Miller, Hull to Receive Regents Distinguished Alumnus Award

PULLMAN, Wash. — David Miller and Robert Hull, founding partners of The Miller|Hull Partnership, LLP, a precedent-setting contemporary architecture firm based in Seattle, will receive the 2007 Regents’ Distinguished Alumnus Award, Washington State University’s highest alumni honor.  

The award will be presented at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19 in Kimbrough Concert Hall on the Pullman campus. Following the presentation, Miller and Hull will give a public lecture: “Concept To Craft:  The sustainable architecture of Miller|Hull.” A question and answer session will follow. 

“This award goes to WSU alumni who have made a truly distinguished contribution to society, and, by that criterion, David Miller and Robert Hull certainly qualify. They are architectural innovators with strong social consciences who have made a lasting impact on their field,” said WSU President Elson S. Floyd. 

Business partners since 1977, Miller and Hull met as classmates at WSU, where each earned a bachelor of arts in architecture in 1968. Upon graduation, both men joined the Peace Corps, Miller serving in Brazil and Hull in Afghanistan. Both returned home committed to create socially responsible and humane public architecture. 

Recalling his days at WSU, Miller said, “We had great conversations about design in and out of the studio. People were trying new ideas, and we stretched our imaginations.” 

Hull said, “If you can solve a problem in a poetic, artistic way, there’s your concept. If you come up with a strong conceptual idea, then it is a recipe for success. We learned that early on at WSU.”  

Miller and Hull are Fellows in the American Institute of Architects (AIA), one of the highest distinctions given by the AIA. They have taught graduate design courses at the University of Washington and lectured nationally and internationally. Miller is currently chair of the Department of Architecture at UW.  

In 2003, Miller|Hull was named AIA Firm of the Year. The recognition acknowledges embodiment of the highest principles of architecture. The firm’s work has been published and referenced in more than 160 national and international publications.  

Miller and Hull are the 37th and 38th recipients of the Regents’ Distinguished Alumnus Award. Previous winners include broadcaster Edward R. Murrow, author Sherman Alexie, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, cartoonist Gary Larson, astronaut John Fabian, sports broadcaster Keith Jackson and wheat researcher Orville Vogel. 

For more on the award, see https://regents.wsu.edu/distinguished-alumni/