Miami’s Mayor Diaz Accepts AAF Keystone Award

On February 6th 2009, Hon. Manuel A. Diaz, Mayor of the City of Miami, accepted the American Architectural Foundation’s 2009 Keystone Award at the 20th annual Accent on Architecture Gala. Presented by AAF Chair, Sandy Diehl, and AAF President and CEO, Ron Bogle, the Keystone Award recognizes an organization or individual outside of the architectural profession for their leadership in demonstrating the power of architecture and design to improve lives and transform communities.

Tom Cochran, CEO and Executive Director of The U.S. Conference of Mayors, represented the Conference as the nominating organization. Mr. Cochran commended Mayor Diaz’s leadership, both in the city of Miami and throughout the country. Elected by his peers to serve as their President, Mayor Diaz has also served as member of the National Advisory Council of the Mayors’ Institute on City Design.

Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, FAIA, shared her professional experiences with Mayor Diaz. A principal of the Miami design firm Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company and dean of the University of Miami’s School of Architecture, Plater-Zyberk is also a founder and emeritus board member of the Congress for the New Urbanism. She applauded the Mayor’s vision, his goal of bringing Miami “out of its suburban youth and into sophisticated, walkable, transit-oriented urban maturity - the ultimate sustainability.”

In his own remarks, Mayor Diaz challenged the audience to equal the achievements of the “Greatest Generation” by becoming the “Greenest Generation.” A conscientious advocate of smart growth, Mayor Diaz spoke extensively of the need for sustainable communities. He also presented Miami 21, a comprehensive plan including components of economic development, historic preservation, open space, arts and culture, transportation, and zoning.

Only two other sitting U.S. mayors have received the AAF Keystone award: Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago and MICD founder, Mayor Joseph P. Riley of Charleston, S.C.

The Honorable Manuel A. Diaz, Mayor of the City of Miami, accepts the 2009 Keystone Award.

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