April 16, 2003—The Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) announced that Cesar Pelli, FAIA, will be the recipient of the 2003 Barrier-Free America Award for his design of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Pelli is the founding principal of Cesar Pelli & Associates, New Haven, Conn.
It is estimated that the demand for accessible design solutions will skyrocket in the next 25 years as the number of Americans over the age of 50 increases to a total of 115 million individuals. Add to this the number of Americans with disabilities and our country faces a significant number of individuals whose lives would be enhanced through accessible design at home, work or in public places.
The Barrier-Free America Award was inaugurated in 2001 to recognize individuals who have made a difference in breaking down the physical barriers that face individuals with disabilities.
Pelli’s work became a reality when Washington National Airport’s terminals B/C opened on July 27, 1997. In 2002, nearly 132 million passengers used the airport. Born in Argentina, Pelli is the former Dean of the School of Architecture at Yale University. In 1995 he received the prestigious AIA Gold Medal, and in 1991, was selected as one of the 10 most influential living American architects.
“It is a great honor for me and my design for the North Terminal at Reagan Washington National Airport to be recognized with the Barrier-Free America Award,” stated Pelli. “I am delighted to share with an organization as esteemed as the PVA our vision of a more humane and barrier-free architecture. It reinforces the premise that good design can also mean accessible design.”
For more information, contact PVA.
