Anthony Schirripa
Anthony Schirripa
Today, The American Institute of Architects named Anthony Schirripa, FAIA, as the recipient of the 2021 Edward C. Kemper Award. Since 1950, the program, named after AIA’s first executive director, has recognized an architect who has made broad contributions to the profession through their work with AIA. Formerly the co-chairman and CEO of the New York–based firm Mancini Duffy and a principal and vice president at Gensler in New York, Schirripa has held a number of AIA leadership roles on both the national and local levels. He served as the 2010 president of AIA New York and also served on the AIA Board of Directors as the New York regional director from 2012 to 2014 and as a director-at-large in 2016.
“Tony has demonstrated a life of service to the AIA and the profession. He did not stop after his national Board service; he continued to chair committees such as the special board task force on specialty credentialing, and served as a mentor to high school students interested in architecture,” wrote Elizabeth Chu Richter, FAIA, 2015 AIA president and principal of Corpus Christi, Texas–based Richter Architects, in a letter supporting Schirripa’s nomination. “To the millennial architects, Tony is an inspiration and an excellent model of effective leadership in our tri-level organization. His commitment and actions speak volumes to the meaning of service to AIA. Our organization is better because of his dedication.”
After graduating from Texas A&M University in 1973 with degrees in building construction and environmental design, Schirripa began working as a project architect at Gensler in 1980. He soon became a firm principal and then vice president in 1985. In 1995, he joined Mancini Duffy as principal and vice president, becoming CEO in 2000, and then CEO and co-chairman in 2006.
During his tenure as AIANY president, Schirripa focused on growing the chapter’s membership and ensuring its financial security. He was instrumental to developing the New York Center for Architecture, a venue highlighting the city’s architecture and built environment. The Center, which AIANY completed ahead of schedule and on budget, found enormous success, inspiring almost 30 AIA components to emulate the concept nationwide.
“His selfless service, underpinned by experience and urbanity, has advanced the Institute in a thousand ways,” wrote Jeff Potter, FAIA, 2012 AIA president and founding principal of Potter in Dallas, Texas, in a letter supporting Schirripa’s nomination. “The Kemper Award was envisioned for an architect exactly like Tony Schirripa.”
While serving on AIA’s board of directors, Schirripa was pivotal to the Institute’s Governance task force. In 2017, he served on AIA’s ArchiPAC, a bipartisan political action committee aimed at ensuring that architects have a voice in the political landscape.
The 2021 Kemper Award advisory jury comprised chair Britt Lindberg, AIA, Gensler, San Jose, Calif.; Karen Braitmayer, FAIA, Studio Pacifica, Seattle; Antoine Bryant, Assoc. AIA, Moody Nolan, Houston; Damaris Hollingsworth, AIA, Design by Melo, Golden Valley, Minn.; and Paul Young, City of Memphis, Tenn.
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