"Some architects have a preconceived notion of what a building should be "ö they design from the outside like the building is a piece of sculpture. I prefer to patiently search through extensive discovery until I find a seam somewhere, crack it open and discover the art inside," says Curtis Fentress.

Curtis Fentress is an internationally acclaimed architect with a design portfolio totalling over $22 billion in architectural projects worldwide. Founded in 1980, the firm is a leading international airport and terminal designer with nearly five million square metres and over $13 billion of airport space to its name.

Fentress Architects offers a full range of planning and design services for airports, including master planning, architecture and interior design, signage and graphics, tenant programming and design and system integration.

The firm has an international reputation for offering innovative and sustainable solutions to complex problems in aviation and land use planning, surface access and terminal design.

As a pioneer in sustainable architecture, Fentress Architects has been honoured with over 300 awards for design innovation and excellence.

Fentress-designed airports are known for their optimal 'kerbside to airside' experience, offering the passenger and the airline the latest in innovation, efficiency and comfort. Combined these gateways are visited by more than 300 million people annually.

Several of Fentress' airport designs have picked up awards including Incheon International Airport, the first airport to earn 'Best Airport Worldwide' for five consecutive years (2005-2009) at ACI's Airport Service Quality (ASQ) passenger survey.

ICN was awarded the 2009 'World's Best Airport' title by the prestigious Skytrax World Airport Awards, voted by 8.6 million international travellers and was named the 'World's Best Airport' by Global Traveler magazine in 2007 and 2008.
 
Denver Airport, the only US greenfield airport to open in the past 30 years, was voted 'Best Airport in North America' by Business Traveller magazine readers for four consecutive years (2005-2008).

Fentress Architects' large-scale international design projects are managed from on-site project offices and four US studios employing over 160 professionals in Denver, Washington DC, Los Angeles and San Josè.
 
In 2010, Curtis Fentress will be awarded the Thomas Jefferson award by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) - its highest award for public architecture.

Named in honour of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, the award recognises 'a portfolio of accomplishments that evidences great depth while making a significant contribution to the quality of public architecture'.

Curtis Fentress is perhaps best known for designing some of the world's most iconic airports, including Incheon International Airport and Denver International Airport.

Fentress will be the first airport architect to receive this prestigious honour at the 2010 AIA National Convention in Miami.