Marlon Blackwell Architects Receives Top Design Honor

Architect: The Journal of the American Institute of Architects has named Marlon Blackwell Architects “The Top Firm in Design” in its annual Architect 50 ranking. This year, 136 firms qualified to participate in the Architect 50 program. Those competing in the design category were judged primarily on their design portfolio (72 percent). Other weighted factors included licensure (14 percent), pro bono work (7 percent), design awards (4 percent) and research (3 percent). Click here for more on how the rankings were computed. In selecting Marlon Blackwell Architects, one juror noted, “Of all submissions, this collection of work conveys the most succinct, clear, and rigorous design ethos. This is design with conviction.”

This prestigious honor follows Marlon Blackwell Architects recently receiving a 2016 National Design Award for Architecture from Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. Principal and Founder Marlon Blackwell, FAIA, who is 1980 graduate of Auburn’s architecture program, is the E. Fay Jones Chair in Architecture and a Distinguished Professor in the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design at the University of Arkansas.

“Marlon Blackwell’s climb to national and international prominence has been amazing to watch. His success has not only brought pride to the Auburn family, but to all architects practicing in the south,” says David Hinson, Head of Auburn’s School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture. “By earning this recognition, (and so many other accolades) from a base of operations in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Marlon illustrates how much talent there is to find in our region. He provides an inspiring example to our students and our faculty.”

For the full story in Architect and to view a portfolio of Marlon Blackwell Architects’ work, click here.