Kennsington, NH Alyssa Murphy, AIA, of Placework is the winner of the 2022 Clinton Sheerr Award for Excellence in New Hampshire Architecture. The prize was presented by the 2019 recipient, Dennis Mires, AIA, at the AIA New Hampshire (AIANH) annual design awards celebration on September 22nd at Alnoba. Sheerr was an acclaimed architect who died in 1997 at the age of 50, but whose love for the profession is memorialized through this award. The highest honor bestowed by AIANH, the Sheerr Award was established to recognize outstanding architects who exemplify Sheerr’s dedication to the architecture and environment of the Granite State.

Murphy was presented this award for her outstanding work through her firm, Placework, in Portsmouth. Placework has been the recipient of many awards for its transformative and sustainable designs including, Throwback Brewery in North Hampton and the Madbury Public Library.

Murphy and her firm were congratulated for becoming the first New Hampshire architecture firm to become a Certified B Corp, a hard-earned designation that sets the highest standards for business practices focusing on progressive societal benefits and good for all.

The Sheerr award was also bestowed on Murphy for her outstanding leadership in AIA at both the state and national levels. Murphy served for many years on the board of directors for AIA New Hampshire. It was during her year as its president in 2018 that she led a bold initiative to modernize the chapter’s member newsletter, making it a colorful, public-facing print publication that represents the architects in the state and the value of excellent design in the built environment.

Murphy continues today to take a leadership role in the American Institute of Architects, serving as the New Hampshire Strategic Council representative to the AIA national board. In this capacity, she works in concert with other state councilors around the country to advise the board on issues that impact the profession and on ways that architects can make meaningful contributions to solve today’s global challenges. The Strategic Council’s current focus is on climate action and equity in the profession.

“Alyssa is an incredible advocate for the environment and equity in architecture. Her work in her firm, as a member and past president of AIANH and currently as the NH delegate to the AIA Strategic Council, Alyssa’s commitment to the profession and its ethics is truly inspiring,” said Michael Petrovick, AIA, AIA New Hampshire 2022 president.

AIA New Hampshire is the state component of the national professional association headquartered in Washington, DC, representing 90,000+ U.S. registered architects. AIANH has includes 255 architect members, a majority of the architects in the state, 53 Associate members, and 44 Professional Affiliate members.

Photo credit: John Hession, New Millenium Studios