AIA names Robert Eisenstat and Paul Mankins as winners of the 2022 Award for Excellence in Public Architecture

Two leading names in the world of public design have been formally recognized as part of this year’s AIA Award for Excellence in Public Architecture.

Robert Eisenstat and Paul Mankins are the recipients of the 2022 version of the award, which is meant to honor architects who are engaged in the world of public facilities design and policymaking.

Both men are duly qualified for the national distinction. Eisenstat has worked for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for more than 30 years following a successful start practicing in private offices in New York and Brazil for another 15. His wealth of experience eventually led to his appointment as chief architect of the organization in 2013. In that capacity, Eisenstat has overseen several key development projects such as the 8th Avenue Bus Terminal replacement and ongoing LaGuardia Airport modernization. Eisenstat was instrumental in bringing back PATH service to the World Trade Center site after 9/11 and has served on the New York state chapter’s influential Transportation and Infrastructure Committee since 2007.

Paul Mankins has been a leading figure in his hometown of Des Moines since returning there following the completion of his graduate studies at Yale in 1991. Through his work with the University of Iowa and later as the Principal of the locally-minded firm Substance Architecture, Mankins’ work has served as a catalyst for development in the state's capital. Large-scale projects like the Des Moines Riverwalk and Central Library have built Mankins a reputation for his design excellence and prescient eye for creative civic use that is made even stronger by considerable output as a facilitator of public art installations from blue-chip names like Kerry James Marshall and Alice Aycock.

The pair joins Carol Ross Barney and Stephen Ayers on a list of past winners of the award, which has been given out since 1992. The jury for this year’s award was chaired by architect Ryan Gann.