Barry Berkus, Class of 2008*
Barry Berkus was a major figure in architecture for decades. Residential Architect magazine named him one of the 10 top residential architects of the 20th century, noting that he “has forever altered the paradigm of architects and planners working to create more livable urban and suburban environments.” He founded and served as president of B3 Architects and Berkus Design Studio in Santa Barbara, where his design teams won more than 300 regional, national and international design competitions, including 48 Best in American Living Awards (BALA).
One area the firm has specialized in is modular housing. His vision and innovation transformed the notion of what a modular home can be.
James “Jim” Sattler, Class of 2015
Jim Sattler, a Cedar Rapids native, is president of Jim Sattler Custom Homes and has been involved in both home building and land development in the Eastern Iowa Corridor. He has a long list of credentials, memberships and awards to his credit, and has been a real estate broker since 1981.
Sattler has won multiple BALA awards over the years. He has also served as a strong advocate and supporter of the BALA program for more than 25 years via his leadership roles as chair of NAHB’s Design and Land Development Committees, member of NAHB’s Budget and Association Planning Committees and the Executive Board, and through participating in the development of the BALA Strategic Plan in 2009.
William “Bill” Pulte, Class of 2019*
A true Horatio Alger story, in 1950, Bill Pulte built his first house by hand on Detroit’s Christy Street on land donated by a relative using plans purchased from the local newspaper and with tools given as high school graduation gifts. From such humble beginnings grew one of America’s greatest home building companies that has delivered over 750,000 homes.
Known for a humble manner, Pulte had a keen mind that was always seeking new ways to build higher quality homes more efficiently. From plant production, value engineering, and the use of structural insulated panels (SIPs) to designing entirely new building products, Pulte created a culture that embraced change as he sought to make the company better.
Pulte was a man of high values and integrity who loved his God, his family and his Pulte family. Throughout a career that spanned more than six decades, he would always say, “I never went to work a day in my life. I just loved what I was doing.”
*Has passed away since receiving the award.
