Erin Rahn of the Effingham County IDA was awarded the American Institute of Architects Henry Adams Medal for her Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) Master of Architecture thesis design of the Research Forest Community and Recreational Area.

Each year the American Institute of Architects (AIA) awards an engraved medal to the top-ranking graduating student in each architecture program accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board. The Henry Adams Medal is a certificate of merit for excellence in the study of architecture awarded by the AIA Henry Adams Fund. The award is given to a student based on the nomination of the architecture faculty of the college and is recognition of their scholastic achievement, character, leadership and promise of high professional ability. Rahn exhibited these attributes throughout her graduate tenure at SCAD.

Since graduation, Rahn has been working with the IDA on various projects, the development of the Research Forest Tract recreation area being one of them.

“We are very fortunate to have Erin working with us on this project,” said Effingham IDA CEO John Henry. “The work that she has done is a true testament to the talent that we are producing within our school system and the quality of our workforce. Congratulations to Erin; we look forward to many more successes and to the realization of the vision that we share for the Research Forest.”

The Research Forest community and recreational area is to be an amenity adjacent to a planned industrial park designed to attract corporate headquarters, research and development centers and executive offices within the expansive development. The project follows design guidelines from the Urban Land Institute.