Education:
Bachelor of Arts in Architecture, UNC Charlotte (1976)
Hometown: Kannapolis, N.C.
Dennis J. Hall, FAIA, FCSI, is the founder and CEO of HALL | AEC, an architectural and consulting firm headquartered in Charlotte. He is an award-winning architect and construction specifier, with numerous state and local design awards to his credit. In 2005, he was the recipient of the prestigious “Institute Honor Award” from the National Institute of Building Sciences, which “recognizes individuals or organizations that have made exceptional contributions to the nation and the building community,” and by Engineering News Record as one of the top 25 construction newsmakers of that year. He is a Fellow in both the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI). In 2007, he received the William H. Deitrick Service Medal from AIA North Carolina, and in 2016, he received CSI’s highest honor of “Distinguished Member."
Dennis is actively involved in the design/construction industry and he has written widely on professional practice standards. He is often quoted as an industry expert in the architectural and news media. His professional writing credits include Editor-in-Chief of the Architectural Graphic Standards, 12th edition, and Architectural Graphic Standards for Residential Construction, 2nd edition; senior executive editor for Architectural Graphics Standards, 11th edition; co-author of The Architect’s Guide to the US National CAD Standard; reviewer and contributor to the Architect’s Handbook of Professional Practice, 14th edition; and many other professional publications.
Dennis has served in numerous leadership positions in the construction industry, including former national President of both the Construction Specifications Institute and Specifications Consultants in Independent Practice. He currently serves on the International Code Council’s Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities Committee, Board of Advisors for the Construction Information Network, and Board of Managers in several other industry organizations.
As a student at UNC Charlotte, Dennis says there were "three major education lessons" that he learned -- and that current students should know:
- "Take classes from the best professors and always be prepared to ask questions. Set high expectations of professors and yourself."
- "Fellow students are a critical to your education and you are important to their education. Collaboration of ideas and knowledge sharing is an important part of the educational process."
- "You are an adult and you must take personal responsibility for your own education. Knowledge is the goal, grades are mere verification of that knowledge."
He encourages current students to "determine what you love to do and concentrate on that aspect of practice. Remember, your interests and knowledge areas will evolve as you gain experience, so master the fundamentals and build on them with expert knowledge. But above all, have fun!"
Dennis received the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award in Architecture.