Prominent architect Rebecca Greco to receive Christian Petersen Design Award at ISU

Rebecca Greco

Rebecca Greco will be honored with the College of Design's 2012 Christian Petersen Design Award on Aug. 20.

AMES, Iowa — Iowa State University alumna Rebecca J. Greco, a managing principal at one of the nation’s leading architecture and design firms, is the recipient of the 2012 Christian Petersen Design Award presented by the ISU College of Design.

Established in 1980, the award is given annually to alumni, staff and friends of the university for distinguished work that advances the design and art professions. It is named for the noted artist who was Iowa State’s sculptor-in-residence from 1934 to 1955.

Greco, a West Des Moines native who lives in Minneapolis, will be honored at a ceremony Monday, Aug. 20, in the College of Design’s King Pavilion. A reception will be from 6 to 8 p.m., with the award presentation at 6:45 p.m.

Greco heads the public and corporate practice group at Minneapolis-based Hammel, Green and Abrahamson (HGA), which also has offices in Rochester, Minn.; Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento, Calif.; Milwaukee and Washington, D.C.

General Mills headquarters

General Mills Corporate World Headquarters, Golden Valley, Minn.

As an architect, planner and strategic business leader, Greco has 35 years of experience successfully coordinating all phases of project development. Throughout her career, she has focused on multidisciplinary team approaches that emphasize innovative design and planning solutions and delivery methods for such clients as the University of Minnesota, Medtronic, General Mills and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA).

“Becky is known for creating efficient, flexible and stimulating workplaces,” said Luis Rico-Gutierrez, dean of the College of Design. “She recognizes the profound impact that a building has on a community, whether in an urban, suburban, rural or academic setting. She also recognizes the impact architecture has on the environment and works closely with clients, industry leaders, legislators and policy makers to research and design architecture that will steward the environment.”

Minn Dept of Ag

Minnesota Departments of Agriculture and Health, Orville L. Freeman Office Building, Saint Paul, Minn.

Among Greco’s notable commissions are four regional headquarters for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the GSA’s New International Trade Crossing in Detroit, the Minnesota State Capitol restoration, the Saint Paul Union Depot restoration, the Minnesota Departments of Health and Agriculture Orville L. Freeman Office Building, General Mills Corporate  Headquarters, Medtronic World Headquarters and Research Facility, ADC Telecommunications Headquarters, Ecolab Research Center and the University of Minnesota Science Teaching and Student Services Building.

Greco’s work has been published in Businessweek, The New York Times and numerous trade and design journals. She has received countless regional and state awards and honors. In 2003, Greco was recognized as one of 15 Women Changing the World of Architecture by DesignIntelligence.

In addition to her professional achievements, Greco serves as a role model for young designers and students. She speaks regularly to student groups and classes at Iowa State and has attended job fairs to highlight the architecture profession to students. The ISU architecture department has used HGA projects as case studies in its professional practice course, and first-year students in the College of Design’s Core Design Program visit HGA’s Minneapolis headquarters.

Greco is a member of the American Institute of Architects, AIA Minnesota, CoreNet Global, Building Owners and Managers Association and Lambda Alpha International, where she also served as a past board member and treasurer. She previously served on a National Institutes of Health technical review board and on the AIA Minnesota board of directors. Greco is a member of the ISU College of Design Advancement Council and past chair of the ISU Architecture Advisory Council.

Greco graduated from Valley High School in West Des Moines in 1972 and received a Bachelor of Arts in architecture from Iowa State in 1976. Prior to joining HGA in 1985, she worked for Engelbrecht and Griffin in Des Moines.