AIA Wisconsin | Architecture Honored For Inspired Design Solutions

Wisconsin Architect Robert Cooper Receives
Top Honor: The 2004 AIA Wisconsin "Golden Award"

April 14, 2004

Madison — Architect Robert D. Cooper, AIA, Greenfield, has been selected to receive the prestigious 2004 "Golden Award" from AIA Wisconsin, the state society of The American Institute of Architects.

The Golden Award is the highest honor that the state architects’ society can confer upon a member architect. Cooper is being recognized as an architect who has performed most distinguished leadership and service, advanced the profession of architecture and provided inspiration to fellow practitioners. He is the seventeenth recipient of the AIA Wisconsin Golden Award.

The Golden Award will be formally presented to Cooper during a special awards program on April 28 at the Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center in Madison. The event is being held in conjunction with the 2004 AIA Wisconsin Convention & Expo.

"Bob Cooper is a well-known and highly respected leader of Wisconsin’s design and construction industry," said Michael Eberle, AIA, Madison, President of AIA Wisconsin. "As a long-time member and distinguished leader of AIA Wisconsin, he has contributed his time and talents to advocate for excellence in architectural design, strengthen the profession, mentor future architects and improve the quality of life in our communities."

Cooper is a design principal with Eppstein Uhen Architects, Inc. in Milwaukee and a leader in the firm’s public/education studio. Over the last eleven years, he has demonstrated his design talents on many of the firm’s high-profile and complex projects, such as Miller Park, Alverno College’s Teaching, Learning and Technology Center and the Milwaukee RiverWalk System, as well as projects for Wisconsin State Fair Park, Summerfest and Marquette University.
Prior to joining Eppstein Uhen Architects, Cooper, as a vice president with Miller, Meier, Kenyon, Cooper Architects & Associates, was involved with the design of numerous other notable Milwaukee projects, including the Golda Meir Library addition at UW-Milwaukee, the MATC Student Center, Milwaukee County’s Mental Health Center and the terminal expansion at General Mitchell International Airport.

In terms of service to the profession of architecture, Cooper served with distinction as the President of AIA Southeast Wisconsin in 1983 and as the 1987 President of AIA Wisconsin, which at that time was called the Wisconsin Society of Architects. An influential leader of the profession, he worked effectively with allied groups to promote economic development, control the cost of professional liability insurance, oppose legislation to expand the state sales tax to professional and business services, and assist public owners in the qualifications-based selection of architects. As the chair of the state AIA Design Awards program from 1990 through 1995, he helped to increase public awareness of architecture through the recognition of Wisconsin architects for excellence in architectural design.

Throughout his career, Cooper has unselfishly invested in the future of the profession by mentoring architectural interns and young architects. Having received a tuition scholarship from the Wisconsin Architects Foundation (WAF) as an architecture student at Carnegie Mellon University in the 1960s, he worked to significantly increase scholarship support for Wisconsin architecture students during his tenure as a member and an officer of the WAF Board of Directors from 1989 to 1996.

In addition to his significant contributions to AIA Wisconsin and the profession of architecture, Cooper has demonstrated his commitment to improving the quality of life in Wisconsin by taking on numerous community leadership roles. Examples of his community involvement include serving on the Public Art Subcommittee of the City of Milwaukee Arts Board (1995-2004), Design Review Advisory Board for the Milwaukee County Parks (1993-2004), Percent for Art Selection Committee of the Wisconsin Arts Board (2001 & 2003), Economic Development Committee for the City of Greenfield (1988-1996) and as president of the City of Greenfield Library Board (1990-1995).

"Bob Cooper’s record of service and leadership is truly inspirational and epitomizes the purpose for which the Golden Award was established," noted AIA Wisconsin President Eberle.
With 1,500 members, AIA Wisconsin is the state professional society representing architects, architectural interns, students and allied design and construction industry leaders. AIA Wisconsin members include architects in private practice, business, industry, government and education.