Elbert M. Conover Memorial Award

In addition to the Religious Art and Architecture Awards, the AIA Interfaith Forum on Religion, Art, and Architecture (IFRAA) sponsors the Elbert M. Conover Memorial Award. Unlike the Religious Art and Architecture Awards, this award is bestowed upon individuals rather than projects.

History
The Elbert M. Conover Memorial Award was established in 1953 by the Church Architecture Guild of America. It was later administered by the Guild for Religious Architecture, IFRAA Inc., and then by the AIA IFRAA knowledge community. This award was given to a nonarchitects in recognition of their contributions to religious architecture in order to

• Perpetuate in the hearts and minds of those interested in religious architecture memories of our deceased leader
• Encourage leaders, outside the architecture profession, to crusade for better religious architecture
• Recognize outstanding individuals who merit citation for their excellence in fostering spiritual values

Dr. Conover spent 11 years in the ministry and was appointed director of the Bureau of Architecture of the Methodist Church in 1924. He became the first director of the Interdenominational Bureau of Architecture, later titled the Bureau of Church Building and Architecture, National Council of the Churches of Christ of the United States of America.

Nominations
Nominations are accepted from IFRAA members, including IFRAA subscription members, from January 1 to May 1 of each year.
All nominees are held to the same criteria:

• Be a nonarchitect
• Demonstrate a passion for and dedication to quality worship and sacred spaces
• Foster spiritual values
• Promote a cross-denominational community focused on religious arts and architecture

Recipients are selected by a panel of their peers and IFRAA members:

• Two previous Conover award recipients
• Three subject matter experts (architects) identified by IFRAA
• Two nonarchitect members of IFRAA

Past Award Recipients

Queries
For information on the nomination process, please e-mail IFRAA.