The Firm Award is presented to an AIA Kansas City Member Firm that has shown exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to the profession and the built environment.
The AIA Kansas City Board recognized GastingerWalker& this year for their strong commitment to the profession and the chapter, their dedication to both design and to accomplishing their clients’ goals with projects that enhance the health, safety, and welfare of the community.
GastingerWalker& has been a significant resource to the AIAKC by continuously supporting and encouraging their staff to be involved as members, by volunteering in the community, and dedication to the profession. The AIAKC chapter has been fortunate to have many of the staff of GastingerWalker& provide significant contributions in leadership on its board and committees.
Many of the most successful programs that the AIAKC provides have benefited from their staff members, including Committee on the Environment, Pillars, Education Outreach, our Equity Symposium, Women in Design, and our annual Design Excellence Awards. The Firm’s staff has led many of these committees over the years and was instrumental in the founding of the AIAKC Equity in Architecture committee in 2017.
GastingerWalker also makes many contributions to the community and profession outside of our chapter, as well state and national AIA positions, NCARB, the Kansas City Chamber, Downtown Council of Kansas City, university boards, and preservation groups. The Firm has been recognized with many design awards that show their commitment to design excellence, historic preservation, and sustainability.
The support for this nomination by Dave Broz of Gensler stated how significant the partnership between these two firms has been, calling it “a partnership that goes beyond just business and creates lasting bonds that clients feel, and architecture that is award-winning.”
Deborah Mann, Executive Director of Emmanuel Family & Child Development Center, shared that from day one, GastingerWalker& went above and beyond to create a “beacon for the community and provides hope to our children, their families, and the East-Side Kansas City Community.”
In February 2021, GastingerWalker will celebrate 40 years in business, and what a fitting recognition for this Firm to be recognized as the AIA Kansas City Firm of the Year.