By Joshua Burd
The American Institute of Architects’ New Jersey chapter has installed a new slate of officers, led by a Point Pleasant-based architect who is a longtime member of the group.
Verity Frizzell, principal architect with Feltz & Frizzell Architects LLC, was welcomed as chapter president earlier this month during the organization’s annual gala. She has been an AIA member since 2000 and has received several honors and awards, including the 2015 Distinguished Service Award from AIA Jersey Shore and AIA-NJ.
According to the New Jersey chapter, Frizzell’s focus for the year will be on equity in architecture, K-12 education and the criticality of the relationship between the two to the future of the profession. She served on the national commission that studied equity in the profession and developed priority recommendations in 2016.
The gala at Clark’s Landing in Point Pleasant also included the installation of the following officers:
- President-Elect Judith Donnelly
- Second Vice President Ruth Bussacco
- Associate Regional Director Megan Pritts
- Associate AIA and Immediate Past President Ben Lee
Secretary John Cwikla, Treasurer Steve B. Lazarus and Young Architect Regional Director Jessica O’Donnell will continue their terms with AIA-NJ.
Frizzell received her bachelor’s in architecture in 1988 from the University of Virginia and a master’s in architecture in 1991 from the University of Texas at Austin, according to a news release. She is a LEED Accredited Professional and a registered architect in New Jersey and Texas.
She joined her firm in 1995 after initially working there on her summer breaks from college, the news release said. She became a partner in 1999 and the sole architect in the firm upon her partner’s death in 2011.
Frizzell’s experience ranges from commercial to residential, with an emphasis on small scale projects. Her focus is on resilient design and she strives to incorporate materials and methods that are sensitive to the environment without compromising the needs of the client.
She has held affiliations with various professional organizations throughout her career, including a stint as president of the Jersey Shore section of the American Institute of Architects and vice president of Bay Head School Foundation, the news release said. She also served as vice chairman of the Bay Head planning and zoning board.
