The CINTAS Foundation, housed at Miami Dade College’s (MDC) Museum of Art + Design (MOA+D),presented a Lifetime Achievement Award to Raúl de Armas in recognition of his internationally acclaimed contributions to the field of architecture at a special ceremony recently held at the historic Freedom Tower. Four generations of the de Armas family were present to honor de Armas as he received his award from Hortensia Sampedro, President of the CINTAS Foundation, and Raúl Rodríguez, Chair of the CINTAS Foundation Architecture Committee.

“I am deeply honored by this unexpected recognition, coming, as it does, from my unforgettable roots,” said de Armas upon being introduced.

He is a founding principal of MdeAS, establishing Moed de Armas Architects in 1991. Recognized internationally as one of the world’s preeminent design architects, he has designed and completed many major buildings in the United States, Europe, Canada and the Middle East. In his career of more than 50 years he has won numerous design awards, including the prestigious Aga Khan Award for Architecture and was named Interiors Magazine’s Designer of the Year (1984).

He began his career at Holt & Downing Architects in 1963 before moving to Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, where he became a partner of the firm in 1979. He was involved in the design of many high-profile projects around the world, including Park Avenue Plaza, Citicorp at Court Square and 780 Third Avenue in collaboration with Leon Moed and the Palio Restaurant in NYC, BCE Place in Canada, San Benigno Torre Nord (“Il Matitone”) in Italy and the master plan of the Haj Terminal/King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Saudi Arabia, which was honored by the AIA with the Twenty-five Year Award in 2010.

At MdeAS, de Armas has led the firm through many complex and challenging projects. His distinguished portfolio only touches upon his extensive design experience and he continues to embrace the evolution of modernist design. He is currently working on a complete repositioning of 2000 K Street and 900 19th Street in Washington D.C. and on Phase II of the multi-use project Gotham Center in Long Island City.