Jim Harrington

People get touchy about space. Change creates anxiety beforehand, disruption during the process and stress afterward. When approached about impending space changes, people might consider “shooting the messenger.” Instead, students and faculty adore Jim Harrington, who brings architectural expertise to overseeing maintenance, insuring safety and security, and coordinating major events. Jim Harrington makes change relatively painless, informs people reassuringly about what to expect and when, and calmly smoothes the process. As a result, construction, relocation and projects such as the creation of the Steam Café go well, nerves remain soothed, and work proceeds. Always helpful well beyond his regular responsibilities, he has voluntarily managed the complex schedule and video-conferencing of an international conference in the Stata Center and stepped in to solve technical problems during orientation. Dedicated to students, he provides enthusiastic mentoring and advice and inspires collaboration; in his spare time, he plays electric guitar. Rock star of the School of Architecture and Planning, Jim Harrington receives this award for Bringing Out the Best and leading others through change