A University of Tennessee architecture professor recently was honored by receiving the prestigious Hart Freeland Roberts Faculty Scholar award.

Mark Schimmenti, who has been at UT for five years, received the award for outstanding service to the university.

“Not only has he demonstrated outstanding teaching ability and scholarship, including nationally recognized research, but also he has been instrumental in designing the core curriculum for architecture and design students at UT,” said Jeff Holmes, president of Hart Freeland Roberts, a Nashville-based architectural and engineering firm.

“Hart Freeland Roberts benefits daily from the talents of numerous UT architecture graduates and believes in supporting quality architecture and design programs,” Holmes said.

Jim Sparks, public relations representative for Hart Freeland Roberts, said the monetary award will be given to UT in Schimmenti’s name to be used appropriately.

“The award will provide annual funding over five years to support Schimmenti as a distinguished faculty member in the college,” he said.

Schimmenti said the money will be important to the university as well.

“I hope it helps with money problems and to promote a close relationship with firms in Tennessee and the college of architecture,” he said.

In addition to his duties at UT, Schimmenti is the design director of the Nashville Civic Design Center.

Schimmenti stressed the importance of the center.

“The Nashville Civic Design Center focuses on improving Nashville’s urban design,” he said, while adding that the center has worked on a new library, an art museum and the Country Music Hall of Fame. The non-profit design center receives funding from the University of Tennessee, Vanderbilt University, the city of Nashville and the Frist Corporation.