Overview

Established in 1926, the James Harrison Steedman Fellowship in Architecture is one of the oldest and most prestigious awards in the U.S.. The Steedman is granted biannually to an emerging architect to conduct research abroad. The successful candidate is awarded $75,000 for 6-12 months of travel outside the US to study a topic of proven relevance to the built environment, both globally and in St. Louis. Originally created to “promote architectural progress in St. Louis,” the Steedman Fellowship fosters cross-cultural exchange at a critical juncture in an architect’s practice. By funding this immersive research experience, the Steedman Fellowship seeks to broaden, engage, and enrich young architects’ creative design thinking and approaches to some of the pressing design problems of today. The competition is open to architects worldwide who received a recognized degree in architecture within the last eight years. Upon completion of their research, Fellows will be given funding to come to St. Louis to lead a workshop or lecture on their research with students at the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts at Washington University and members of the professional community in St. Louis. The exact format of this visit will be determined by the Steedman Committee and the fellow. Fellows will also be asked to provide a brief written/graphic summary of their experiences and outcomes to be included in the Steedman archives.