Recipient of the
2009 AIA Nevada Silver Medal
Brad Van Woert, AIA

The highest honor that the Nevada Chapter of the American Institute of Architects can bestow on an individual -- THE SILVER MEDAL is awarded this year to BRAD VAN WOERT, AIA.

Service Award Juror, Bruce Hawtin. FAIA. stated, “There is no greater honor in the Nevada AIA than to be awarded the Silver Medal.  It recognizes a lifetime of distinguished service to the profession.  Brad has had, and is having, an outstanding and productive career.”

With more than 30 years in the architectural business and numerous awards recognizing his expertise, Brad’s design work blends both contextual, historic observation with new technologies. His designs are bold in form and literal in functional interpretation. Brad has been a University of Nevada Assistant Professor for 6 years as well as a guest instructor; he has been on historic commissions, UNR Advisory Boards, Sierra Arts Foundation, Reno Rotary, and the City of Reno Ad Hoc Planning and Development Committee, among others.

Brad Van Woert, AIA joined Jack Sheehan in 1978 and became a partner in 1980. In 1992 Angela Bigotti, AIA joined SVW Architects and in 1999 became Nevada’s first female partner of a major architecture firm. Brad has been the key designer with SVWB since 1978 and President of the firm since 1995.

In 2004 he and a number of peers started the Black Rock Lecture Series, bringing to the Reno Art and Architecture Community approximately 6 to 8 quality speakers a year.

He has been a member of AIA Northern Nevada since 1972, on the Board of Directors 1984 – 1986, AIA Northern Nevada President 1986, AIA Nevada Board of Directors 1985 – 1988, AIA Design Awards Program, Chair and Co- Chair in 1978, ‘80, ‘86, ‘92, ‘96, AIA Northern Nevada Host Chapter Committee for the Western Mountain Region Annual Conference. In 2007, AIA Northern Nevada Committee for the Annual State Design Conference 2008, an AIA non-paid lobbyist for the 2009 legislative Session and after 23 years finds himself again, President of AIA Northern Nevada.

Congratulations to Brad for this much deserved honor.