In addition to the Religious Art and Architecture Awards, the AIA Interfaith Design knowledge community (ID) sponsors the Elbert M. Conover Memorial Award and the Edward S. Frey Award. Unlike the Religious Art and Architecture Awards, this award is bestowed upon individuals rather than projects.
The
Elbert M. Conover Memorial Award was established in 1953 by the
Church Architecture Guild of America. It was later administered by the
Guild for Religious Architecture,
IFRAA Inc., and then by the
AIA Interfaith Design (ID) Knowledge Community. This award is given to non-architects in recognition of their contributions to religious architecture in order to:
- Perpetuate in the hearts and minds of those interested in religious architecture memories of our deceased leader;
- Encourage leaders, outside the architecture profession, to crusade for better religious architecture;
- Recognize outstanding individuals who merit citation for their excellence in fostering spiritual values.
Dr. Conover spent 11 years in the ministry and was appointed director of the Bureau of Architecture of the Methodist Church in 1924. He became the first director of the Interdenominational Bureau of Architecture, later titled the Bureau of Church Building and Architecture, National Council of the Churches of Christ of the United States of America.
Eligibility
The Elbert M. Conover Award is open to all non-architects who have demonstrated a passion for and dedication to quality worship and sacred spaces, fostered spiritual values, and promoted a cross-denominational community focused on religious arts and architecture. Recipients must have worked with architects during the design and construction of religious projects—for example, helping to secure funding and support for sacred spaces.
Submission details
Nominations should consist of one letter of nomination from the submitter detailing how the nominee meets each of the three following award criteria:
- Demonstrate a passion for and dedication to quality worship and sacred spaces
- Foster spiritual values
- Promote a cross-denominational community focused on religious arts and architecture.
Optional supporting materials may also be provided. These materials might include a resume, testimonials, imagery, a bibliography, etc. The supporting materials are limited to five letter-sized PDF pages.
Submitter may optionally request letters of support from up to five other people.
Eligible nominees for the Conover Award must be non-architect who has worked with architects during the design and construction of religious projects.
Please address letters of nomination to the Conover Award Jury.
The Conover Award is open during the early months of each odd-numbered year. There is no entry fee.
Past Recipients
2019 A. Robert Jaeger
2017 Rabbi David Stern
2015 Wilson Yates, PhD
2013 Dr. Marchita B. Mauck
2011 Lawrence J. Madden, S.J.
2010 Rev. W. Joseph Mann
2007 D. Patrick Russell, PhD
2002 E. Crosby Willet
2000 Al Fisher
1996 Betty Meyer
1990 Richard Vosko
1988 Hal Watkins
1984 Donald J. Bruggink
1979 Robert E. Rambusch
1977 Rolland Sheafor
1976 Rev. Godfrey Diekman
1975 Joseph Sittler
1974 Beverly R. Tucker
1973 Rev. James Doom
1972 Rev. Glenn Gothard
1971 Harry Downie
1970 William S. Clark
1969 J. Irwin Miller
1967 Rev. J. Gordon Davies
1966 Rev. H. A. Reinhold
1965 G. E. Kidder-Smith
1963 Henry Lee Willet
1956 Edward Frey
1956 Dr. William Kincaid Newman
1953 Elbert M. Conover