Pratt recently changed agencies from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to the GSA. He is also an adjunct faculty member at Morgan State University.
A native of Gaithersburg, Maryland, Pratt remembers his own time in college at Penn State fondly.
“The training I received at Penn State was phenomenal,” Pratt said. “It gives you the balance between theory, technical skills and developing your graphic skills. I think that’s part of the reason that I was hired so quickly out of school.”
To aspiring architects, Pratt advises, “Ask a lot of questions.”
“Architects can be so invaluable across the globe,” he continued. “If you ask the right questions, you may find that you can still be an architect in non-traditional avenues and it may still align with your vision, too.”
The AIA award’s selection jury included AIA members Ann Marie Baranowski, Sarah Broughton, Christian Joosse, Greg Luhan, Virginia Marquardt and Danielle Tillman.
“Though his career is still young, Pratt’s impact has been powerful and is sure to be lasting,” according to the AIA website. “His actions and voice have led to meaningful change and inspired others to follow his lead.”