Building Connections: A Recap of the Housing and Community Development Knowledge Community’s Events at AIA ‘25
By Kristen Chin, AIA
The American Institute of Architects' 2025 Conference on Architecture & Design provided an opportunity for the AIA Housing and Community Development Knowledge Community (HCD KC) to convene, celebrate design excellence in housing and community development, share vital knowledge, and forge new connections in the housing and community development field.
Three Powerful Events, One Unified Mission
The AIA Housing and Community Development Knowledge Community (HCD KC) orchestrated three well-attended events that demonstrated the housing field's commitment to design excellence and community impact:
Equity & Excellence: AIA Housing and Community Development Knowledge Community Open Forum (EV119)
The Open Forum created an intimate space for meaningful dialogue among roughly 45 architects and allied stakeholders. This highly interactive session buzzed with energy as participants gathered around conversation tables, with the Advocacy + Policy and Equity + Community Development discussion tables drawing the largest number of participants. The forum's highlight came from guest speaker Patricia Sarquis Harden, President of the Council of Architecture and Urbanism of Brazil (CAU/BR), who shared inspiring insights about Brazil's progressive approach to housing rights. Since 2008, Brazilian law guarantees that every family earning up to three minimum wages has the right to professional architectural assistance. Also remarkable: 62% of Brazil's architects identify as female, showcasing the profession's diversity in the country.
Sarquis Harden explained how CAU/BR, established by federal law and comprising 27 state councils, registers approximately 235,000 professionals and 36,000 companies nationwide. It represents a highly collaborative relationship between the federal government and architects that serves as an innovative model to advance the right to housing. Their mission centers on defending public interest and promoting architecture as a tool for social transformation—a vision that resonated deeply with attendees.
AIA Housing and Community Development Reception: A Celebration of the Housing Awards (EV149)
The reception provided a celebratory atmosphere where professionals could network while honoring the 2025 Housing Award winners. These awards, running since 2000, continue to highlight sustainable, responsive, and innovative residential designs across diverse housing types and architectural practices. Attendees had the opportunity to hear from the winning firms and engage in conversation with awardees.
This year's eight award-winning projects represent an impressive range spanning Excellence in Affordable Housing, Specialized Housing, Universal Dwelling Design, Multifamily Housing, and Custom Residences. The diversity of winners reflects the field's broad scope and the many ways architects are addressing today's housing challenges. Winners from this year as well as previous years can be found in the Housing Award books produced by the HCD KC.
Design Excellence: AIA Housing Award Winners (WE125)
The panel session, moderated by HCD KC members Adrianne Steichen, FAIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C (PYATOK) and Elizabeth Debs, AIA, NOMA (RISD), featured an all-star lineup of award winners including Deborah Moelis, FAIA, CPHD (Handel Architects), Cameron Bolin, AIA, LFA, CPHC (Sander Pace) Jeffrey Mansfield (MASS Design Group), Katie Ackerly, AIA (David Baker Architects), and Martin A. Padilla, AIA, NOMA (Trivers).
The standing-room-only crowd reflected the urgent need for housing solutions. Panelists discussed how thoughtful design helped them overcome complex project challenges and explored housing's potential to create diverse living arrangements. They also shared innovative strategies for addressing the housing shortage while maintaining sustainable practices. The session fostered an atmosphere of mutual respect, with one panelist expressing his honor at joining fellow architects and housing leaders whose work he had long admired. The session's accessibility was enhanced by ASL interpretation, ensuring inclusive participation for attendees.
The HCD KC will be hosting future webinars in the coming months with the 2025 Housing Award winners to explore these award-winning projects further.
Impact and Reflection
The overwhelming attendance and engagement across all three events underscored the critical importance of housing in today's architectural discourse. As one Housing Award winner reflected: "The Housing Awards and panel presentation was a great way to get to know the projects on a more personal level...They were the most fruitful events for me at the conference."
This sentiment captures the essence of what made these events special—they moved beyond surface-level networking to create genuine opportunities for learning, connection, and professional growth.
Looking Ahead to AIA 2026
The success of this year's programming has energized the HCD KC to expand our offerings both throughout the year and at future conferences. Recognizing that housing has become more critical than ever to national and local conversations, we are actively planning expanded learning opportunities through in-person events, webinars, panel conversations, and our signature Housing Awards program—all designed to explore design excellence and innovative models for advancing the right to housing.
The Bigger Picture
The 2025 AIA Conference Housing and Community Development events demonstrated that when architects gather with purpose, extraordinary things happen. From learning about Brazil's innovative housing policies to celebrating design excellence across the country, these three days in Boston reinforced that housing isn't just about buildings—it's about creating sanctuaries for the human spirit and providing valuable resources for our communities.
As the housing crisis continues to challenge communities nationwide, the HCD KC’s programming provides essential opportunities for sharing solutions, building relationships, and advancing the profession's capacity to make meaningful change. The nearly 500 participants who engaged with the HCD KC’s programming left Boston not just informed, but inspired and connected—ready to take on the housing challenges in their own communities.
To stay connected to the HCD KC, learn more at the HCD KC’s AIA website. We hope to see you at our events and webinars throughout the year, and we look forward to connecting in San Diego in 2026!