Anne Mooney is among 76 architects who were elected to the American Institute of Architecture’s (AIA) College of Fellows. The society’s highest honor is awarded to architects who have made significant contributions to both the profession and society. Mooney, professor in the University of Utah School of Architecture and co-founder of Sparano + Mooney Architecture, joins just 3% of AIA members with this distinction.

“Professor Mooney is a leader in academia and in practice,” said Dr. Arnab Chakraborty, the dean of the College of Architecture and Planning at the U. According to Chakraborty, “Mooney’s induction as FAIA is richly deserved. By successfully straddling the realms of university and the community, Professor Mooney offers an excellent model for future scholars and practitioners who wish to become innovative and thoughtful change agents.”

Mooney’s designs are internationally recognized and have been featured in over 35 national and international publications and exhibitions. A LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-accredited professional, Mooney’s works embrace a philosophy of environmental resilience, including energy efficient buildings designed with renewable energy systems for heating and cooling architecture, and using low impact building materials. A leader in this space, she steers her firm’s LEED and net-zero energy coordination to deliver sustainable designs for each project, and has served as co-chair of the AIA Utah Committee on the Environment.

Her work also centers on community engagement—Mooney’s Applied Research Design Studio course for architecture majors challenges students to work collaboratively with local neighborhood groups, non-profits and other civic organizations to develop design proposals that meet a community’s needs and challenges through creative critical thinking. For example, a recent course explored how architecture can improve Salt Lake City’s Glendale neighborhood in response to a global pandemic.

“I work with our students to understand that architecture is more than a building’s aesthetics, as we see how smart design can improve the health, wellbeing and overall experience of individuals and communities.”

Adapted from a release from the AIA.