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The Architecture Foundation of Oregon has selected Arlene Schnitzer and her son Jordan Schnitzer as recipients of its annual Honored Citizen award for 2015.

Jane Jarrett, executive director of the foundation, said the philanthropic work of Arlene and her late husband Harold Schnitzer is well known, and Jordan is carrying on that tradition.

鈥淭hey are receiving the award because of what they have done for the design and built environment,鈥� Jarrett said. 鈥淎 lot of architecture and design firms are going through transition from one generation to the next, and we felt the story of transitioning Arlene’s leadership as a philanthropist to Jordan is a good example for our members.鈥�

In particular, she cited Jordan Schnitzer’s involvement over the years to restore and preserve the Astoria Column in Astoria, built in 1926 and embellished with the designs of Italian immigrant artist Attilio Pusterla.

鈥淚t’s a really important landmark in Astoria 鈥� a huge column overlooking the mouth of the Columbia River 鈥� and it means a lot to Oregonians,鈥� Jarrett said. 鈥淚ts whole surface mural had to be restored, and Jordan led the fundraising and provided much of the funds. He just did it because he loves Oregon and cares about what’s important to people in this state.鈥�

The awards will be presented at a dinner on Oct. 27. Details on the dinner are on the Architecture Foundation of Oregon website at .

The contributions of Arlene Schnitzer go way back, Jarrett said, and include a $1 million one in the 1980s she and her husband made toward restoration of what is now the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.

Jarrett said naming a building after a major donor was frowned upon back then, but it helped other fundraising efforts.

鈥淔or them to be willing to put her name on it really helped raise money for the Newmark Theaters,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t also helped fundraise for other entities in arts and education 鈥� a kind of new way to do things that people weren’t doing before, when it was all very hush-hush and quiet.鈥�

Jarrett also cited Jordan Schnitzer’s contribution to restore an old building and create the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at the University of Oregon in Eugene.

鈥淚t was a beautiful old building to start with, but what he contributed added on, creating humidity control, storage and exhibition space,鈥� she said.

As president of Harsch Investment Properties, Jordan Schnitzer has also contributed to the built environment, she said, citing the firm’s renovation of the Federal Reserve Bank, designed by architect Pietro Belluschi.

鈥淓ven Jordan’s business development brings art and design in a way that makes sure it is done carefully and well,鈥� she said.