Darien resident Chuck Hilton and his firm, Charles Hilton Architects, were honored with the Greenwich Chamber of Commerce’s 2016 Corporate Leadership Award, which was presented on May 17 at the Greenwich Chamber’s Annual Awards Luncheon at the Hyatt Regency in Greenwich, Connecticut. The award is given each year to a business that “has demonstrated longstanding involvement in the community and, through solid leadership, is enhancing the town’s quality of life.”
The awards presentation highlighted a number of Mr. Hilton’s and his firm’s contributions to the Greenwich community including the design of the Rotary Centennial Pavilion overlooking a scenic bluff in Byram Park, the firm’s sponsorship of The Greenwich Historical Society’s Landmark’s Preservation Program, their work with the Greenwich Preservation Network designing signs for each of Greenwich’s historic districts, and most notably their work with the Greenwich Community Projects Fund as designers, along with landscape architects Doyle Herman Design Associates, of the Greenwich September 11 Memorial in Cos Cob Park. “This is a breathtaking design that will allow both current and future generations to always remember and commemorate this tragedy,” said Mr. Betteridge as he made the award presentation. “It is clear that Chuck and his team are leaving a clear legacy to our town.” Mr. Hilton provided over two decades of service to the Greenwich Rotary Club including serving as the club’s 2003-04 President. The awards also recognized Charles Hilton Architect’s broader commitment to numerous charities across Fairfield County and as well as number of national and international non-profit service organizations.
In accepting the award, Mr. Hilton said, “I believe our most meaningful impact has been through those projects where our primary contribution has been architectural design.” His comments focused on the power of great design to change and enhance private lives and public spaces. Although Charles Hilton Architects is known primarily for their high-end residential projects, Mr. Hilton acknowledged the great satisfaction achieved by the firm’s more public work and left the audience with the challenge to “know that the dividends of great design have the power to improve your business as well as your personal experiences and our public spaces.” He said, “I encourage you in your personal and public building projects to demand and invest in great design.”