2023 Robert Mosher Lifetime Achievement Award
Jack Carpenter, FAIA, has long been a well-respected architect, firm principal, and community spokesperson whose involvement in the design community has spanned nearly fifty years.
After graduating from USC, Jack spent four years as an officer in the Navy Reserve before entering the private sector. Jack would transition from “grunt” at the respected Paderewski, Mitchell, and Dean architectural firm, a draftsman for Don Goldman, to Junior Partner at Deems Lewis before forming the eponymous firm of Architects Larson Carpenter, which flourished well into the 21st century.
But it’s Jack’s volunteer efforts as a Coalition Facilitator that have become “legendary” with his emphasis on Big Picture Planning Issues and making them implementable. Jack’s leadership led to the formation of the San Diego Council of Design Professionals in the late 1980’s, bringing design professionals to the table with City Hall as it struggled with building moratoriums and the dismantling of its own planning department. These efforts contributed to Jack’s investiture as an AIA Fellow in 1999. Not resting on his laurels, Jack led the Design Council as it morphed into the Regional Design Advisory Council (RDAC), which continues to address critical local issues even today.
Jack has served in every board position of the AIA – twice – and as a director of the San Diego Architectural Foundation. Just a few of the numerous organizations Jack is involved with include the board of the CCSA Food Pantry, Trustee of St. Marks United Methodist Church, Forever Balboa Park, Balboa Park Centennial Gateway Competition, and the Downtown Rotary – including chairing their annual week-long “Camp Enterprise” for underprivileged youth.
Never one to concern himself with accolades and credit, Jack just wants to get the work done and the goals achieved. In the 25 years since investiture, Jack continues to be energized by critical issues and to energize other people, which is likely what led The Friends of San Diego Architecture to call him the “Unsung hero of Worthy Causes.”
