2026 AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion for Excellence in Architectural Education awarded to Sarah Whiting, Assoc. AIA
Whiting's work serves as a powerful model for how academic leadership can foster innovation, inclusivity, and a deep sense of civic duty within the profession.
WASHINGTON – December 5, 2025 – The Board of Directors and the Strategic Council of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) along with the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) today announced Sarah M. Whiting, Assoc. AIA, as the 2026 recipient of the AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion for Excellence in Architectural Education.
The AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion honors an individual who has been intensely involved in architecture education for more than a decade and whose teaching has influenced a broad range of students.
Whiting’s career is distinguished by her dual role as a leading educator and a practicing architect with her firm, WW Architecture. This unique position has allowed her to bridge the gap between academic theory and real-world practice, enriching both. Her leadership, first as dean at the Rice School of Architecture and now at the Harvard GSD, has been marked by a steadfast commitment to rethinking how architects are trained and how they can positively affect the world.
As the first female dean at Harvard GSD, Whiting has guided the institution through significant cultural and academic transitions. She has championed a healthier studio culture, broadened perspectives on the historical architectural canon, and cultivated a more inclusive and collaborative atmosphere. Her leadership has been described as steady, principled, and clear, particularly in navigating the global disruptions of the pandemic and present cultural pressures.
A significant part of Whiting’s legacy is her scholarly work. Her seminal essay “Notes from the Doppler Effect and Other Moods of Modernism,” co-authored with Robert Somol, challenged the profession to think differently. As the founding editor of the journal Point, she has consistently enabled, encouraged, and expanded conversations to advance architectural knowledge.
Sarah Whiting’s receipt of the Topaz Medallion celebrates a career devoted to advancing architectural education. Her work serves as a powerful model for how academic leadership can foster innovation, inclusivity, and a deep sense of civic duty within the profession. She has shaped curriculums as well as the minds and careers of countless architects.
Learn more about Whiting’s selection as the 2026 AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion winner.
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