Howard Graf
By Joshua Burd
A trade association is honoring Howard Graf of Graf & Lewent Architects, an affiliate of New Brunswick-based DIGroup Architecture, with plans to recognize him at an event later this year.
Graf, a principal of the firm, will receive the inaugural President’s Award for Excellence in Architectural Practice by the Queens Foundation for Architecture and AIA Queens Chapter in New York. That will take place at the first-ever QFA Legacy Awards Gala, scheduled for Sept. 18 at Flushing Town Hall, where the organizations will celebrate his decades-long contributions to architecture and public service, as well as his commitment to thoughtful, community-focused design.
The news comes two months after DIGroup announced its acquisition of Graf & Lewent Architects, which is based in the Jamaica section of Queens.
“Howard’s legacy is one of purpose-driven architecture that connects people and communities,” said Vince Myers, DIG’s president. “We are proud to celebrate his contributions and grateful to have his continued insight as part of our leadership team.”
A registered architect in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Virginia and Maryland, Graf and his team have played a significant role in shaping higher education and transportation-related buildings throughout New York City, according to a news release. He’ll receive the award in September as part of a program that celebrates visionary leadership in architecture and highlights individuals, firms and civic leaders who have made a lasting impact on the built environment in the borough of Queens and the Greater New York City market.
The QFA Legacy Awards Gala will also mark the 80th anniversary of the AIA Queens Chapter, honoring past chapter presidents with formal medals of recognition. Proceeds from the event will support QFA’s mission, including scholarship grants and community-focused architectural programming.
“It’s an honor to be recognized by peers in the borough that has shaped so much of my career,” Graf said. “This award reflects my lifelong commitment to designing spaces that serve and strengthen communities.”
Graf earned his master’s in architecture and MBA from the University of Illinois and is active in the architectural profession, having served as a past president of AIA-Queens, AIA-New York State and the Flushing Council on Culture & the Arts, the news release said. Additionally, he chairs the executive board for the Queens Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the board of directors for the Greater Jamaica Development Corp.
