HASTINGS Principal David M. Powell wins the 2023 AIA Award for Excellence in Public Architecture

In recognition of outstanding contributions to his adopted hometown of Nashville, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) has honored architect David M. Powell with the 2023 AIA Award for Excellence in Public Architecture.  

The HASTINGS Architecture Principal moved to Nashville in 1991 in order to pursue a simultaneous career in country music and architecture, ultimately settling on the latter before joining the firm in 2008. He has worked on seminal projects such as the new Bellevue Library and historic Ryman Auditorium addition that have helped shape the city during a period of rapid change and development. 

Per the AIA: “Powell is an engaged leader in his firm and his community, educating the public on the importance of design and working tirelessly to advance the practice of public architecture. He has been an AIA member since 1992 and was elevated to the College of Fellows in 2016. He has been deeply involved with the Committee on Design and with AIA Tennessee. In addition, he has stewarded Nashville’s design community and served on the city’s Civic Design Center Board of Directors from 2013 to 2021. In that role, he championed initiatives such as Design Your Neighborhood, a curriculum for middle school students, and Socially Conscious Design 101, a six-week public course that educates participants on the broader impacts of design.”

Recent HASTINGS projects to grace the city include the recently-completed 30,000-seat GEODIS Park, which touts itself as the largest purpose-built soccer facility in North America. It will eventually be joined by the 60,000-seat new Tennessee Titans NFL stadium from Manica, a major project on which HASTINGS served as a planning consultant. As the AIA says: “All of Powell’s work tells a story, and each authentic design highlights the project's role in its community.”

More information about past winners can be found here.