On Saturday at the 2024 Houston Design Gala, AIA Houston awarded HR Design Dept’s Heather Rowell the Ben Brewer Young Architect Award. Named in honor of Ben Brewer, FAIA, the award recognizes excellence in ability, exceptional work, and significant contributions in the practice of architecture by architects who are in their first 10 years of practice.

The jury, made up of members of AIA Louisiana, made the following comments on their 2024 award decision:

“The resumes and portfolios reviewed showed a bright future for AIA Houston’s future leaders. Heather Rowell stands as a clear example of the type of dedicated individual who is the future of the Architecture profession. Her ability to overcome challenges through her professional career, some of which would have pushed many others out of the profession, shows a perseverance that stands out. Her portfolio presents a diversity of aesthetic expression that leads to a fully developed design direction for both herself and her firm as a whole.

Lastly, her engagement with professional, educational institutions and larger community demonstrates that she sees herself as serving the profession as a whole. Her focus of fostering the future of her students, building opportunity for women architects through her work establishing the WIA for AIA Houston reinforces her focused approach to the betterment of the whole.”

In late 2023, Heather spearheaded the creation of the Women in Architecture Professional Development Fund at Architecture Center Houston. Today, the Fund finances two new, annual scholarship opportunities for WiA Houston. In Saturday’s program, Heather encouraged others to contribute to the tax-deductible Fund to ensure a successful inaugural year.