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In making the announcement, the AIA Toledo cited Mr. Larson’s influence on Toledo's architecture, his role as a mentor to many area architects, and his continual participation in the Chapter organization. Arne’s architectural journey began when he was admitted to the Department of Architecture at Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He received his Bachelor of Architecture Degree from Carnegie Mellon University in 1971 following a tour of duty in the United States Army. While finishing his education, Arne worked as a “hired pencil” for several small Pittsburgh area architectural firms. After graduation he worked for Arthur Lubetz Associates until he was invited to return to Carnegie Mellon University to teach in the Department of Architecture. He was studio critic for freshman and sophomore studios as well as the introductory design studio for First Professional Masters Degree candidates. He was Assistant Head of the Department of Architecture from 1978 to 1981. While teaching, Arne took graduate courses in scene design in The Carnegie Mellon Drama Department. He was scene designer for a number of Pittsburgh area summer stock theaters, The Pittsburgh Gilbert and Sullivan Troup and the Duquesne University “Red Masquers”. In 1981, Arne left the University to commit himself to professional practice. In the mid-eighties, Arne formed an architectural partnership called the Leatherhead Brewery and Design Company with two close friends. While the name itself drew some interest and the partnership engaged in some delightfully irreverent competition entries, it produced only one somewhat bemused client. Arne joined with another colleague to open a new firm in the Pittsburgh area a couple of years later. In 1990, Arne was recruited by SSOE, Inc., an international architectural and engineering firm headquartered in Toledo, Ohio to be a designer in its Industrial Facilities Division. During his nearly twenty years with SSOE, Arne has worked in all divisions of the firm, including the Commercial and Automotive Divisions. He has worked throughout the United States as well as Mexico, France, Japan and China. Arne was the lead architect of the competition entry for an automotive research and development campus in Wuhan, China, which became a critical component that lead to SSOE’s China initiative. SSOE competed with firms from Japan and Taiwan. SSOE’s first place award in this competition led to the opening of the firm’s office in Shanghai, China. Arne holds the firm’s title of Master Architect and is a Senior Associate. Arne’s involvement with the Toledo Chapter of the American Institute of Architects began when he moved to Toledo. Following a number of years of active engagement with the Chapter, he was elected to the Toledo AIA Executive Committee in 2004 and served as President of the Chapter in 2007. Mr. Larson was presented the prestigious AIA Toledo Architect of the Year Award at the organization’s Annual Honor Awards Gala on November 14, 2009. PAST ARCHITECTS OF THE YEAR: 1990 Harold R. Roe, AIA |
The Toledo Chapter of the American Institute of Architects is pleased to announce that Arne Larson, AIA, has been named Toledo Architect of the Year for 2009.