Description

The President's Award was created in 1992 by The American Institute of Architects Michigan to honor architects who practice in the education or corporate field who have made exceptional contributions to the profession and their community through academia, business or government. A plaque will be presented May 2 at the Annual Celebration of Architecture in Plymouth at the Inn at St. John’s by President Stephen Smith, AIA.

JOSEPH C. VERYSER, AIA, began his career in 1962 doing shop drawings for curtain wall contractors until his first break into an architect's office at Comprehensive Architects & Engineers, an offshoot of the Giffels and Valet (later Giffels & Rossetti). In 1967 he moved to Ralls Hamill Becker Architects in Livonia.

After being a part of the Bell System for 26 years he retired from Ameritech - Michigan, (its new name), as Director for all Design and Construction in a five-state region.

Upon retiring he immediately joined Spectrum Strategies, a business unit of Harley Ellis Devereaux, where he developed the Program Management Service that offered owner representation to various clients including Lawrence Tech. He serviced the account as the University Architect and in 2004 he assumed the interim role of the Dean of the College of Architecture and Design for the University.

In 2005 he formally joined LTU in the capacity of Associate Dean for the College and continues his role as University Architect responsible for the coordination of the Campus Master Plan as well as implementer of major capital undertakings.

Veryser is certified by the National Association of Architectural Registration Boards, is currently licensed in five states, LEED certified and a licensed real estate broker. He served on the Board of the AIA Detroit Chapter. Veryser earned his Bachelor of Science degree in architecture from Lawrence Technological University in 1976. He lives in Rochester.

The American Institute of Architects Michigan, headquartered in the historic Beaubien House across from the Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit, established its awards program to bring to public attention the value and importance of architectural excellence and to recognize those whose notable achievements encourage all to make excellence in architecture the standard.