LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating Francis Murdock Pitts upon the
occasion of his designation as recipient of the 2016 Community Hero
Award by Unity House of Troy, New York

WHEREAS, Individuals who give of their time and energies and serve the
best interests of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration and
cannot be sufficiently extolled; and
WHEREAS, Francis Murdock Pitts has given not only of his time and
energies but also of his competence, intelligence and leadership and
consequently has been designated for special recognition; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Francis
Murdock Pitts upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the
2016 Community Hero Award to be celebrated on Friday, February 12, 2016,
at the Unity House of Troy Gala at Pat's Barn, Rensselaer Technology
Park, Rensselaer, New York; and
WHEREAS, The Community Hero Award recognizes the achievements, commit-
ment and dedication of individuals who go above and beyond for their
institutions and community performing acts of goodwill and kindness; and
WHEREAS, Francis Murdock Pitts, affectionately known as Frank, is the
founding partner and President of architecture+; he has earned a
national reputation for his work with psychiatric hospital design and
planning as well as design for special populations, long term care, and
secure institutions; and
WHEREAS, With over 30 years of experience with this project type,
Frank Pitts has been involved in a broader range of psychiatric hospital
design projects than anyone in North America, including the new Worces-
ter Recovery Center and Hospital; and
WHEREAS, Recently featured in THE BOSTON GLOBE for his psychiatric
hospital design work, Frank Pitts' expertise is regularly solicited by
colleagues and providers throughout the United States and Canada; and
WHEREAS, Frank Pitts has been an instrumental member of the healthcare
design community, serving as a leader of the AIA Academy of Architecture
for Health and the American College of Healthcare Architects; and
WHEREAS, As a founding member and Fellow of the American College of
Healthcare Architects, Frank Pitts helped to establish national certif-
ication credentials for healthcare architects; and
WHEREAS, While shaping the regulatory environment, Frank Pitts served
from 2007-2014 on the committee which writes the FGI/AIA Guidelines for
Design and Construction of Hospital and Health Care Facilities, the
national standard for design and construction of healthcare facilities;
and
WHEREAS, Frank Pitts also authored a majority of the recent revisions
and additions to the Guidelines Standards for Psychiatric Hospital
Design; and
WHEREAS, Frank Pitts has been a leader in the AIA at the local, state,
and national level; he served as President of AIA Eastern New York in
2007 and AIA New York State in 2010, was a member of the AIA National
Board in 2011-2013, and has been elected to serve as the National Vice
President in 2015-2016; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the entire period of his community service, a
period of constructive involvement, Frank Pitts has stood constant in
dignity, good grace and humor and has earned the respect and admiration
of his colleagues, family and friends; and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individ-
ual for the benefit of others which Frank Pitts has displayed throughout
his life; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Francis Murdock Pitts upon the occasion of his designation as
recipient of the 2016 Community Hero Award; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Francis Murdock Pitts.