April Hughes, AIA Selected to Jury AIA Northern Virginia Design Awards
24 June 2023
April Hughes, AIA was invited by AIA Northern Virginia Design Awards Committee to participate as a juror for this year’s Awards Jury to be held in-person at AIA Chicago. The AIA NoVA Chapter Design Awards Program recognizes and celebrates their members’ achievements in design of the built environment and their commitment to design excellence in various practice groups. These prestigious awards, held August 10, 2023, demonstrate to the clients and the public the value of good design while identifying local firms and individuals dedicated to providing outstanding architectural design and service.
Just Certification Obtained
04 April 2023
We are thrilled to announce Nurture (formerly HPZS) is currently the only Woman-Owned Illinois architecture firm and one of two organizations headquartered in Chicago to have a Just 2.0 label. Administered by the International Living Futures Institute (ILFI), the JUST™ program is a system of metrics intended to measure organization’s performance on a range of issues relative to their policies and business practices. The result of this participation is a nutrition label, a publicly accessible scorecard transparently declaring the firm’s current performance measured against these metrics. HPZS is proud to be included in these endeavors, marking and leading the beginning of a new era of corporate transparency.
Riya Desai Selected for AIA Chicago EDI Committee
03 March 2023
Riya Desai, Assoc. AIA is leading the AIA Chicago Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee as Co-Chair, and has been instrumental in driving the committee's goals forward. She is deeply committed to advancing equity and inclusivity within our profession, and as co-chair developing new initiatives and programming that address issues of bias and discrimination, fostering a more welcoming and supportive environment for underrepresented groups. Her leadership has been key in expanding the reach and impact of the EDI Committee, and in promoting a culture of respect, understanding, and inclusion across the architecture community.
AIA Chicago 2022 Presidential Citation Awarded to Kelly Moynihan, AIA
03 December 2022
Kelly Moynihan, AIA, NCARB, WELL AP, LFA, CPHC® has received the AIA Chicago 2022 Presidential Citation for her exceptional contributions to architecture. Kelly's leadership in sustainable design, exemplified by her diverse portfolio of projects, has garnered her prestigious awards and certifications. She is deeply engaged in the architecture community, serving on various boards and committees, and is dedicated to advancing education and community engagement. Nurture is privileged to have Kelly Moynihan as a Principal, inspiring our team and the wider architecture community with her leadership and commitment to excellence.
Nurture Receives AIA Illinois Honor Award for Excellence in High-Performance Buildings
12 November 2022
The Yannell PHIUS+ Residence has been honored with the AIA Illinois Honor Award for Excellence in High-Performance Buildings. The award was accepted on Tuesday, Nov. 29, at The Cliff Dwellers in Chicago, where Nurture gathered with AIA Illinois and fellow members to celebrate this achievement. The Yannell PHIUS+ Residence, a project in collaboration with the Yannell Foundation for Sustainable Development, exemplifies excellence in high-performance buildings. This innovative residence, located in Chicago, Illinois, contributes to creating a walkable, human-scaled community by valuing the past and acknowledging the typical typological residential form, characteristic of the urban neighborhood.
April Hughes, AIA Selected as Jury Chair for AIA Birmingham Design Excellence Awards
15 June 2022
Hosted in Chicago at Nurture offices, April Hughes, AIA and Jury Chair convened the AIA Birmingham 2022 Design Awards Jury for awards that were bestowed in late July 2022. Each year, AIA Birmingham hosts Design Awards to recognize excellence in architectural design by architects in the Birmingham Chapter. These awards increase awareness of outstanding architecture and honor architects, clients, consultants, and contractors who work together to improve the built environment
April Hughes, AIA Selected as Director for Board of Local Domestic Violence Organization
02 February 2021
April Hughes, AIA was recently selected to serve on the Board of Directors for Connections for Abused Women and Their Children (CAWC), Chicago’s oldest domestic violence organization. Connections for Abused Women and their Children (CAWC) is committed to ending domestic violence. Using a self-help, empowerment approach, they provide a shelter for adults and children, counseling, advocacy, and a 24-hour hotline for people affected by domestic violence. They work for social change through education, service collaboration, and institutional advocacy. CAWC believes that all people have a right to violence-free lives. In addition to serving on the Board, April is co-chairing the Building Committee for a new 45-bed shelter for the organization that will work to co-locate supportive and legal services as well as serving on the Capital Campaign Commitee for Leading the Future of the Open Door Project.