Corridor architects recognized for public service

A number of architects in the Cedar Rapids-Iowa City Corridor have been recognized by the Iowa Chapter of the American Institute of Architects for their public service.

Bradley Fritz of OPN Architects in Cedar Rapids is vice chairman of the Historic Preservation Commission for the City of Cedar Rapids. Fritz lends architectural expertise to the decisions made by the commission regarding the salvage, restoration or demolition of historic properties and neighborhoods in Cedar Rapids. 

The Historic Preservation Commission has been working with the Cedar Rapids City Council, the State Historic Preservation Office and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to prevent the complete or permanently altering destruction of long-established neighborhoods in Cedar Rapids due to the 2008 flood.  Fritz also serves as a board member for Theatre Cedar Rapids.

Dave Martin, owner of Martin Design in Marion, has been appointed chairman of the Marion Economic Development Company Holding Co.  In this role, Martin strives to promote the importance of continued economic vitality through the development of industrial parks that incorporate sustainable practices to help protect the environment. Martin also serves on the Marion Historic Preservation Commission.

Kevin Monson, a partner at Neumann Monson in Iowa City, is active in the Iowa City Area Development Group. Monson served on the organization's board of directors and currently serves on the ICAD executive committee. The Iowa City Area Development Group places a strong emphasis on regional development efforts within the Corridor. This group facilitates the development of clean businesses, and all municipalities, in the county.

Bruce Hamous of OPN Architects was instrumental in founding the Eastern Iowa branch of the United States Green Building Council.  The USGBC is a non-profit organization dedicated to sustainable building design and construction.  As a member of the leadership board, Hamous and his colleagues urged Cedar Rapids city government to adopt LEED standards for all publicly-funded construction.  In 2010, the Cedar Rapids City Council adopted a policy that mandates all new city buildings be built to LEED gold standards.

As president of the Rotary Club of Iowa City, James Phelps, senior associate with Phelps, Rohrbach Associates in Iowa City, promotes the architecture profession and good general design principles with students at West High School in Iowa City. Phelps also supports fundraising events for local organizations such as Bowling for Kids Sake (Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Johnson County), Run for the (Iowa City area) Schools and the Dictionary Project (Iowa City area fourth grade students).