Frank Zwart, UC Santa Cruz campus architect and associate vice chancellor for physical planning and construction, has been named to the prestigious College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).
The honor is awarded to AIA members who have made contributions of national significance. Of a membership of 84,000, fewer than 2,600 AIA members are accorded the honor. Fellowship is conferred on architects with at least 10 years of membership in the AIA who have made significant contributions in the area of aesthetic, scientific, and practical efficiency of the profession.
His work was cited for combining elements of conservation, beautification, land use regulation and transportation through professional and administrative expertise.
"National recognition from your peers is always gratifying, especially when it honors a career spent working in a place that you love," said Zwart, who is plannng to retire April 1. "To have had the opportunity to continue UCSC's long-standing tradition of sensitive collaboration between thoughtful architects and a spectacular environment has been both a privilege and a pleasure."
Chancellor George Blumenthal congratulated Zwart. "Frank's expertise in identifying and collaborating with architects who have the sensitivity to realize our campus vision has resulted in one of the most beautiful campuses in the world," Blumenthal said. "That UCSC's rich natural environment has been more important than individual buildings in creating a campus identity is a lasting testament to Frank's talents and efforts."
Zwart arrived at UCSC 's Cowell College in 1967 and graduated four years later with a bachelor's degree in mathematics. He earned a masters degree in architecture from Princeton University, then returned to campus in 1988 after working with architectural firms in Princeton, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Aptos, Philadelphia, and Carmel.
Zwart has been instrumental in the making UC Santa Cruz a model of environmental stewardship as campus populations grew and aging existing buildings required renovation. Through the tenures of seven chancellors, Zwart served as an articulate and committed advocate for the campus's founding values: site stewardship, thoughtful growth, and design excellence.
He directed the Chancellor's Design Advisory Board, an outside panel of two architects and a landscape architect that serves as planning and design "conscience" for the campus. He has also been active with the Association of University Architects, an association of campus architects from throughout the United States and Canada. He was a member of the board of directors from 2000-2004, and served as its president in 2002-2003. The AUA awarded him its highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award, in 2006.
Zwart and other newly named Fellows are now entitled to use the designation "FAIA" following their names. They will be invested in the College of Fellows at the 2010 AIA National Convention and Design Exposition in Miami on June 11.
