Gensler Awards 2009 GAAINS Scholarship Recipients

Global design and architecture firm Gensler announced the winners of its first-ever Gensler African-American Internship & Scholarship (GAAINS), a program that recognizes the top emerging talent amongst African-American college students enrolled in NAAB-accredited architecture programs. Rachele Louis, a fourth-year architecture student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, was awarded a first prize academic scholarship and internship; and Anne-Marie Armstrong, a second-year M.Arch candidate at Yale School of Architecture, was awarded a second prize academic scholarship.

“The GAAINS scholarship not only allows me the ability to further my architectural educational pursuits, but I’ll have the opportunity to be at the forefront of sustainable design with advanced architectural technologies as an intern with a leading firm,” says Louis.

Through a rigorous selection process by a hand-selected panel of seven jurors, Louis was selected as the winning candidate based on a submission that showcased clarity of ideas within both design and analytical realms. In addition to a deep understanding of complex program structures, Louis’ submission demonstrates a highly sophisticated architectural character that expresses cultural sensitivity as it integrates with the urban fabric.

“GAAINS is a valuable program to both Gensler and the broader student community; it furthers our position with the student dialogue by promoting innovation, thought leadership and design excellence,” says Blake Mourer, senior associate and design director at Gensler and one of seven members of the GAAINS jury.

The GAAINS scholarship is a reflection of Gensler’s longstanding commitment to the recruitment and development of diverse emerging talent and was founded to encourage a more robust dialogue between the architectural industry and African-American architecture students. In its fi rst year, the program aims to raise awareness about the architectural profession as a career choice, as well as create greater accessibility for this student population. GAAINS is a critical component of Gensler’s university and student-outreach programs.

Image: Gensler