Jessica Terrill, of Substance Architecture in Des Moines, was honored 15 October 2015 with the inaugural Young Architect award from the American Institute of Architects, Iowa Chapter.
The award honors “exceptional leadership and significant contributions to the profession” from someone in the first 10 years of their career. She earned a master’s degree in architecture from the University of Nebraska. Terrill serves on the editorial board of “Iowa Architect” magazine and recently was named its first female editor in its 60-year history. Her work has received several state and regional awards for design and she teaches a design studio at Iowa State University, her alma mater.
The Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation congratulates Jessica Terrill on this accomplishment. Terrill has collaborate with the Public Art Foundation on significant projects. In 2013, she worked collaboratively on two large-scale and fanciful art installations by Japanese-American artist Jun Kaneko. As a result, the proximity of Kaneko’s two works serve to aesthetically unify Des Moines’ Principal Riverwalk right at the mouth of Des Moines’ Court Avenue entertainment district.
![[left to right: Jessica Terrill, Public Art Foundation Board President | Kathy Murphy, artist | Kerry James Marshall, and Architect, Emeritus Board member | Paul Mankins] Currently, Terrill is working with a professional team on structural designs for the public art project honoring African-American pioneer lawyers by one of the most exciting and celebrated artists in the U.S., Kerry James Marshall. Photo by M. J. Rowe](https://dsmpublicartfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_2908-copy-e1445268742869.jpg)
Photo by M. J. Rowe
In addition, she is an active volunteer in the ProjectSPACES, an initiative of the Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation that places compelling, temporary art in highly visible public spaces.