THE 2023 AIA CORPUS CHRISTI HONOR AWARDS WERE PRESENTED TO THE FOLLOWING:
Laura Wright Bienek, AIA, RID, NCARB – Outstanding Member Award In Honor of Jennifer Hilliard, AIA
Professional Accomplishments
- Masters of Architecture, 1999, Texas Tech University
- Masters of Science in Architecture, Historic Preservation, 2000, Texas Tech University
- Project Manager at Adling Associates Architects, 1998
- Project Manager for Texas Tech Physical Plant/Engineering, 2002
- Project Manager for TTU Facilities Planning and Construction, 2004
- Received Architectural License, 2005
- Project Architect at Naismith Engineering, 2009
- Principal at Lopez Salas Architects, 2011
- Program Coordinator, Del Mar College Architectural Technologies, 2011
- Interim Assistant Chairperson for the Industrial and Technology Education Department, 2014
- Interim Chairperson for the Industrial and Technology Education Department, 2015
- Chair of the Department of Architecture, Aviation, and Automotive, 2016
- Director/Associate Professor of Architectural/Drafting Technology at Del Mar College,
Community/Professional Service
- Honors Committee Member, Texas Society of Architects
- Publications Committee Member, Texas Society of Architects
- President, AIA Lubbock Chapter
- Founding Member-Advisor and Steering Committee Chair, USGBC West Texas Branch Chapter
- Member, Texas Tech University College of Architecture Alumni Association Board of Directors
- Member, Ballet Lubbock Board of Directors
- Troop Leader, Girl Scouts of America, Troop 6109
- Member, Junior League of Lubbock
- Served on the Texas Tech College of Architecture DLA (Alumni Association) Subcommittee.
- Served as an At-Large Board of Directors Member to the K-12 Inspire Architecture Subcommittee for the AIA (National).
- Numerous presentations to state and national architecture conferences
- Service on the Coalition of Community College Architecture Programs (CCCAP), Board of Directors Member 2017-2019.
- Service on the Youth Public Awareness Committee for the TxA, later renamed the Education Outreach Committee. Chair 2015-2018. Developed and promoted a state-wide dual credit Certificate in Architecture template program as a member of a Dual Credit Task Force.
- Building Partnerships in Architecture Education, Member.
- Served as Chair and Judge of the Carpentry Skills Contest and Drafting Contests for the State Skills USA Competition for various years.
- AIA Corpus Christi Board of Directors, Secretary and Chapter Director to the Texas Society of Architects
- Served as member of CCPATCH (Restoration of the Ritz Theatre) Board of Directors and oversaw a student project to develop a Revit model and HABS drawings for the Ritz Theatre.
- Service on the local AIA RUDAT
- Leadership Corpus Christi, Class of 39
- Contributing writer for Texas Architect magazine
- Chair and Founding Member of the USGBC Coastal Bend Chapter
Del Mar College Accomplishments
- Developed and implemented a new Construction Management program in the Architectural/Drafting Technology program.
- Developed programs for various Building Trades such as in Carpentry and the Electrical Trades to meet the workforce needs of the local building industry.
- Developed early college dual credit programs in Architectural Design and CAD for area high schools and a state-wide dual credit template program endorsed by the Texas Society of Architects.
- Instrumental in coordinating the design, construction, and move of the Architectural/Drafting Technology program and AAA Department Office to the new Oso Creek campus.
- Quadrupled enrollment in within the Architecture/ Drafting Technologies and increased Aviation, and Automotive Department enrolment.
- Participated in the UTSA CACP Community Charrette to boost collaboration between UTSA’s engineering and architecture colleges.
- Served as Advisor to the Del Mar College 2nd Year Architecture Students which participated in the TxA Student Design Competition at the TxA Annual Conference and Design Expo in Galveston, TX, October 2019.
- Served on selection committees for design professional services for 2014 Bond projects as well as participating in User Group Meetings for various new construction projects for Del Mar College.
- Served on various Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) Advisory Committees and developed numerous THECB Programs of Study for various programs.
- Served on the Advisory Committee for the THECB Learning Outcomes project for Architecture and all of the lower foundational architectural coursework in Texas as well as Co-Chaired the Advisory Committee for the THECB Architecture Field of Study which defines a standard curricula for all lower foundational architecture programs to follow for ease of transfer from institution to institution.
- Served as a collaborative partner on numerous grants for Del Mar College in various disciplines.
- In August 2023, she relinquished her role as Department Chair to focus on the growing Architectural/Drafting Technology program.
- As its Program Director, further develop the Bachelor of Science in Architecture regional site program at Del Mar College’s new Oso Creek Campus This is a partnership with the Huckabee College of Architecture from Texas Tech University. The goal of this partnership is to begin implementing third year architectural coursework in Corpus Christi Fall 2024 and bring local students closer to realizing their goal of becoming a licensed architect from within the Coastal Bend region.
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Johnny Cotten, AIA Emeritus – Lifetime Achievement Award
Professional Accomplishments:
- Graduate of The University of Texas – Austin – 4-year Track Scholarship
- Served 31 years in the U.S. Navy (Active Duty Reserves) Retired, Captain (06)
- Married, 60 years, to Jean Flint Cotten, 4 children and 6 grandchildren
- Began practicing Architecture in 1966 with Jack Rice Turner
- Founding Principal of CLK Architects (Cotten/Landreth Architects)
- AIA Corpus Christi Chapter, President (1978 and 2003)
- Texas Society of Architects, Board of Directors – Chapter Director
- Texas Board of Architectural Examiners (TBAE)
- Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies of
Registered Architects – License No. C-1524 - National Council of Architectural Registration Boards
- NCARB Certificate No. 15073
Recognitions:
- Texas Society of Architects Mentorship Award, 2018
- American Institute of Architects, Corpus Christi Chapter Community Service Award, 2017
- Presidential Citation, AIA Corpus Christi, 2010 – “In recognition of outstanding leadership, commitment, and contributions to AIA Corpus Christi”
Community/Professional Service:
- Regional Urban Design Assistance Team (R/UDAT) 1978 – Co-Chair with State Senator Carlos Truan for the City of Corpus Christi
- Bayfront Charrette, AIA Corpus Christi, 2003 – Leader, 13-hour “brain storming” session involving 21 Corpus Christi Architects, Interns and Community Leaders
- Summer Architectural Academy, AIA Corpus Christi, 2004-2009
- “So you want to be an Architect” Event, AIA Corpus Christi, 2001-2008
- “Intern Roundup,” AIA Corpus Christi, 1997
- Rotary Clubs of Corpus Christi –
- Past president, Sunrise Club (Directed initial fundraising campaign for the Texas State Aquarium, Corpus Christi, Texas)
- Board of Directors, Downtown Club (Directed 2 major community events)