L. Jane Hastings FAIA
AIA Seattle Medal 1995
In 1995, AIA Seattle bestowed its highest honor, the AIA Seattle Medal, on Jane Hastings FAIA (1928-2024) (UW BArch 1952). Her citation noted these features of Jane's pioneering role in the profession:
Jane Hastings has sustained an unusually active and extensive commitment to AIA, since her first involvement in 1953 when Seattle hosted the AIA Convention, and her staffing of the AIA booth at the Century 21 World's Fair in Seattle in 1962. Her accomplishments over more than four decades of AIA activism include major initiatives in the development of AIA's international policies and programs -- especially through the AIA International Committee (1989-91) and her faithful attendance at international conferences such as those of the Paris-based International Union of Women Architects.
Principal of Washington's oldest woman-owned firm (The Hastings Group, Architects, 1959), she has produced prize-winning residential projects in Seattle and the Puget Sound region.
Many admire her achievement as the first woman to serve as AIA Seattle President (1975) and the first to serve as Chancellor of the AIA College of Fellows (1992). In an impressive and affectionately-maintained array of contacts throughout the US and worldwide, she has offered encouragement and leadership to generations of architects, both women and men, by her influential example of hopeful engagement in professional affairs. A 1952 BArch graduate of the University of Washington, Jane Hastings accepted advancement into the AIA College of Fellows in 1980.
Jane served the AIA Northwest & Pacific Region extensively and uniquely, elected in 1982 to represent her colleagues on the AIA national Board of Directors. At the 2002 AIA Northwest & Pacific Region Conference in Tacoma, her colleagues presented the Region Medal of Honor -- the first time given -- to Jane Hastings FAIA. According to Region Honors Jury Chair Ted Garduque FAIA, the Medal "recognize[s] an individual member of the AIA Northwest and Pacific Region who has consistently demonstrated excellence in design, the practice of architecture, architectural education, or service to the profession, has promoted public understanding of architects and architecture, and who has made notable contributions unique to this region."
With her husband Dr. Norman J. Johnston FAIA (AIA Seattle Medallist 1990), Jane has attended perhaps thousands of AIA meetings, including most if not all Region conference and national Conventions. From AIA activities locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally, architects around the world know and admire Jane and Norm, and benefit from their wisdom, good humor, and knowledgeable "insider" connections regarding significant events in the advancement of the architectural profession and the AIA spanning the second half of the 20th century.
References:
* "Acclaimed, trailblazing Seattle architect L. Jane Hastings dies at age 96" The Seattle Times 3/2024
* "In Memory of L. Jane Hastings," Jeffrey Ochsner, UW Architecture News 4/2024
* "Honoring the Continuing Contributions of NW Architect L. Jane Hastings" & "Architect L. Jane Hastings reflects on 9 decades of tenacity and achievement" The Seattle Times 2/2024
* The Woman in the Room (Jane Hastings's memoir, 2023); HERE as read by Jane
* "Northwest Women in Design" (2022, DoCoMoMoWeWA)
* "An Evening with Jane Hastings" (2019)
* "Jane Hastings named a Lifetime Achiever by Marquis Who's Who" (2018)
* "Racing to save -- and celebrate -- the work of women architects" (2018)
* L. Jane Hastings (HistoryLink 2012)
* L. Jane Hastings (DoCoMoMoWeWA)
* Johnston/Hastings House (1975)