Obama Appoints Architect Phil Freelon to US Commission of Fine Arts

On the first of December, President Obama announced his appointment of Philip G. Freelon, FAIA to the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts. The Commission is composed of seven fine art experts and is obligated to give “expert advice to the President, Congress and the heads of departments and agencies of the Federal and District of Columbia governments on matters of design and aesthetics, as they affect the Federal interest and preserve the dignity of the nation’s capital.” The Commission is also responsible to advise the U.S. Mint on the design of coins and medals, and approves the location and design of national memorials, both within the U.S. and around the World.

President Obama stated, “I am grateful that these impressive individuals have chosen to dedicate their talents to serving the American people at this important time for our country. I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead.”

Commission members serve four-year terms without compensation and may be reappointed. Since the Commission was established in 1910 by Act of Congress, many renowned American architects, landscape architects, planners and artists have been appointed. Past Commission members include architects and landscape architects Daniel Burnham, Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., Gilmore Clarke, Gordon Bunshaft, and Chloethiel Smith; and artists Daniel Chester French, Francis Millet, Lee Lawrie, Paul Manship, and Frederick Hart.

The Freelon Group projects at ArchDaily:

AD Interview: Philip Freelon / The Freelon Group Architects

During the 2009 AIA Convention in San Francisco, I had the chance to see a very interesting group of architects, Emerging Voices. That group, in my opinion, represented the new generation of US architects who are advancing the profession with new ideas and innovative projects. Several of those architects have already been interviewed and featured on ArchDaily, but it took me a while to finally meet one of them: . We met during the 2011 AIA Convention in New Orleans, where I had the opportunity to interview him. I really liked this interview, where Philip shares valuable insights on running a firm and his views on the role of the architect.

Update: President Obama announced his appointment of Philip G. Freelon, FAIA to the US Commission of Fine Arts.

Founded in 1990 by Philip G. Freelon, FAIA, The Freelon Group has established a strong reputation for the innovative integration of technology and design excellence. The firm’s diverse portfolio has received nearly forty AIA design awards at the national, regional, state and local levels. Freelon is comprised of a forty-five person professional staff in Durham, North Carolina.

Along with Vice President Timothy F. Winstead, Philip has become a nationally recognized expert in museum, higher education, and science/technology planning and design. Their work “focuses on research and education, health and well-being, the advancement of understanding between disparate cultures, and the creative expression of the arts.

Freelon has completed major intuitional projects all over the United States. They are currently designing three behavioral healthcare facilities for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the Durham County Health and Human Services Complex.

The Freelon Group projects at ArchDaily: