Sioux Falls architect is first in the state to earn national honor

Feb. 9, 2018

Tom Hurlbert, co-founder and principal of Co-op Architecture, is the first South Dakotan to win the AIA Young Architects Award.

The national award, now in its 25th year, honors people who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to the architecture profession early in their careers. Hurlbert and other award recipients will be honored at an AIA conference in June in New York City.

With a broad focus, Hurlbert has done master planning for campuses and designed workforce housing, libraries, K-12, higher education, historic buildings, religious buildings and other projects. He was the architect-of-record on three out of six AIA South Dakota awards given out in 2017, including the merit, honor and people’s choice awards.

Hurlbert was nominated for the national award by the state chapter’s emerging professionals committee, a networking, advocacy and social organization of young people in the architectural field that he helped establish.

“Tom Hurlbert is a leader who continues to make a considerable impact to the profession,” said Gene Fennell, past president of AIA South Dakota. “He mentors emerging professionals. He supports architecture students, architectural graduates and newly licensed professionals through the active AIA South Dakota emerging professionals committee. He is an active supporter of the AIA South Dakota advocacy agenda who helped ensure that two bills we supported were signed into law. Tom’s passion is undeniable.”

Co-op Architecture has designed dozens of buildings across South Dakota, including the the Bishop Dudley Hospitality House, Minnehaha Country Club additions and renovation, Woltman Group office building, Highland Five Apartments affordable housing, The District and the Perpetual Adoration Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament monastery, all in Sioux Falls; the Aberdeen Public Library, Wolves Memorial Suites and Great Plains residence halls at Northern State University and A-TEC Academy, all in Aberdeen; and Hoven High School in Hoven.

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Sioux Falls architect is first in the state to earn national honor

Tom Hurlbert, co-founder and principal of Co-op Architecture, is the first South Dakota to win the AIA Young Architects Award.

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