HOK’s Oraftik Elevated to College of Fellows

SAN FRANCISCO — The American Institute of Architects elevated Chuck Oraftik, FAIA, senior vice president and co-director of justice at the San Francisco office of international design firm HOK, to the organization’s College of Fellows.

 

One of the AIA’s highest accolades, advancement to fellowship recognizes a member’s individual achievements in the field, advancement of the profession and contribution to society. Oraftik was nominated by a national jury of AIA peers.

 

"Chuck is the Walter Gropius of the modern justice design movement," says William Valentine, HOK chairman. "In the 32 years I have worked alongside him in HOK’s San Francisco office, I have witnessed his visionary work on dozens of major projects trigger a fundamental transformation in the practice of justice architecture."

 

Oraftik, who’s body of work in detention facility and courthouse design spans more than 30 years, is best known for his pioneering role in the transition to direct supervision design and his implementation of principles of borrowed light in reorienting facility design.

 

"As a founder, pioneer and champion of a groundbreaking movement in justice architecture, Chuck Oraftik has profoundly advanced the art, science and societal understanding of justice design and planning," wrote the AIA College of Fellows jury.