Jernigan ’81 Awarded AIA Florida Gold Medal

Steve Jernigan, FAIA, LEED AP BD+C, a 1981 Auburn graduate with degrees in Architecture and Environmental Design, was awarded the Gold Medal by AIA Florida. The highest honor that AIA Florida can award to one its members, the Gold Medal “recognizes a Florida architect whose distinguished career has had a profound impact on the profession for extended period of time.” Jernigan has been a leader through political advocacy at the local, state, and national level to protect the practice of architecture.

Active in the American Institute of Architects, Jernigan is a past-president of the Florida chapter and has represented the Florida/Caribbean Region on the AIA’s national board of directors, where he chaired ArchiPAC, the only federal political action committee for architects in the U.S. He received the AIA’s “Outstanding Individual Contribution in Governmental Affairs” in 2011, the same year he was elected to the AIA College of Fellows for his nationally recognized service to the profession. Jernigan currently serves as the AIA appointee to the NAAB Visiting Teams for the 2015–2018 term.

Jernigan is a managing partner and co-founder of Bay Design Associates Architects, PL, in Pensacola, Florida, a firm that specializes in the design of educational, health care, commercial, and office facilities. He is a licensed architect in five states as well as being a licensed interior designer and Special Inspector (Threshold) in Florida. He is a LEED Accredited Professional (AP) with specialty training in sustainable design and construction. Jernigan serves on the College of Architecture, Design and Construction’s Executive Board and is a member of the CADC Dean’s Club.