A Proud Tradition

President Eisgruber ’83 did a good job of lauding Princeton’s distinguished faculty and students for their many recent awards (President’s Page, Sept. 14). I’d like to add a little-known lineage of awards won by the School of Architecture’s faculty and alums.

The Topaz Medallion for Excellence in Architectural Education is the highest award given to a North American academician by the American Institute of Architects and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture. Since SoA Director Jean Labatut won the first Topaz Medallion in 1976, another 10 of the 42 winners either graduated from Princeton or served on the faculty, including the last three — Harrison Fraker ’64 *66; former professor Peter Eisenman; and this year, yours truly. The school’s first dean, Robert Geddes, and professors Ken Frampton and the late Michael Graves are among the numerous honorees. Overall, Princeton’s tiny school has won far more than its numerical share — arguably by a hundredfold! — among the 135 architecture schools in the United States and Canada. Bravo, Princeton architecture! May the tradition continue.