GBBNs Proffitt Addresses Royal Institute of Architects

Recently, David R. Proffitt, AIA, a GBBN Associate who is a member of the firm's Lexington office design team, had the honor of addressing the Royal Institute of Architects at its headquarters in London, England, at the request of the President of the AIA.

Proffitt serves as the Secretary of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The purpose was to address the RIBA and local AIA Chapter AIA UK, in conjunction with that chapter's celebration of AIA's 150th anniversary and the AIA's 100th anniversary of its highest award, the Gold Medal.

AIA's first recipient of the Gold Medal was a RIBA President and well-known planner Sir Aston Webb. David shared the stage with the RIBA's President Jack Pringle and AIA's latest, living Gold Medal recipient Antoine Predock. Mr. Predock spoke to the same gathering of 500 members of both AIA UK and the RIBA.

In addition David delivered a new charter for the local AIA chapter, a surpise from the Institute Secretary. The local chapter had requested a name change from AIA UK/London to AIA UK, more appropriate to the membership there. Rather than just signing some letter, David in a small private ceremony presented the charter to the executive committee of the chapter and a few members. This made the AIA UK Chapter the oldest and yet newest International chapter of the AIA.

Finally on behalf of the President of AIA, David participated in an exchange of Presidential Citations between RIBA and the AIA with RIBA President Jack Pringle. All in all it was a good day to be shared by both organizations.