AIA Small Firm Exchange (SFx)
Darguin Fortuna, AIA, NCARB
I am honored to serve as the 2026 Chair of the AIA Small Firm Exchange (SFx). As one of AIA’s largest and most diverse Member Groups, SFx represents the majority of architectural practices across the country—firms that are deeply embedded in their communities and responsible for an outsized share of the profession’s built work.
Small firms are often where innovation, experimentation, and leadership first emerge. They are also where the pressures of practice—financial risk, staffing, mental health, succession, and sustainability—are felt most acutely. SFx exists to ensure these firms are not only supported, but meaningfully represented within the Institute.
Practice with Purpose
The 2026 SFx theme is Practice with Purpose.
This theme was shaped by conversations with small firm leaders across the country and grounded in the realities of day-to-day practice. It asks a simple but critical question: Why do we practice—and how do we align our values with the way we operate our firms?
Practice with Purpose recognizes that small firm leadership requires far more than design excellence alone. It demands clarity of values, financial literacy, cultural awareness, resilience, and long-term thinking. In 2026, SFx will explore how intention can guide not only what we design, but how we structure our businesses, support our teams, serve our communities, and plan for the future.
A Year Structured Around Small Firm Realities
SFx programming in 2026 is intentionally organized around the full lifecycle of small firm practice. Through monthly conversations, breakout sessions, and shared resources, we will address topics including:
-
The Why Behind Practice
-
Finances and Negotiation
-
Culture of Practice, DEI, and Belonging
-
Competency and Relevance
-
Pursuing vs. Attracting Work
-
Diversifying Practice Models
-
Hiring—or Not Hiring
-
Fellowship Pathways for Small Firms
-
Advocacy with Meaning
-
Mental Health and Burnout
-
Transition, Succession, and Exit Planning
Each topic is designed to pair reflection with practical application—providing small firm leaders with tools, case studies, and peer insight they can immediately put to use.
Centering People and Connection
At its core, SFx is a people-driven community.
In 2026, we will continue strengthening connections between state representatives, local chapters, and national leadership. Our State Representative Calls, breakout discussions, and new communication formats are designed to foster peer-to-peer learning and ensure that local voices inform national conversations.
We are also expanding our digital outreach—through short-form video, interviews, and curated content—to make SFx knowledge more accessible, visible, and inclusive across geographic and firm-size boundaries.
Advocacy and Recognition
SFx remains committed to advocating for small firms within AIA—particularly in areas of recognition, awards, and leadership access. Small firms play a critical role in advancing equity, sustainability, and community impact, yet they remain underrepresented in national honors and recognition programs.
In 2026, SFx will continue working with AIA leadership and task forces to help remove barriers, expand pathways, and elevate the contributions of small firms across the Institute.
An Invitation to Engage
SFx is not a passive membership—it is a collaborative effort shaped by the experiences and leadership of its members.
Whether you are a sole practitioner, a firm principal, a state representative, or an emerging leader, I invite you to engage with SFx in 2026: participate in conversations, share your experience, and help shape the future of small firm practice.
I am deeply grateful to the SFx Executive Committee, Board, State Representatives, and AIA staff for their dedication and partnership. Together, we will continue advancing a profession where small firms are supported, valued, and empowered to lead.
With gratitude,
Darguin Fortuna, AIA, NCARB
2026 Chair, AIA Small Firm Exchange