Awards
Kem has been recognized for his design excellence as Principal-in-Charge and Lead Designer of numerous projects while at Tuck-Hinton Architects (1984 to 2019) and in his studio (2019-present). Below is a list of selected architectural recognitions.
AIA Tennessee
William Strickland Lifetime Achievement Award, 2019
American Planning Association National Great Spaces Awards
Bicentennial Mall, Top Ten Public Spaces in America Honor Award, 2011
American Library Association International Awards Program
Civil Rights Room at Nashville Public Library, National Honor Award, 2006
American Institute of Architects College of Fellows
Inducted into the College for Design Excellence, 1998
Chicago Athenaeum American Architecture Awards
Tennessee World War II Memorial, Exhibition Award, 1999
AIA Gulf States Regional Design Awards
Civil Rights Room at Nashville Public Library, 2006
Middle Tennessee State University Sports Hall of Fame, 2006
Edmondson Pike Public Library, 2001
Tennessee Bicentennial Capitol Mall, 1997
Connery Residence, 1996
Tennessee State University Campus Center, 1994
Cumberland Valley Girl Scout Center, 1992
Ragan Smith Murphy Rehabilitation, 1989
Riverfront Apartments, 1989
First American Bank Anytime Teller, 1980
AIA Tennessee Design Awards
Tennessee College of Applied Technology, 2018
Middle Tennessee State University Sports Hall of Fame, 2005
Civil Rights Room at Nashville Public Library, 2005
Edmondson Pike Public Library, 2001
Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, 2000
Montgomery Bell Academy Ingram Science Building, 2000
Woodmont Hills Church of Christ, 1998
Tennessee Aquarium IMAX Center, 1997
Tennessee Bicentennial Capitol Mall, 1996
Connery Residence, 1994
Tennessee State University Campus Center, 1991
Cumberland Valley Girl Scout Center, 1991
Deepwood: Cigarran Residence, 1990
Ragan Smith Murphy Rehabilitation, 1988
Riverfront Apartments, 1987
David Andrews Residence, 1987
AIA Middle Tennessee Design Awards
Tennessee College of Applied Technology, 2017
Buckeye Bluff Residence, 2008
Vanderbilt University Buttrick Hall, 2006
Middle Tennessee State University Sports Hall of Fame, 2005
Edmondson Pike Public Library, 2001
Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, 2000
Tennessee Carillon at Bicentennial Mall, 2000
Woodmont Hills Church of Christ, 1997
Connery Residence, 1995
Tennessee State University Campus Center, 1993
Masonry Institute of Tennessee Design Awards
Tennessee State University Performing Arts Center, Merit Award, 2004
Montgomery Bell Academy Ingram Science Building, Excellence Award, 2000
Tennessee Carillon at Bicentennial Mall, Excellence Award, 2000
Tennessee World War II Memorial, Excellence Award, 2000
Woodmont Hills Church of Christ, Excellence Award, 1997
Connery Residence, Excellence Award, 1995
Cumberland Valley Girl Scout Center, Excellence Award, 1992
Riverfront Apartments, Excellence Award, 1987
Associated Builders and Contractors National Awards
Bicentennial Mall, First Award of Excellence, 1996
Associated Builders and Contractors of Middle Tennessee Awards
Tennessee World War II Memorial, Award of Excellence, 1998
Private Business Inc. Headquarters, Award of Excellence, 1997
Bicentennial Mall, Award of Excellence, 1996
South Central Construction Design and Construction Awards
Vanderbilt University Buttrick Hall, Best of 2006 Judges Award, 2006
MTSU Sports Hall of Fame, Best Public Architecture Award, 2006
Civil Rights Room at Nashville Public Library, Award for Public Architecture, 2004
Greater Nashville Regional Council Excellence in Development Awards
National Museum of African American Music (original design), Merit Award, 2011
Vanderbilt University Buttrick Hall, Award of Excellence, 2006
Vanderbilt University Black Cultural Center, Merit Award, 2005
Tennessee Carillon at Bicentennial Mall, Honor Award, 2000
Montgomery Bell Academy Ingram Science Building, Honor Award, 2000
Tennessee World War II Memorial, Special Medallion Honor Award, 1998
Woodmont Hills Church of Christ, Merit Award, 1997
Bicentennial Mall, Honor Award, 1996
Montgomery Bell Academy Master Plan and Buildings, Honor Award, 1994
Tennessee State University Campus Center, Honor Award, 1993
Cumberland Valley Girl Scout Center, Honor Award, 1992
Metropolitan Nashville Historical Commission Architectural Award
Bicentennial Mall, Special Commissioners Award, 1997
Connery Residence, Merit Award, 1996
Montgomery Bell Academy Ball Hall Renovation, First Award, 1995
Cigarran Residence, First Award, 1990
Miscellaneous Awards
United States General Services Design Excellence Program, Class of 2004
Tau Sigma Delta Alumni Medal from UT School of Architecture, 1989
Architectural League of New York Young Architects Award, 1987
Progressive Architecture Young Architects Award, 1987
Ca’Venier: Peggy Guggenheim Museum, displayed at Venice Biennale, 1987
First Place, Japan Architect Central Glass International Design Competition, 1979
Awards at University of Tennessee
Torchbearer Award (University’s highest student honor), 1977, first graduate from the UT School of Architecture to receive this award
Sigma Chi International Fraternity Balfour Regional Award, 1977
Henry Adams AIA Honor Award, 1977
Omicron Delta Kappa honorary fraternity, 1977
Scarabbaen Senior Society, 1977
Ray Cowles Interfraternity Council Memorial Scholarship, 1976
Society of American Registered Architects’ Student Competition Award, 1976
Phi Eta Sigma honorary fraternity for scholastic achievement, 1973