Public Service Awardees
The Public Service Award acknowledges the impact that an individual or group can have on the world of Architecture.
The 2023 Honor Recipients:
Darren Hobbs
Deputy Commissioner
Real Estate & Construction Services (RECS)
Department of Administrative Services
State of Connecticut
Over his career, Darren has had a variety of roles in public service, spending almost a decade with the State's Department of Administrative Services. His journey within the State includes positions as a Building Official, Deputy State Building Inspector, and Director of Regulatory Compliance. Currently serving as a Deputy Commissioner, he provides executive leadership for teams overseeing state construction projects, property management, leasing, regulatory compliance (building and fire codes), and state vehicle fleet management. Darren's experience extends beyond state boundaries, as a municipal building official here and in the UK, where he was also a senior fire safety advisor to the national government. Throughout his career, Darren has been an enthusiastic educator, offering support to code officials, design professionals, contractors and the public through one-on-one coaching and participation in regional, national, and international events.
Christopher Wigren
Deputy Director
Preservation Connecticut
Christopher Wigren is Deputy Director of Preservation Connecticut, where his responsibilities include editing the newsletter, Preservation Connecticut News, and managing preservation easements and awards programs. He is the author of Connecticut Architecture: Stories of 100 Places (Wesleyan University Press, 2018) and serves on the Connecticut State Historic Preservation Board and the Merritt Parkway Advisory Committee. Most recently, he coordinated a project with the Connecticut State Historic Preservation Office to document the heritage and works of the Olmsted landscape architecture firm in Connecticut.