Doug Ashe, FAIA, awarded prestigious AIA Louisiana Medal of Honor

Douglas E. Ashe, FAIA, was awarded the prestigious American Institute of Architects (AIA) Louisiana Medal of Honor at its 75th Anniversary Gala in New Orleans on September 27th. The Medal of Honor is the highest award given by AIA Louisiana “in recognition of an individual architect who has significantly advanced the profession of architecture and who, by his/her leadership, has provided an inspiration to his/her fellow architects.”

In a career spanning over 44 years Doug has demonstrated innovative leadership in advocating for an increased awareness of design excellence, while producing award winning work of distinguished quality. Additionally, he has provided exemplary and creative leadership at every AIA component level.

Under Doug’s leadership Ashe Broussard Weinzettle Architects (ABW) has received numerous AIA honor awards at the regional, state and local levels, as well as other design awards from allied organizations. ABW’s work has been published in Architectural Record, Architecture, ArchitectureSOUTH, Southern Living, and Louisiana Life. Notable projects include the Lambright Sports and Wellness Center at Louisiana Tech University, the St. Landry Parish Visitor Center, the Links on the Bayou Golf Clubhouse, and the Vidalia Landing Riverfront Park.

In 2000 during his term as AIA Louisiana President, Doug created the CELEBRATE ARCHITECTURE design symposium, which is held annually in the Spring in Baton Rouge. For 19 consecutive years he has continued to produce and moderate this event, which has become recognized at one of the premier design symposiums in the nation. To date Celebrate Architecture has brought in 68 internationally recognized architects to speak and present their work to Louisiana architects and students.

As a direct result of the financial success of Celebrate Architecture it was possible to establish the AIA Louisiana Celebrate Architecture Scholarship, which awards a total of $10,000 in scholarships annually to students from each of the four schools of architecture in the state.

Doug has served AIA at every component level including the AIA National Board of Directors and as AIA Gulf States Regional Director. He chaired both the National AIA Gold Medal/Architecture Firm Award Advisory Jury and the AIA/ALA National Library Honor Awards Jury, as well as other state honor awards juries.

He was elevated to Fellowship in AIA in 2007 and named a Richard Upjohn Fellow in 2005, both for significant contributions and service to the profession.

Doug received his Master in Science degree from Columbia University and his Bachelor of Architecture degree, with honors, from Georgia Tech.

“Doug has produced exceptional architecture and planning work throughout our region, rooted in a critical awareness of culture, site and landscape,” noted architect Steve Dumez, FAIA. Colleague Ken Tipton, AIA, noted, “His vision to begin Celebrate Architecture … and his nurturing of this program to maturity has been a labor of love from which we all continue to benefit. The quality of architecture in this state has improved dramatically as a direct result of this program.”