ALUMNI SUBMISSION |
May 2025

RISD Architecture Announces New Award in Honor of Alum

Victoria A. Rospond BArch 84

The RISD Architecture Department & Architexx recently announced a new award in honor of the late Victoria Anne Rospond BArch 84. 

The inaugural Victoria Rospond Award for Promise in Professional Practice, will be presented to a graduating woman from RISD’s Architecture Department. This award has been named to honor alumna Victoria Anne Rospond, a founding member of Architexx—an advocacy group for women in architecture based in New York City. RISD Professor Kyna Leski, a board member of Architexx, has been instrumental in establishing this award.

Architexx is launching this award at RISD in recognition of the college’s foundational role in Victoria's professional life. The aspiration of the Victoria Rospond Award is to inspire women attending accredited U.S. and Canadian Schools of Architecture to see how a strong sense of purpose can lead to a meaningful, world-improving practice.

Victoria was an immensely generous and committed architect. She mentored countless interns and young professionals at CDR Studio Architects, the firm she co-founded in 1996 with fellow RISD alumni Lea Cloud BArch. She also supported women involved in Architexx, reflecting her dedication to gender equity in architecture. For Victoria, architecture extended beyond the act of designing and building—it was about actively shaping the future of the discipline through collaboration, responsiveness, and mentorship.

Emily Hesse MArch 25 was selected by the faculty of the Professional Practice course to be the recipient of this year's award, which was presented during the department’s commencement reception on Friday, May 30, 2025.

Architexx will manage the award going forward. 

Professor Jonathan Knowles BArch 84, Professor Kyna Leski and members of Victoria's family with Emily Hesse MArch 25 and her family.
Professor Jonathan Knowles BArch 84, Professor Kyna Leski and members of Victoria's family with Emily Hesse MArch 25 and her family.
Jonathan Knowles shares the impact Victoria had as a creative, friend and fellow alum.
Jonathan Knowles shares the impact Victoria had as a creative, friend and fellow alum.
Kyna Leski shares the impact that Victoria had as a ground-breaking advocate and architect.
Kyna Leski shares the impact that Victoria had as a ground-breaking advocate and architect.
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Lead image credit: Victoria Rospond by Brydie Ragan, courtesy of the CDR Studio website.

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