PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Wallace Roberts & Todd (WRT), an integrated design firm of architects, landscape architects and planners, has announced that Jared Edgar McKnight, associate of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and architectural designer at WRT, has been awarded the AIA Pennsylvania Associate Award for 2015.
The associate award was created in 2014 by AIA Pennsylvania to recognize exceptional contributions to the profession by an associate member within the organization who graduated in the last five years and who has demonstrated professional and civic leadership.
“I take great pride in both my professional and civic contributions to the profession of architecture, and I am deeply humbled and honored to receive this recognition from AIA Pennsylvania,” McKnight said. “I enjoy giving back and I have been extremely fortunate to find a working environment at WRT that promotes excellence in design, challenges me to reach my full potential, and supports my leadership endeavors within the AIA and the larger Philadelphia design and construction community.”
McKnight has devoted enormous efforts to civic leadership during his young career. He has been an active member of the AIA Associate Committee since 2012, and is currently in his first year of a two- year term as the associate director on the AIA Philadelphia Board of Directors. In addition, McKnight served as the event chair for the Associate Committee and AIA Philadelphia’s largest philanthropic event, CANstruction Philadelphia, over the last four years. Under McKnight’s leadership, CANstruction Philadelphia has become a top three contributor to Philabundance, the largest hunger relief organization in the Delaware Valley.
McKnight was nominated for the award by Antonio Fiol-Silva, Principal at WRT. “It is a true delight to work with McKnight, his talent and unwavering work ethic is matched by a deep passion for the profession of architecture. Those attributes are amply evident in his outstanding service to AIA Philadelphia, other professional organizations and extend to the community at large,” said Fiol-Silva.
In recognition of his volunteer efforts and commitments to AIA Philadelphia, McKnight was named the recipient of the 2013-14 AIA Philadelphia Volunteer of the Year Award. McKnight also served as the Exhibit designer for the 2013 “Philly Green” Sustainable Design Exhibit at the Philadelphia Center for Architecture during Greenbuild 2013 and was a finalist for the 2013 AIA Philadelphia American Academy in Rome Affiliated Fellowships provided by the William Penn Foundation.
McKnight earned degrees in architecture and international studies at Penn State with minors in architectural history and French and Francophone studies in 2011. A Schreyer Honors College alumnus, he graduated with honors in architecture.
WRT is a dynamic cross disciplinary firm offering services in planning, urban design, architecture, and landscape architecture. For more than 50 years, WRT has been dedicated to improving the quality of the natural and built environments by applying principles of sustainability to the planning and design of buildings, landscapes, cities, and regions. The firm has been the recipient of more than 400 planning and design awards both nationally and internationally.
The Schreyer Honors College promotes academic excellence with integrity, the building of a global perspective, and creation of opportunities for leadership and civic engagement. Schreyer Honors Scholars, including Gateway Scholars admitted after their first or second year of enrollment, total more than 1,900 students at University Park and 20 Commonwealth campuses. They represent the top two percent of students at Penn State who perform well academically and lead on campus.