Loudoun Design Cabinet Leader Named AIA Fellow

The Loudoun County Department of Economic Development is pleased to announce that Alan L. Hansen, FAIA, has been named a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects for his work founding and leading the Loudoun County Design Cabinet for the past 10 years.

The Design Cabinet promotes high-quality, environmentally sustainable, and culturally respectful architectural and landscape design in one of the fastest growing communities in America. The cabinet is made up of planners, architects, engineers and landscape architects who volunteer to resolve community challenges through design charrettes, and also showcase Loudoun buildings and interiors through its annual “Signatures of Loudoun” awards program.

In announcing Hansen’s elevation to Fellow, the AIA said in a statement: “Having successfully set the Design Cabinet in motion, Hansen encourages every architect in a community without a design recognition mechanism to create one as a Citizen Architect, thereby embracing the AIA’s national initiative to promote design excellence through collaboration with community decision makers.”

Out of the AIA’s 80,000 members, only 122 were named Fellows this year. “This is essentially a rare lifetime achievement for an architect. I understand that less than four percent are ever selected,” said the Chairman of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Scott York. “On behalf of the board, I congratulate Al for attaining such a significant professional honor, and for his leadership and service to Loudoun County.”

Hansen is a director at DBI Architects, Inc. The AIA investiture ceremony will be held in Denver this summer.