NIBS recognizes leaders of built environment with awards

Industry leaders and scholarship recipients honored at ceremony during Building Innovation 2023.
Sept. 13, 2023
2 min read
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Building industry professionals from government agencies and the private sector recently convened in the nation’s capital for the Building Innovation 2023 conference, where the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) recognized industry leaders and scholarship recipients during an awards ceremony.
The annual gathering brings together industry professionals from architecture, construction, engineering, the technology sector, and leaders from government agencies who identify and develop solutions to the challenges in the built environment.
This year’s award categories and recipients are:
  • NIBS Distinguished Service–Dudley McFarquhar, PhD, PE, owner, McFarquhar Group Inc.
  • Exceptional Woman in Building–Salla Eckhardt, senior vice president, OAC Services, Inc.
  • Future Leaders–Zahra Ghorbani, BIM manager, Office of Physical Plant, Department of Architectural Engineering, Penn State University
  • NIBS Innovator–Wildfire Prepared Home-Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
  • NIBS DEI Leadership–Logan Herring, chief executive officer, The WRK Group
  • Beyond Green™–Holabird Academy + Graceland Park O'Donnell Heights Elementary Middle School Zero Energy Schools for Baltimore City
  • Mortimer M. Marshall Lifetime Achievement–David Bonneville, senior principal, Degenkolb Engineers, Retired
Rebecca Liko, acting president and CEO of NIBS and chief financial officer, commented:
“NIBS serves the public interest by advancing building science and technology to improve the nation’s built environment. Our award winners are a direct reflection of this mission, and we are proud to recognize these professionals for their service and leadership.”
Two recipients were also awarded the Betty and Mort Marshall Memorial Scholarship, a fund that was established to promote diversity in the building sciences and benefit students pursuing a career in architecture and engineering at a historically Black college or university. NIBS awarded the 2023 scholarship recipients to Evan Cage, an architecture student at Morgan State University, and Onye Andrus, an aerospace science engineering student at Tuskegee University. Each student will receive $5,000 toward their tuition.
The scholarship was started in 2020, in memory of the Marshalls. Mort was the first member of the National Institute of Building Sciences.

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Robert Nieminen

Chief Content Director

Market Content Director, American School & University, Architectural Products, BUILDINGS, and interiors+sources

Robert Nieminen is the Market Content Director of four leading B2B publications serving the commercial architecture and design industries: American School & University, Architectural Products, BUILDINGS, and interiors+sources. With a career rooted in editorial excellence and a passion for storytelling, Robert oversees a diverse content portfolio that spans award-winning feature articles, strategic podcast programming, and digital media initiatives aimed at empowering design professionals, facility managers, and commercial building stakeholders.

He is the host of the I Hear Design podcast and curates the Smart Buildings Technology Report, bringing thought leadership to the forefront of innovation in built environments. Robert leads editorial and creative direction for multiple industry award programs—including the Elev8 Design Awards and Product Innovation Awards—and is a recognized voice in sustainability, smart technology integration, and forward-thinking design.

Robert's work has earned him industry-wide recognition throughout his career, including:

  • ASBPE Award (2019, 2018, 2017, 2015)—Best Regularly-Contributed Column; retrofit
  • TABPI Award (2017, 2016)—Top 25 Entries, Cover Story; Retail Environments
  • WPA Maggie Award (2011, 2010, 2008)—Best Publication, Trade; interiors+sources
  • FOLIO: Eddie Gold Award (2022, 2007)—Best Feature Article & Special Section; interiors+sources
  • Contributing author of ASID’s 2020 Outlook and State of Interior Design report, as well as The State of the Interior Design Profession (Fairchild Books, 2010), which earned a place on the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers’ “50 Must Read, Must Have” book list.
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