One of the highest honors a North Carolina architect can receive for design

Kenneth Luker, design principal in the North Carolina practice of architecture firm Perkins and Will, was awarded the 2019 Kamphoefner Prize from the North Carolina Chapter of the American Institute of Architects at its annual awards and membership meeting on Friday, October 11, 2019, in Wilmington. The Kamphoefner Prize, one of the highest honors a North Carolina architect can receive, recognizes commitment to the fundamental principles of the modern movement in architecture. It was named after Henry Kamphoefner, the founding Dean at the School of Design at North Carolina State University, which gained national prominence under his leadership.

Luker is known for weaving cultural awareness into the design of the built environment. He leads the design process on project types including museums, libraries, higher education institutions, corporate offices, healthcare facilities, and science and technology centers. His work has garnered numerous awards and has been featured in publications for beautiful and engaging designs that connect architecture with its cultural context.

“This award is very meaningful to me,” said Luker. “I have an abundance of respect for the winners who came before and I’m honored for this opportunity to join them in this recognition.”

“Kenneth’s leadership in elevating the design quality of our projects and his thoughtful approach to articulating clients’ stories has been very impactful,” said Zena Howard, principal and managing director of the North Carolina practice of Perkins and Will. “This well-deserved prize is a testament to the talent and inventiveness Kenneth brings to each of our projects.”

Luker submitted a strong portfolio of work to AIA North Carolina demonstrating how his philosophy is consistent with Henry Kamphoefner’s aspirations for modern architecture: to create meaningful design in the service of society rather than following trends or fashion.

“Kenneth has distinguished himself as someone who designs within the idiom of Modernism while also pushing the movement’s boundaries,” said David B. Hill, FAIA, professor and head of the School of Architecture at the NC State College of Design, in his recommendation of Luker. “Henry Kamphoefner insisted that the recipient of this award should have a body of work that displays ‘consistent integrity and devotion over an acceptable period of time.’ Kenneth’s buildings accomplish this with formal clarity, spatial richness, contextual sensitivity, and plainspoken beauty.”

Some of Luker’s noteworthy projects include:

National Center for Civil and Human Rights: Inspired by urban spaces from around the world that are synonymous with historic civil and human rights events, the iconic form of the Center is defined by two bold, curving walls that create and define a Space for Action while the varied earth tones of the exterior cladding celebrate human diversity.

NC State Gregg Museum of Art and Design: The Museum showcases NC State University’s rich collection of art and design objects, bringing together, in one location, the extensive Gregg Museum collection, and the university’s 1928 Georgian style Chancellor’s Residence. Inspired by patchwork quilt patterns represented in the museum’s collection, the design was conceived as a collection of interior and exterior galleries stitched together through spatial connections.

Destination Crenshaw: The project will be an art and urban experience celebrating the social and cultural contributions of the African American community of Los Angeles through, public art installations, exhibits, new pocket parks, and new streetscapes.

“Through thoughtfully composed architecture, Kenneth celebrates and dignifies the people and events that made these stories,” added Hill. “This goes well beyond the stylistic expectations of the Kamphoefner Prize, and it illustrates modern architecture’s potential to engage communities, reflect on history, and promote social progress—all while elevating human experience.”

“Each of these projects have impacted my perspective on the potential for architecture’s positive influence on people,” said Luker. “I’ve learned that aspirations, values, and priorities become manifest in what we build, reflecting how we understand the world to be and our aspirations for what we wish it to be.”

“Quality work is never a solo act,” he added. “For each project of this portfolio, I have had the great privilege of collaborating with many talented designers and passionate clients.”

Luker, a member of the American Institute of Architects, studied architecture at the University of Cambridge, has a Master of Architecture from Harvard University Graduate School of Design and a Bachelor of Environmental Design from Texas A&M University, College of Architecture.

More information about the Kamphoefner Prize can be found here.

About Perkins and Will

Perkins and Will, an interdisciplinary, research-based architecture and design firm, was founded in 1935 on the belief that design has the power to transform lives. Guided by its core values—design excellence, diversity and inclusion, research, resilience, social purpose, sustainability, and well-being—the firm is committed to designing a better, more beautiful world. Fast Company named Perkins and Will one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies in Architecture, and industry rankings consistently place Perkins and Will among the world’s top design practices. With an international team of more than 2,700 professionals, the firm has over 20 studios worldwide, providing services in architecture, interior design, branded environments, urban design, and landscape architecture. Partners include Danish architects Schmidt Hammer Lassen; retail strategy and design consultancy Portland; sustainable transportation planning consultancy Nelson\Nygaard; and luxury hospitality design firm Pierre-Yves Rochon (PYR).

The North Carolina practice of Perkins and Will features a collaborative and diverse team of 72 professionals based in studios in downtowns Durham and Charlotte. We take a research-based design approach that reveals the context and story of a place and allows us to shape experiences that promote understanding of self, appreciation of community, and empathy for others.

For more information, visit www.perkinswill.com.