 434.296.5684, email at bishop@vmdo.com.