David Miles Ziskind, FAIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, senior vice president and chief architect at STV, has been honored with one of the most esteemed accolades for architects by the American Institute of Architects New York State chapter (AIANYS).
In a year marked by a record-breaking number of nominations, Ziskind was bestowed with the 2024 Henry Hobson Richardson Award by this year’s AIANYS Professional Service Awards jury. This award recognizes AIA members licensed in NYS and practicing in the private sector who have made a significant contribution to the quality of NYS public architecture and who have established a portfolio of accomplishments to that end.
“As a long-time competitor turned full-time collaborator, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing David’s influence in various capacities,” said Frank Greene, FAIA, OAA, STV vice president and justice lead, who nominated his colleague for the award. “David’s practice has not only inspired me but has also instilled in me a profound confidence in the transformative power of architecture for institutional clients. It creates an immersive experience for staff, students, and residents, affirming their humanity and dignity in their daily interactions with the built environment.”
Ziskind boasts a distinguished career spanning nearly six decades, during which he has designed some of the most consequential architectural projects in the world. At STV, he has overseen large-scale programs in justice, healthcare, education and transportation across the United States. His work has impacted numerous communities, primarily through his commitment to human-centric design.
His nomination was supported by an array of testimonials underscoring his professional excellence and commitment to public service.
“To accomplish many and often competing goals, David had to be a consummate professional and to orchestrate the translation of disciplinary values into a concrete material practice,” wrote one former client, reflecting on Ziskind’s work on a higher education project. “This demanded qualities that are too infrequently honored in our field: the generosity that springs from deep experience; the curiosity that thrives on worldly knowledge; the humility that comes from promoting the good in an imperfect world. I would suggest that these qualities are fundamental to any public servant, and David embodies them to the fullest.”
The award pays homage to Henry Hobson Richardson, a seminal figure in American architecture renowned for many significant public buildings across New York State and the United States. Richardson’s masterpieces, including the New York State Capitol, Albany City Hall and the Buffalo State Asylum for the Insane, defined the Richardson Romanesque style and left an enduring mark on the landscape of the cities in which they were built, exemplifying the importance of design excellence in the public sector.
“Just as Richardson’s Buffalo State Asylum expressed a more humanitarian spirit in post-Civil War America, it seems only appropriate this award be conferred on another individual achieving social reform through public architecture,” wrote a project partner in support of Ziskind’s nomination.
“David understands the power of architecture as a tool for healing, justice, and the public good. Beyond being contextually aware, environmentally sensitive, and beautiful, his work demonstrates that architecture can change outcomes for the better,” said former STV employee Price Jepsen, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, who also contributed to the submission.
Ziskind’s remarkable achievement was celebrated at the AIANYS annual awards ceremony in Albany, where STV Buildings President Kim Vierheilig, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, delivered a speech introducing Ziskind as the award recipient, emphasizing his exceptional career and contributions to the field of architecture. Additionally, Ziskind was joined at the ceremony by members of his family and STV colleagues Nejat Babur, Amanda Eggers, Jeff Hyman, Erika Moshkovich, Robert Papocchia and Isabel Ziskind.
