Philip Freelon Named 2016 IIDA Star Award Recipient

2016.0404.Nwy.Philip FreelonThe International Interior Design Association (IIDA) proudly announces renowned architect Philip Freelon, IIDA, FAIA, as the recipient of the 2016 IIDA Star Award. This prestigious award is given to an individual or organization that has made significant contributions to the design industry. The 2016 Star Award will be presented at the IIDA Annual Meeting on Sunday, June 12, 2016, at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago.

“Philip is widely regarded as one of the top architects in the United States,” said IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA, LEED AP. “Coast to coast – from his current work as the design lead for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., to the Museum of African Diaspora in San Francisco – he has elevated the profession by enhancing public buildings that all people have the opportunity to experience and enjoy. He is an inspiration the next generation of African-American architects, expanding the opportunities for diversity in the profession. We are so pleased to honor and celebrate Philip Freelon as this year’s Star Award recipient.”

Freelon is the Managing and Design Director of Perkins+Will’s North Carolina offices in Research Triangle Park and Charlotte. He is a key member of the firm’s leadership team, as well as a member of the Board of Directors. In addition to his current work on the $500M Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, now under construction on the National Mall, his design portfolio includes the National Center for Civil Rights in Atlanta, Emancipation Park in Houston, multiple library projects for the D.C. Public Library System, and the Durham County Human Services Complex.

He is a President Obama appointee to the National Commission of Fine Arts, a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA), and a recipient of the Thomas Jefferson Award for Public Architecture. Previously, he founded the Freelon Group, a North Carolina-based architecture firm that joined Perkins+Will in 2014.

About International Interior Design Association
IIDA is the Commercial Interior Design Association with global reach. We support design professionals, industry affiliates, educators, students, firms, and their clients through our network of 15,000+ Members across 58 countries. IIDA advocates for advancement in education, design excellence, legislation, leadership, accreditation, and community outreach to increase the value and understanding of Interior Design as a profession that enhances business value and positively impacts the health and well-being of people’s lives every day. www.iida.org