Congratulations to the five Taubman College alumni elevated to the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows in 2022. Fellows are recognized with AIA’s highest membership honor for their exceptional work and contributions to architecture and society. Architects who have made significant contributions to the profession and society and who exemplify architectural excellence can become a member of the AIA College of Fellows. Only 3 percent of the AIA members have this distinction.
Taubman College alumni among the 2022 honorees include Jeff Hausman, B.S. ’79, M.Arch ’81; Dorian Moore, B.S. ’86, M.Arch ’88; Tod Stevens, M.Arch ’91; Kurt Haapala, B.S. ’91, M.Arch ’94; and Amy Gilbertson, M.Arch ’01.
Jeff Hausman, B.S. ’79, M.Arch ’81
Hausman has over 40 years of experience as an architect, with a range of projects that include university facilities, R&D laboratories, industrial plants, office buildings, and museum displays. He is currently a leader at SmithGroup, a firm he first joined as a project architect in 1985. As senior vice president and director of SmithGroup’s Detroit and Pittsburgh offices, he leads strategic initiatives and maintains a high level of client satisfaction, continuing the firm’s legacy of design and technical excellence. Through his work with the Michigan Architectural Foundation and the Boy Scouts of America, he has introduced more than 2,000 Detroit-area high school students to the possibilities of a career in architecture. Hausman has also spearheaded efforts to fund endowed architecture scholarships for women and minorities at Lawrence Technological University, University of Detroit-Mercy, and the University of Michigan. In 2020, he received the AIA Detroit Gold Medal Award for his commitments to the city and advancing opportunities in architecture and education.
Dorian Moore, B.S. ’86, M.Arch ’88
Moore is an urban designer, architect, entrepreneur, educator, and developer whose passions extend into civic leadership. He is vice president of Archive Design Studio, an urban design, architectural, planning and development consulting practice based in Detroit. An internationally recognized architect, he has been involved in a range of large-scale urban projects, including the Michigan State Fairgrounds mixed-use redevelopment and the “Port lands” in Toronto, Canada. He was among a select group invited to be part of the charrette planning team for 11 cities along the Gulf Coast ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. A recipient of the AIA Detroit Young Architect’s Award, he was also a member of the Mayor’s Core Support Staff for the Detroit Land Use Master Plan Task Force. Moore’s expertise regarding the built environment has positioned him as a resource for the media and a widely sought lecturer on urban issues. He currently serves on the Windsor, Ontario Planning Board and The Art Gallery of Windsor Board of Directors.
Tod Stevens, M.Arch ’91
Stevens is a dedicated expert in the learning market and serving higher education clients through architecture and design. He is a highly pursued speaker and presenter, with more than 20 award-winning projects to his name in his nearly 30 years of experience. He is currently a Learning Practice Leader at Progressive AE, advancing the firm’s commitment to their higher education clients and attracting new clients in the marketplace. Prior to Progressive AE, Stevens worked at Stantec as a principal and senior design architect leading design planning and interior teams in education architecture. He has served notable clients in Michigan’s higher education system, including Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Valley State University, Lansing Community College, Lawrence Technological University, Oakland University, University of Michigan, and Wayne State University.
Kurt Haapala, B.S. ’91, M.Arch ’94
An industry leader in the planning and design of student life and housing facilities, Haapala has worked with colleges and universities across the western United States. As partner-in-charge of business development at Mahlum, he propels the firm’s market sectors toward clarity and purpose-driven design. Haapala has helped build the firm’s higher education housing studio into a nationally recognized practice. His design concepts helped achieve LEED Platinum Certification for Ackerman Hall at Western Oregon University, the first residence hall in the country to do so. He understands the role of architects to be translators, telling the stories of the people who journey through the built environment. Listening intently when people share who they are and what their journey is about is therefore key to designing supportive buildings and environments. Haapala’s enthusiasm for student and stakeholder engagement has inspired his extensive research, writing, and speaking on how the built environment can positively impact student outcomes.
Amy Gilbertson, M.Arch ’01
Gilbertson is an architect and leader driven by a passion for making existing structures and conditions better. She is the only female principal at Trivers, a firm she first joined in 2001 as the firm’s first architect. She has been involved with several high-profile buildings and sites focusing on historic renovation. Her key projects include the Old Post Office renovation in St. Louis, the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Ranger Station, and American Cancer Society Hope Lodge projects throughout the United States. Gilbertson was named one of St. Louis CNR’s Top 20 Women in Construction, and serves on the Advisory Council for Women in Design+Construction. She was also recently one of the first 30 Fitwel Ambassadors in the country. As an adjunct faculty instructor at Washington University’s Sam Fox School of Architecture, Gilbertson pushes students to think about relationships as a catalyst, and the broader impacts and potential of architecture and design.
