(FRANKFORT, Ky.) -- Mark Ryles, director of the Kentucky Department of Education's Division of Facilities Management, will receive the 2004 Allied Professional Award from AIA Kentucky, a society of the American Institute of Architects.
Ryles was nominated by the AIA East Kentucky Chapter, which said:
"His ability to share his vision with other team members without actually marginalizing their roles has earned him the respect of school administrators and architects alike … He understands that the process must grow incrementally over time to create a total building inventory that can be easily maintained at a reasonable cost and to help bring the greatest number of students in the state to proficiency."
The award will be presented during the AIA Kentucky Awards Banquet, scheduled for Friday, November 12, at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Lexington. The banquet is part of AIA Kentucky's annual convention.
Ryles, a resident of Lexington, has been employed by the Kentucky Department of Education since 1993. He is a graduate of Tates Creek High School in Fayette County and earned a bachelor's degree in architecture from the University of Kentucky. He is a registered architect in Kentucky and a member of the American Institute of Architects and the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. He is a past president of the East Kentucky Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
Ryles manages a staff that is responsible for ensuring sanitary, safe and accessible construction of public school buildings and grounds. The division provides assistance to school districts by reviewing and approving all sites, new buildings, additions, alterations of existing buildings, energy savings projects and hazardous material abatement from initial construction project application through final completion. The division also reviews and approves property disposal and property lease agreements and assists districts with construction finance.
The American Institute of Architects has more than 70,000 members nationwide and provides resources, tools and networking opportunities. AIA has advanced the value of architects and architecture for more than 140 years.
AIA Kentucky, which has three chapters that include all 120 counties, provides many programs and resources for its members, including an annual convention, continuing education, awards programs and professional liability insurance.
##