HKS’ Jeff Stouffer and Craig Williams Elected to Esteemed AIA College of Fellows

Jeff Stouffer, FAIA, ACHA, executive vice president and HKS health group director, and Craig Williams, FAIA, Esq., chief legal officer, were elected to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) 2016 College of Fellows, one of the highest honors the AIA can bestow upon a member.

Elevation to Fellowship not only recognizes the achievements of the architect as an individual but also elevates before the public and the profession those architects who have made significant contributions to architecture and to society.

Stouffer excels in his specialty of healthcare settings for children. He has made a profound difference in pediatric care by designing facilities with a focus on family-centered care. In addition, he is responsible for improving the design process through the application of Lean principles through teaching, presenting, writing articles and engaging healthcare industry leaders. Stouffer has dedicated his entire 27-year career to designing cutting edge healthcare facilities in the U.S. and abroad.

“Jeff is a remarkable pediatric health architect,” says HKS President and CEO Dan Noble. “His work has transformed patient and staff experiences around the world by creating designs that are functional and speak to the art of healing. He has had a lifelong passion for healthcare design and planning, and is a leader in our firm and the healthcare industry in the application of Lean design and operational processes.”

As director of HKS’ health practice, Stouffer’s responsibilities include directing the group’s administrative, financial, management and strategic planning. Under his leadership, the firm continues to be a global leader in professional healthcare design services, providing the highest level of services, design, technical expertise and business performance to continue to create environments that enhance the human experience.

Williams has devoted his 25-year career as an attorney, specifically to advancing the interests of the architectural profession. His service to the profession and to the AIA has been recognized at the local, state and national levels.

Williams created and introduced the concept of defining the standard of care for architects and led the effort, with the support of the AIA, resulting in the publication of a groundbreak­ing report entitled “Managing Uncertainty and Expectations in Building Design and Construc­tion,” published by McGraw Hill Construction in October 2014. A valuable resource for practitioners throughout the United States and an expert regarding stan­dards of practice, Williams shares his knowledge and expertise about the practice of architecture and standard of care for architects. His lectures, seminars and writing offer his expertise of both architecture and law, their interface, and the business of practicing architecture.

“Craig is a nationally recognized architect and attorney, positively impacting the practice of architecture through his outreach to guide architects, leading the profession in defining our standard of care,” Noble explains. “As both an attorney and architect, he works to equalize risk appropriately as well as defend architects nationally with sound legal advice.”

Williams also is the co-founder, initial treasurer, past-president and current director of The Jefferson Society, Inc., a national non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation with membership limited to attorneys who are also architects. As the author of the society’s mission statement, he es­tablished its driving philosophy to support and advance the practice of architecture.

The AIA College of Fellows seeks to stimulate a sharing of interests among Fellows, promote the purposes of the institute, advance the profession of architecture, mentor young architects and be of ever-increasing service to society. The College of Fellows, founded in 1952, is composed of members of the Institute who are elected to Fellowship by a jury of their peers.