Iowa Architectural Foundation Announces New Leadership on the Board of Trustees and Volunteer of the Year Awards
DES MOINES, IOWA, February 18, 2022 - Iowa Architectural Foundation’s (IAF) Board of Trustees has elected CMBA Architects’ CEO, Brian Crichton, AIA as the organization’s new Board Chair. Crichton will serve a one-year term at the helm of the State’s only organization focused on educating public audiences to understand and appreciate contemporary and historic architecture. The organization is governed by a statewide Board of Trustees composed of 18 volunteers including design professionals, architectural enthusiasts and business leaders.
Crichton is the President and CEO of CMBA Architects in Sioux City, which specializes in education and healthcare. The firm also has offices in Des Moines, Spencer, Grand Island and Omaha. Crichton holds a Bachelor of Architecture Degree from Iowa State University.
He steps into the position most recently held by Jeff Shaffer, AIA, of BNIM, who will continue on the board as Past Chair. Joining Crichton and Shaffer on the 2022 Executive Committee are Nathan Griffith, AIA, Neumann Monson Architects, Iowa City as Vice Chair; Diane Rasmussen, Pigott, Des Moines, as Secretary; John Schmacker, Des Moines, as Treasurer.
Also of note, the IAF recently awarded its 2021 Volunteer of the Year awards. Linh Huynh, Assoc. AIA, of Neumann Monson Architects’ Des Moines office won New Volunteer of the Year. Huynh is a recent Masters of Architecture graduate of ISU College of Design. She assisted in IAF’s BRAVO-funded ArchiTreasures project, a collection of evocative 3-minute videos featuring architectural gems of Des Moines that can be seen on IAF’s YouTube Channel.
Stephen J. Stimmel, AIA, won the Foundation’s 2021 Volunteer of the Year award for his service to IAF and other community organizations such as the Des Moines Historical Society. Stimmel, who is a historic architecture consultant as well as an architect, has led guided walking and motor coach tours, written building histories, served on review boards and much more throughout his professional career. He was formerly with BBS Architects + Engineers in Des Moines.
About Iowa Architectural Foundation
The Iowa Architectural Foundation (IAF) is a 501 (C) (3) nonprofit organization established in 1989, whose mission is to inspire an appreciation for architecture and design through its classes, walking and motor coach tours, a statewide Community Enhancement Through Architecture Award program, Architects in the Schools, Adventures in Architecture summer day camp and other special events. Visit Facebook or iowaarchfoundation.org for more information.