Named in honor of the late Jonathan King, co-founder, and first president of the Architectural Research Centers Consortium (ARCC), this award is given to one student per ARCC member college, school, institute, or unit. Selection of recipients is at the discretion of the individual member institutions, but is based upon criteria that acknowledge innovation, integrity, and scholarship in architectural and/or environmental design research.
For the year 2023, the Jonathan King Medal for Excellence in Research from Kent State University has been awarded to Vahid Koliyaee, a graduate student in the Master of Science in Architectural and Environmental Design (MSAED) program. Vahid received this honor for his excellent research on "The Evolving Roles of Humans in Human-Robot Interactions within Design and Construction Spheres." The award was formally presented by Dr. Adil Sharag-Eldin, the current ARCC President, in a ceremony attended by Vahid’s thesis advisor and mentor, Dr. Rui Liu.