2026 AIA Indiana Service Award Winners
GOLD MEDAL AWARD
Dean Illingworth, FAIA
Dean Illingworth, FAIA, learned early from his father that giving back makes your community a better place to live. Across a 52-year career, he has put that lesson into practice as an architect, preservationist, nonprofit leader, public servant and mentor.
A 1974 Ball State graduate, Dean began his career in Charleston, South Carolina, before returning to Indianapolis in 1978 as Schmidt Associates’ fourth employee. Over the next 28 years, he became a partner and helped the firm grow into a multidisciplinary practice.
His preservation efforts protected places central to Indiana’s identity, including the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, the Hammond Block Building and the Tippecanoe County Courthouse. At the courthouse, forensic investigation uncovered original paint colors and the locations of stairs removed decades earlier, allowing historic details to guide the restoration.
Dean brought the same care to affordable housing. After years as a Habitat for Humanity volunteer and board member, he left private practice to lead the Indianapolis affiliate. Under his leadership, it built 125 homes, introduced varied home designs and adopted Energy Star practices to help homeowners manage utility costs. He also helped develop a panel-build program that brought volunteers together in workplace parking lots to build sections of homes.
His service continued as Indiana’s state building commissioner, where he helped update building codes and reorganized the state plan review process. He strengthened relationships among regulators and the design community, then traveled the state to help architects and contractors understand the changes. He also helped establish IBEAM, preparing volunteers to assess building safety after natural disasters.
At the Department of Natural Resources, Dean has continued protecting Indiana’s public places through historic rehabilitation and new construction. He has contributed to Civilian Conservation Corps structures, the gristmill at Spring Mill State Park and planning new campground standards following the 2023 tornado at McCormick’s Creek.
Throughout every chapter, Dean has made time for other architects. His intern development earned national recognition, and after becoming an AIA Fellow in 1998, he assisted more than 20 colleagues in their path to Fellowship. His leadership within AIA Indianapolis, AIA Indiana and national AIA programs has connected generations of practitioners with opportunities to learn and serve.
A colleague captured the personal meaning of that mentorship when he wrote, “Dean saw something in me that I did not see myself.”
That generosity has carried through every role Dean has held. He shares what he knows, recognizes what others can contribute and puts his profession to work for the public good.
DISTINGUISHED FIRM AWARD
Hafer, a Galloway Company
Founded in Evansville in 1978, Hafer, a Galloway Company, has built a practice rooted in the communities it serves.
Its 70-person team brings architecture, engineering and interior design together, with offices in Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois and Ohio.
The firm’s work reflects the region’s history and ambitions. This includes restoring Evansville’s Old Post Office, modernizing the Evansville Regional Airport and designing the University of Southern Indiana’s Griffin Center.
Its commitment to people extends to the workplace. Mentorship, shared learning and support for emerging professionals have earned Hafer AIA Indiana’s Emerging Professional Exemplary Firm recognition. Average employee tenure is ten years.
Employees contribute more than 950 volunteer hours each year to community organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, local schools and environmental initiatives.
More than 80% of the firm’s work comes from repeat clients, reflecting trust and partnerships built over decades.
For nearly five decades, Hafer has paired design excellence with steady investment in its people and the places it calls home.
WALTER S. BLACKBURN AWARD
David L. Ferguson, Assoc. AIA
A first-generation college student, David L. Ferguson, Assoc. AIA, earned his appointment as dean of his alma mater through decades of hard work, dedication and a passion for our profession.
At Ball State’s R. Wayne Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning, Dave has doubled enrollment, brought seven design and construction disciplines into closer collaboration and strengthened support for first-generation and underrepresented students.
He connects students with practicing professionals through advisory boards, immersive studios and a firm-in-residence program that brings real clients into the classroom. Faculty and student partnerships now serve about 40 Indiana communities each year.
Dave’s public service extends well beyond campus. A founding leader of Cardinal Greenway, he helped develop a regional trail system and advanced licensure for Indiana’s landscape architects.
Colleagues describe a leader who listens carefully, welcomes honest dialogue and keeps students at the center of difficult decisions. At his core, David Feguson is the embodiment of Walter Blackburn’s commitment to investing in people and strengthening communities.
JULIET PEDDLE AWARD
Brandon Farley, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
When Brandon Farley, AIA was a high school student, a teacher helped him discover architecture. He has spent more than 20 years extending that same invitation to young people across Indiana.
As chair of the Indiana High School Architectural Design Competition, Brandon has introduced more than 2,300 students to the profession. He created free design workshops and helped turn Indiana’s approach into a national resource through AIA’s Student Design Competitions guide.
At American Structurepoint, where he leads the education practice and sustainability efforts, informal conversations with interns grew into American Structurepoint University, a continuing education program for colleagues. He has guided universities through their first LEED-certified projects, teaching sustainable design practices.
Brandon also spent ten years leading Indianapolis’ Young Architects Forum and helped establish the AXP Friendly Firm Initiative to support emerging professionals pursuing licensure.
His work reflects the pioneering spirit and kindness of Juliet Peddle, opening doors, sharing knowledge and helping others see a place for themselves in architecture.
NEXT GEN AWARD
Cass Parker, AIA
When Shraddha Shetty, Assoc. AIA, began working on the Indianapolis Public Library’s Nora and Pike branch renovations, her client assumed she had years of experience. She was only days into her architectural career.
That confidence and care she applies to her practice extends to her service. An architectural designer at Luminaut, Shraddha chairs the AIA Indianapolis Young Architects Forum, connecting emerging professionals with experienced practitioners through career programs, mentorship, advocacy and community service.
A graduate of AIA Indiana’s Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program, she now serves as its vice president. Shraddha co-developed its “Future of Our Industry” session, exploring mentorship, knowledge sharing and the profession’s changing workplace.
At Ball State, she led community outreach for Alley House, which won first place in the international Solar Decathlon Build Challenge.
A recipient of the 2026 AIA Emerging Professionals Grant, Shraddha is investing in her own growth while creating opportunities for others to build lasting careers in architecture.