NELSON ALDRICH ROCKEFELLER AWARD

Kelly Hayes McAlonie, FAIA Director of Campus Planning, University at Buffalo and author of

Blanchard Bethune: Every Woman Her Own Architect”

“As the Director of Campus Planning at UB, Kelly has rightfully set an extremely high bar for the public architecture that embodies the entire University at Buffalo Campus. Her sense of design, ability to inspire others and desire to teach throughout the process that has undeniably set her at the forefront of Campus planning, inspiring and leading project teams to strive for and deliver spectacular public architecture.”

Kelly Hayes McAlonie, FAIA, has dedicated her career to educational architecture and educating the public. From 1998 - 2010, Kelly was an educational planner with Cannon Design. In 2000, she founded Architecture + Education with AIA Buffalo/WNY, the UB School of Architecture & Planning, and the Buffalo Public Schools. The program has engaged over 2,000 children, won multiple national awards. Since 2010, Kelly has served as the Director of Campus Planning at the University at Buffalo. Her work involves overseeing the implementation of the university’s Comprehensive Master Plan and the strategic planning for UB’s three campus environments. Kelly has spent the past 20 years researching the life and career of Louise Blanchard Bethune, FAIA, the first professional woman architect. Kelly has written and presented widely on Bethune and recently released her biography, “Louise Blanchard Bethune, Every Woman Her Own Architect.” Kelly has curated three exhibits on Bethune at the Bethune Conference Room at AIA national headquarters from 2006-22, the Buffalo History Museum from 2011-12 and the UB Rare Book Room from 2023-24. In 2017, Kelly worked with Sean Feeley, husband of Zina Bethune, Louise Bethune’s greatgranddaughter and sole heir to create the Zina Bethune Collection on Louise Bethune, located at the UB Special Archives. It is the only collection solely dedicated to her. Kelly has also been very active in the American Institute of Architects, serving as the 2008 President of AIA Buffalo/WNY, the 2012 President of AIANYS, and the 20162019 Regional Representative of the AIA National Strategic Council. During her term as President of AIANYS, she led the development of component’s reorganization and strategic plan. As Immediate Past President, she oversaw the creation of the AIANYS Excelsior Awards for Public Architecture and is currently serving a three-year term as treasurer on the National Architectural Accrediting Board. From 2009-2018, Kelly served on the Richardson Olmsted Corporation Board of Directors. She also serves on the Steering Committee as the design leader for the Trailblazing Women of Western New York, an initiative of the Erie County Commission on the Status of Women to place monuments to women in our public realm.

“With almost 70 years in professional practice, Marty has garnered numerous design achievements and many awards, but has also designed many projects uncelebrated but enjoyed and cherished within the public realm his projects serve. Throughout his life, Marty has neither sought acclaim nor personal recognition. Instead, he has focused on the hard work of architecture for the simple satisfaction of serving communities, the pure joy of solving complex problems, and the desire to pass his knowledge on to future generations.”

The Henry Hobson Richardson Award recognizes AIA members licensed in NYS and practicing in the private sector who have made a significant contribution to the quality of NYS public architecture and who have established a portfolio of accomplishments to that end.