MEET THE 2025 DESIGN AWARDS JURY

RESIDENTIAL JURY

RENNER JOHNSTON, AIA

Mogavaro Architects, Sacramento, CA

Renner became passionate about architecture while working in Europe and returned to the U.S. for a Masters in Architecture at the University of Oregon.

Joining Mogavero Architects in 1997, Renner shares the firm’s long commitment to green sustainable design. As President, he has designed and managed projects including infill, affordable and market rate housing, mixed-use, urban design and large solar arrays.

Renner has also worked on several master planning projects including, the Mather Campus Vision plan, Grass Valley Workforce Housing plan and the Baechtel Charrette for the City of Willits.

DAVID KILPATRICK, AIA

Cuppet Kilpatrick Architecture + Interior Design, Austin TX

Dave is a graduate of the University of Texas, School of Architecture and a Central Texas native. Before joining Tim Cuppett Architects in 2011, he spent time drawing houses in Southern California and west of Austin. Somewhere during that time, he took sabbatical to swing a hammer in South Texas. Dave joined Tim as partner in 2016 and was flattered to have his name added to the masthead in 2021.

As a child, Dave spent hours in the family gallery and frame shop building chipboard models and    hawking refrigerator quality paintings to the gallery’s patrons.  Other after school days were spent at the family’s ad agency watching the graphic designers create page layouts.  It is likely, these experiences,  that shaped his affinity for composing architecture from a graphic perspective. 

TED TOULOUKIAN, FAIA

Touloukian Touloukian Inc., Boston MA

Theodore Touloukian, FAIA, is the President and founder of Touloukian Touloukian Inc. Ted has distinguished himself as a design leader who thinks between, across and beyond multiple disciplines. By encouraging the integration of creativity and critical thinking with project collaborators; Ted fosters an environment that develops innovative and integrated design solutions addressing our common challenges. 

With over 20 years of experience, Ted brings creative design insight and expertise, practical experience, effective public speaking and the ability to communicate at all levels of the profession and across a broad range of disciplines. His energetic interdisciplinary leadership experience with forward thinking design, complex planning and construction, urban design and historic projects is paired with a keen understanding for environments that are beautifully executed to improve our quality of life.

COMMERCIAL JURY

Michael Folonis, FAIA

Michael W. Folonis Architects, Santa Monica, California

The philosophy at Michael W. Folonis Architects is to engage in a constant working awareness of Culture, Technology, History, Sustainability and Social Relevance. We employ these fundamental components in every stage of research, design and development.  

Counter to the throwaway culture of today, MWFA establishes a permanent architectural character, grounding each structure to the land and responding to a project’s unique set of conditions. Design is not begun with preconceived assumptions. Rather, design solutions are discovered in response to a project’s unique constraints and issues. Scale, mass, function, sustainability, city and neighborhood fabric, planning and zoning codes, and the process of building are all factors that can inform organic, original solutions. MWFA uses these opportunities and limitations to create significant, signature buildings.

DEBRA GEROD, FAIA

Gruen Associates, Los Angeles, California

Debra Gerod, FAIA joined Gruen Associates, a 65-person broad-based planning and architectural firm, in 1988 and became a partner in 2002. During her tenure at Gruen Associates, Ms. Gerod has focused on the collaborative delivery of projects, primarily in the public sector. Her work includes large-scale, significant civic and cultural projects such as courthouses, embassies, performing arts centers, museums, libraries and transportation projects. Since the late 1980’s, she has created and/or led over two dozen collaborative teams on projects valued at more than $3 billion.

CARINA MILLS, AIA, Studio 111-RDC, Long Beach, CA

Carina Mills began her volunteer service with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 2014, and ten years later she is serving as President of AIA California and its 11,000 members. An architect with deep love for her profession, Carina also has a tenacious commitment to change aspects of the AEC industry. Like many who were born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, she grew up an avid environmentalist and pursued a career in architecture hopeful about making buildings better for the environment and occupants. Motivated to support her industry and peers, she is now in her 6th year with the executive leadership team at AIA California and working diligently to address environmental and social issues responsibly.

Outside her volunteer roles, Carina serves as the Senior Director of Talent Management for a multi-disciplinary practice in Long Beach, Studio 111-RDC where she focuses her experience and skills on empowering colleagues to be even more engaged and successful professionals. In both her AIA and practice roles, she continues to advocate for evolving models of mentorship to make talent development more intentional and inclusive.