2016 Honoree: Artist

Curtis W. Fentress, FAIA, RIBA
Curtis W. Fentress, FAIA, RIBA

The architectural works of Curtis Fentress have transformed the skylines of cities around the world, and host over 500 million visitors annually. Mr. Fentress is driven by his fascination with large scale public projects and making civic buildings more humanistic. He is a pioneer in sustainability, integrating strict sustainability objectives with practical, real-life solutions. In Colorado, he designed the now iconic Denver International Airport, as well as such other significant civic buildings as Mile High Stadium, Colorado Convention Center, Ralph L. Carr Colorado Judicial Center, 1999 Broadway, and the Jefferson County Government Center.

A few of his national and international projects include the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Washington D.C.; the Sanford Consortium of Regenerative Medicine research facility in La Jolla, California; the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, Wyoming; Incheon International Airport in South Korea; the 65-story Arraya Tower in Kuwait; and the new Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX. Mr. Fentress has been honored with the highest distinction in the field of public architecture, receiving the Thomas Jefferson Award from the American Institute of Architects. Fentress designs have been recognized with more than 500 awards and accolades for excellence. He is a master at creating beautiful buildings that are also brilliantly functional and authentically connected to their place.