Practicing ArchitectureAwards

2010 HONORARY MEMBERSHIP

David Thurm, Hon. AIA, graduated from Harvard University with an AB magna cum laude and earned his Juris Doctor from the New York University School of Law. From 1982 until his recent retirement in 2009, he worked for The New York Times Company. Over the last fifteen years he was responsible for leading the teams that constructed all of the Times buildings, approximately 4 million square feet of space. More important than gross square footage, these projects led to important innovations and a deep and publicly proselytized conviction that good design drives business and cultural change.

Through a series of operating positions at The Times while also maintaining responsibility for construction: from the Vice President of Production (operating the plants that he helped build), Chief Operating Officer of The Times’s digital operation, and then Senior Vice President, Operations, David brought a unique perspective to building. Living in both worlds sharpened his awareness of the interplay between space and design, and how design can profoundly affect the work environment and drive fundamental business objectives.

In marked contrast to many a corporate executive, David and his team were not passive caretakers, folks who favor complacency and eschew risk. Instead, David and his team pushed themselves and the entire design team to achieve advances in building designs and construction. In his nomination letter, Frederic Bell, FAIA, Executive Director of New York City’s Center of Architecture stated, “First and foremost, David is universally acknowledged as an enlightened client. Whether at the state-of-the-art New York Times printing facilities in College Point, Queens, by the Polshek Partnership, or the award-winning Times headquarters building designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop, FXFowle, and Gensler, David has consistently set a benchmark of leadership. He encourages and empowers architects to achieve superlative design solutions. His hands-on role as a client led to the energy-efficiency of the Times facilities, along with the people-oriented concerns for how buildings are used.” These two highly recognized projects illustrate the process of innovation and sharing of information that has made David a rare client and worthy of the distinction of honorary membership in The American Institute of Architects.

Robert Ivy, FAIA, vice president and editorial director of Architectural Record describes David as “…a vocal proponent for the value of design in the workplace. His articulate, forthright stance has helped all architects as a result. At Architectural Record his work resulted in the Business Week/Architectural Record Award “Good Design is Good Business,” an approach that mirrors his own experience. Furthermore, he has served as an effective and vocal Public Member of the AIA National Board of Directors, bringing his own knowledge and intelligence to the larger group. I greatly admire David, for his personal qualities and for his professional contributions to the profession.”

Since taking early retirement from The Times in mid-summer, David continues to make a contribution to architecture and its allied fields. He is part of a 5-person team advising the Mayor of New York on ways that the World Trade Center Memorial can achieve its September 11, 2011 opening. Continuing his interest in pushing the use of energy-saving lighting, David is also the president of the newly formed Green Light New York. Green Light was formed with support from the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and the LDRC to create a Lighting Resource Center in New York to teach designers, owners and contractors about advanced technologies that are readily available. The 2007-2009 Institute Treasurer, Hal Munger, FAIA, sums up David this way, “He constantly encourages the profession to be the world leaders we can be. It is obvious he loves architects and architecture, seeing in us the significance we often fail to see in ourselves.

David Thurm, Hon. AIA

2010 JURY FOR HONORARY MEMBERS

James H. Eley, FAIA
(Chair)
Eley Associates Architect
Jackson, Miss.

Mary Fitch, Hon. AIA
AIA Washington DC
Washington, D.C.

Leslie J. Thomas, AIA
Thomas Bracy Architects,
PLLC
Concord, N.H.