Stephen J. Carlidge, AIA, Receives “Distinguished Service” Award from the New Jersey Chapter of AIA

Stephen J. Carlidge, AIA, of Ocean Grove, N.J., recently received the “Distinguished Service Award” from the New Jersey chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA-NJ), for his commitment and service to the organization.

Carlidge’s long list of roles with the AIA-NJ organization includes serving as president of the Jersey Shore Section in 2004 and as president of AIA-NJ in 2006. He also chaired the AIA-NJ Legislative and Government Affairs Committee from 2006 through 2011, and currently chairs the AIA-NJ annual Design Day Conference.

During his successful 32-year career, Carlidge worked at full service architecture and design firms such as Kellenyi Bernard Associates in Red Bank, N.J., Grad Associates in Newark, N.J., and Vitetta in Philadelphia, Pa., as well as at Hall Construction Co., a construction firm located in Howell, N.J. In 2002 Carlidge founded Shore Point Architecture, P.A. in Ocean Grove, N.J., an architecture and design firm that specializes in commercial and residential projects.

He has received numerous awards from the AIA-NJ, including the “Architect of the Year” award in 2004 and the “Firm of the Year” award for his firm, Shore Point Architecture, in 2006. This year, his firm also received a design award.

In addition to his passion for architecture and design, Carlidge has been active in community service activities including serving on the state board of the March of Dimes of New Jersey for nearly 10 years, as well as assisting Interfaith Neighbors Inc., a local not-for-profit organization that provides meals, mortgage assistance and construction of affordable housing for the less fortunate residents of Monmouth County’s urban centers.

He also serves as a member of the Professional Advisory Board at his alma mater, the School of Architecture at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, in which role he provides guidance to the faculty to help in the education of the next generation of architectural professionals.

Other AIA-NJ service award winners for this year include Spiezle Architectural Group, a Trenton, N.J. based full-service architecture firm, which was honored with the “Architectural Firm of the Year Award”; Richard P. Tokarski, AIA, of Brick Township, N.J., who was honored with the “Architect of the Year Award”; April Horvath, AIA, of Ocean Grove, N.J., who was honored with the “Young Architect of the Year Award”; Sarah Wolosin, associate AIA, of Trenton, N.J., who was honored as “Intern Architect of the Year”; and Chanta Jackson, of Long Branch, N.J., who was honored as “Resident of the Year.”

AIA helps architects serve the public’s needs and builds awareness of the role of architects and architecture in American Society. AIA-NJ is a local chapter of the national AIA, and has six sections, which include Architects League of Northern New Jersey, Central Jersey, Newark and Suburban, Jersey Shore, South Jersey and West Jersey. Each section is independent and runs local events and programs for its members.