Joe Herzog

Awardee Name

Preview

Award Date

2008

Award Description

Joe’s master’s thesis design project entitled [merz]phoenix won the graduate thesis award and his thesis book also won top honors at Arizona State University. While completing his graduate work, Joe began a full time position as an apprentice under the internationally acclaimed architect, Will Bruder. After four years of working under Bruder, followed by an apprenticeship with Wendell Burnette, Joe founded the [merz] project studio. His commissions range from single-family residences, residential mid-rise towers, city libraries and an office/hotel tower in Abuja, Africa. In addition, he has also designed and prototyped a transportable, modular hotel for one of the largest hotel chains in the World. Joe is a frequent studio critic at Arizona State University’s School of Architecture and travels around the United States lecturing about his pragmatic search for innovation, contextual response, and elegance in everyday environments. Through his research and practice, Joe has become a leading voice in Urban Design throughout the Southwest. Special honors and recognition include 2008 American Institute of Architects Home of the Year, 2007 American Institute of Architects Sustainable Award, 2007 Valley Forward Award for Environmental Excellence, nominated for AIA Young Architect of the Year 2007 and Hot List of 100 Architects in the Southwest, Desert Living Magazine. Joe resides with his family in Phoenix, AZ.