The Board of Directors and the Strategic Council of the American Institute of Architects are honoring Sho-Ping Chin, FAIA, with the Edward C. Kemper Award 2024. The award, named in honor of the AIA’s first executive director, is given annually to an architect who has contributed significantly to the profession through service to the AIA.
A champion for women in design, Sho-Ping Chin, FAIA, made a remarkable impact on the profession throughout her lifetime, and her enduring legacy continues to inspire architects across the nation. As a principal at Payette, Chin was committed to elevating the design of healthcare facilities, improving efficiency and humanizing clinical spaces with natural light and material palettes soothing to both patients and staff. Chin, in her role as a firm leader, eagerly welcomed talented young professionals from across the world.
Among Chin’s most significant contributions to the profession was founding and leading the Boston Society of Architect’s Women Principals Group in 2006. Since its inception, the group has grown into a critical resource for the city’s architectural leaders. In collaboration with BSA’s Women in Design group, Chin helped launch a mentoring program to share knowledge and experiences with the next generation of women leaders.
Chin’s positive BSA experiences spurred her to look beyond the region and organize the Women’s Leadership Summit, the first national AIA gathering of women leaders held in Chicago, Illinois in 2009. The first gathering drew 150 attendees from 23 states; today, the summit draws more than 1,000 participants from all 50 states and is the most significant gathering of women architects in the country. To ensure the continued development of emerging women leaders, a memorial fund in her name was established by colleagues, family and friends to provide grants that cover the costs of attending the summit.
Visit aia.org to learn more about Chin’s selection as the 2024 Edward C. Kemper Award recipient.
