STARKVILLE, Miss.--Well-known New York architect and Mississippi State alumnus Ted T. Porter continues to give back to his alma mater.
The veteran designer returned to campus last week to accept Brick President's Award, Southeast Region from The American Institute of Architects Mississippi. In his response during the campus ceremony, he presented the award's accompanying $2,000 scholarship to the School of Architecture, from which he graduated in 1981.
"Of course I chose the Mississippi State University School of Architecture," said Porter, who also holds a master's degree from Yale University.
He is a principal partner with Ryall Porter Sheridan Architects, specialists in green--that is, environmentally sustainable--projects.
A Mississippi example of his work is found in New Albany. Built with material from Columbus Brick Co., the residence in his Union County hometown, which he now leases, is situated on a former vacant downtown lot.
The AIA award Porter received was created to honor and promote architectural designs that use clay brick. A team of professional architects from outside Mississippi judged the best and most innovative designs in commercial, residential, landscape, and other applications.
Previously in the architecture school and College of Architecture, Art and Design, Porter established a $5,000 annual travel scholarship in the school from 2012-16. The $25,000 endowment was named the Paul Grootkerk Travel Award in honor of the longtime art professor who retired in 2002.
"I think it's really important that everyone has the same opportunity for travel in the school," Porter said. "It's good to be able to see great works of architecture, and often, that means traveling to far, fun places. Architecture can't truly be represented in books and online."
For more about MSU's School of Architecture, visit http://www.caad.msstate.edu.
