Ananth Shankar, AIA Emeritus, Receives 2024 AIA Minnesota Louis Lundgren Award for Service
MINNEAPOLIS, August 12, 2024 — Ananth Shankar, AIA Emeritus, is the 2024 AIA Minnesota Louis Lundgren Award for Service recipient.
Each year, the Louis Lundgren Award for Service recognizes a Minnesota architect for their outstanding contributions in the areas of community and professional service. Through their work as citizen architects, recipients of the award are regarded by the peers for their prolonged and effective volunteerism.
Ananth Shankar has been serving on the Maplewood Community Design Review Board for many years, and is also on its Climate Mitigation Committee, helping shape the growth of the city. He is an active volunteer with AIA Minnesota, its committees, and its chapters, as well as the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) and works with many community groups as a design adviser and an advocate for STEM programs in schools.
Nominator Michael Martin, on staff at the City of Maplewood noted his impacts in both formal roles and in community service work that has shaped Maplewood and Minnesota. “Ananth’s passion for design and concern for equity have made Maplewood a better place to live,” he noted. “His work in the schools and with community groups have advanced the understanding of the value of design for everyone he has worked with.”
The AIA Minnesota Louis Lundgren Award jury included representatives from AIA Minnesota committees and award winners Scott Schlotthauer, AIA; Amy Carroll, AIA, NOMA; Mohammed Lawal, FAIA, NOMA; Thea Rozenbergs, AIA; and 2019 Louis Lundgren Award for Service recipient Rosemary McMonigal, FAIA.
The jury wished to especially recognize Ananth as a relentless advocate for the profession, volunteering in our communities, mentoring others, leading on climate and DEI, and serving in many roles within AIA Minnesota.
Ananth will receive his award at the annual AIA Minnesota Awards Event on August 15, 2024. Learn more about the Louis Lundgren Award here.
The American Institute of Architects Minnesota, founded in 1892, is dedicated to strengthening our communities, improving our built environment and providing exceptional design. For more information on the organization and Minnesota architectural firms, reference our website.
