Paul Hirzel (’69 Gen. Stu.), emeritus professor of architecture at Washington State University, received a lifetime achievement award this spring from the Inland Northwest Architectural Foundation.
The award, the organization’s highest recognition, honors individuals whose work has made “an extraordinary and enduring contribution to the built environment” in the Inland Northwest, according to the award announcement.
Hirzel taught at WSU’s School of Design and Construction from 1989 until his retirement in 2022. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees of architecture from Cornell University and another bachelor’s from the University of Washington.
He received numerous regional, national, and international awards for his designs, including American Institute of Architects Honor Awards for his Canyon House and Mountain House projects. In 2018, his work was featured at the Biennale Architettura, the world’s most prestigious architecture exhibition. He was one of only 15 US architects invited to participate.
Hirzel was also recognized nationally for his teaching, where he received the National American Institute of Architects Education Honor Award for his site and landscape design course. The course, which emphasized ideas of place, setting, and context in design, was also featured in the Chronicle of Higher Education. Hirzel received three outstanding teaching faculty awards in the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture.
“His commitment to thoughtfully integrating architecture with the surrounding environment is evident and enduring,” says Jason Peschel, director of the School of Design and Construction. “This well-deserved honor reflects Paul’s enduring leadership, design excellence, and lasting contributions to the architectural profession and the communities he has served