A Legacy of Thoughtful Leadership: Patricia Hancock Honored with AIA New Mexico Lifetime Achievement Award
SMPC Architects is proud to share that our longtime colleague and Principal Emeritus, Patricia Hancock, AIA, has been awarded the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award by AIA New Mexico. This prestigious honor recognizes not only her enduring career but also her quiet influence on the architecture profession in New Mexico.
Patricia joined SMPC in 1986 and became one of the firm’s first women principals in 2000, helping to shape the studio’s collaborative, inclusive culture. Over the course of nearly four decades, her leadership has been defined not by personal accolades or grand gestures, but by integrity, attentiveness, and mentorship. She has guided complex projects with grace and patience, empowered emerging professionals, and embodied the kind of architect who elevates the practice from the inside out.
Raised in a military family and exposed to diverse communities across the U.S. and Europe, Patricia developed an early sensitivity to place, adaptability, and the importance of what endures. Her professional contributions span a wide range—from tenant improvements and public facilities to LEED-certified projects and sustainable retrofits. Whether managing a renovation at Highland High School or supporting phased construction at the Department of Health, her meticulous approach and calm foresight have consistently delivered results that serve people first.
As one nominator wrote, “Patricia’s architectural and social integrity is simply a part of her personal integrity.” Her dedication to environmental stewardship is evident in her early adoption of sustainable design practices and commitment to Architecture 2030. But her impact extends beyond her projects—Patricia has volunteered her time and talents in service to AIA New Mexico, community-based organizations, and the New Mexico Architectural Foundation. She remains a generous mentor and a thoughtful observer of the natural and built environments, always encouraging others to slow down, look closer, and remain curious.
We are deeply grateful for Patricia’s decades of service to the firm, the profession, and the communities we serve. Her lifetime achievement is not only well-earned—it’s a reminder of the lasting value of steady, ethical leadership.
Please join us in congratulating Patricia on this honor and in celebrating the example she continues to set for our practice.