Bob Greenstreet, dean of the School of Architecture & Urban Planning at UW-Milwaukee, was named a 2017 fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the organization announced last week.
Greenstreet joins 29 other newly named fellows of RIBA, a leading European design organization that was founded in 1834 and that has more than 40,000 members worldwide. “By highlighting these professionals we can create a benchmark to which all future generations of architects can aspire, which will continue to emphasise and celebrate the sometimes unsung heroes of our profession,” said RIBA President Jane Duncan.
“It’s an honor to be named an RIBA fellow,” said Greenstreet, a native of London who moved to the United States in 1980. “My professional life has been dedicated to the students and architects in Wisconsin, so recognition from home is particularly humbling.”
An author, educator and expert on the legal aspects of construction, Greenstreet has served as dean of the School of Architecture & Urban Planning for 27 years. This makes him one of the longest-serving architecture deans in North America. He also holds the title of Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) Distinguished Professor. In 2013, Greenstreet became the 37th recipient of the Topaz Medallion for Excellence in Architectural Education, which is jointly awarded by the American Institute of Architects and the ACSA.
Greenstreet’s tenure in Milwaukee is distinguished by both its duration and impact on the region. Within Wisconsin, he has served on the board of directors of the Wisconsin Architectural Foundation and the Wisconsin Architectural Archives. In Milwaukee, he has served as chairperson of the City Plan Commission (1993 to 2004), has been a member of numerous citywide task forces, including the Zoning Code Task Force, and has been involved in the selection of architects for many important building projects, including the Milwaukee Art Museum, Pier Wisconsin and the Milwaukee Public Market. Beginning in 2004, he served a five-year term as director of planning and design for the city of Milwaukee, by the invitation of Mayor Tom Barrett.
