The Jury
Robin Abrams, Ph.D, AIA, ASLA
Robin Abrams is Head of the School of Architecture in the College of Design at NC State University in Raleigh. Dr. Abrams is a registered architect and landscape architect, specializing in inner city revitalization, housing, and urban design. She is a member of the American Institute of Architects and the American Society of Landscape Architects. She earned a degree in Urban Studies from Northwestern University, a Masters in Community and Regional Planning, a Masters of Architecture from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Doctorate in Landscape from the University of Sheffield, England. Dr. Abrams has worked in the field of urban design in Austin, Texas, since 1979. Suring that time, she has produced over thirty master plans. In addition to work in the U.S., Dr. Abrams has consulted on projects in Mexico, Japan, and England.
Frank Harmon, FAIA
Frank was born in Georgia and educated at the Architectural Association in London. From 1970 to 1973 he was an associate of Richard Meier Architect in New York City, together with Henry Smith-Miller and Tod Williams. He has taught at the Architectural Association, Auburn University and NC State University, where he currently holds a practical appointment in the College of Design. In 1981 Harmon founded his own firm, Frank Harmon Architect in Raleigh, N. C. The work of his firm has been published in Architectural Record, Architectural Design and numerous other periodicals and books. Time magazine selected his Utility Storage Building for the Rake and Hoe Garden Center as one of the Ten Best Designs of 1988. Since 1992 Harmon’s six-person firm has won more AIA Design Awards than any firm in North Carolina. In 1995 he was awarded the Kamphoefner Prize for innovative modern design over a 10-year period. Harmon writes a column on architecture, landscape and design for the Independent newspaper. He teaches “Experiencing Architecture” to four hundred undergraduates each year, introducing the principles of architecture to the engineers, business people and teachers who will be the future clients of architecture.
Tim Martin, PE, Associate AIA
Since completing a master of civil engineering (1998) and master of architecture (2002) at NC State University, in private practice and collaboration with other architects, Tim has completed planning, design and construction administration phases of numerous new and renewing building projects for private residences and businesses, and non-profit and public organizations throughout his downtown Raleigh neighborhood and from the mountains to coast of North Carolina.
Tim has an inclusive, interdisciplinary and holistic approach to design and has collaborated with consultants in sustainable landscape, on-site water treatment and reuse, building energy conservation and renewables, and green roofs on projects that reinforce our experience of place and connection with healthy, natural systems. He has facilitated community design workshops and been a guest speaker on sustainable principles and practices.
Tim teaches design studios and serves as guest critic at the School of Architecture, in the College of Design at NC State University. When not learning from and working with clients, students and colleagues, he enjoys being outside with family, practicing yoga, surfing and serving on the board of directors of Exploris Middle School in downtown Raleigh.
Grant Meacci, ASLA, LEED AP
Grant is the Founder/Director of the Community Development Studio, Inc. and Managing Urban Designer of the Raleigh Urban Design Center. With over fifteen years of design and planning experience, Grant has been committed to help preserve and enhance the quality of life for the residents of rural and underserved communities. He has both a Bachelors of Environmental Design in Architecture from NC State University’s College of Design and a Master of Landscape Architecture from Cornell University which has allowed him to generate design solutions that balance the needs of both human and natural environments. He was instrumental in developing a corporate volunteerism policy, promoting corporate social responsibility while also serving as the executive director of the Design Workshop Foundation, a 501(c)3 private foundation that provided pro-bono design and service projects throughout the US. In 2009 he became manager of the Urban Design Center in the Raleigh Department of city Planning, a team of urban designers and planners who envision and design solutions for the City of Raleigh.
Traci Rider, Ph.D, Associate AIA, LEED AP
Traci is co-founder and partner in Trace Collaborative. She received her Bachelors in Architecture from the University of Cincinnati in 2000. Working with HOK directly after graduation, she became the Sustainable Champion for the Houston office, leading the charge in LEED accreditation. Finding deep interest in the psychology of designers going “green”, Traci returned to Cornell University for her Masters in Design and Environmental Analysis, completed in 2006. Entitled Education, Environmental Attitudes and the Design Professions, her research looked at factors impacting environmental attitudes of designers including environmental education, learned associations, and informal influences. She is currently a PhD in Design Candidate at NC State University focusing on sustainability within formal design education and serves as adjunct faculty in NC State University’s Department of Architecture.
