John Syvertsen, FAIA, LF ’86 will receive AIA Chicago’s 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrating his career in architecture and service to the future of the profession.  In his career, Syvertsen has distinguished himself through his work as an architect and firm leader, as a leader in community outreach, social impact, and environmental sustainability, and through his professorship at colleges and universities across the country. For ten years Syvertsen was President of OWP/P Architects. He led the merger with CannonDesign where he co-founded the Open Hand Studio dedicated to public interest design and was a member of the Executive Leadership Team. Since 2015 he has dedicated his career full-time in support of several nonprofit organizations.

“John is the model example of a leader – he’s a true gentleman that possesses poise and humility, but makes the tough decisions when needed,” said Andrew Balster, Assoc. AIA, Office Practice Leader of CannonDesign’s Chicago office. “As a mentor, he holds a deep sense of responsibility to ensure future generations not only achieve their greatest potential but that they also contribute to society as a whole. It’s humbling to be able to say I experienced the workplace and culture he helped define.”

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