Blogs

open letter from EPA & calls to action

By Kira L. Gould Hon. AIA posted 8 hours ago
From EPA Staff: An Open Letter to the American Public “We cannot stand by and allow this to happen,” write current and former EPA employees. “We need to hold this administration accountable.” https://therevelator.org/epa-open-letter/ If you are interested in advocating for the return of federal funding to the American people, we urge you to: Advocate for funding to be restored in your community. Take part in local town hall and other events in your area to advocate for federal funding to be returned to the people. Make your voice heard and claim your right to clean water, clean air, and a safe environment. Learn how the EPA’s environmental ...

AIA CO COTE online event on 17 April - Empowering Architects Through Passive House

By Kira L. Gould Hon. AIA posted 10 hours ago
Here's a cool upcoming AIA Colorado COTE (virtual) event -- Empowering Architecture with Passive House -- with some stellar speakers ... Tom Hootman , AIA, CPHC, WELL AP, LEED AP – Principal, Form & Flow Jonathan Fertig , AIA, CPHD, LEED AP BD+C – Senior Architect, Davis Partnership Architects Lauren Shadid, AIA, LEED AP, CPHD – Principal, Lauren Shadid Architecture + Interiors Bunny Tucker , AIA, CPHD – Project Manager, SHAPE Architecture Studio 12-1pm Mountain Time / 17 April Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/empowering-architecture-with-passive-ho ...

AIA25: Don't Miss Out on Resilience & Disaster Response Committee Events and More at Boston's Architecture Conference

By Luz Angela Toro Acuna Intl. Assoc. AIA posted yesterday
Mark your calendar for the official Resilience, Adaptation, and Disaster Response events , but that’s just the start. AIA25 features a powerful lineup of sessions designed to inspire, educate, and shape the future of design. Boston is gearing up for a landmark event in architecture and design, and you won’t want to miss it. This year’s AIA Conference on Architecture & Design (AIA25) brings together top minds in AEC for four dynamic days (June 4-7). RADR events Resilient Design for Rapidly Evolving Natural Disaster Risks 1 HSW/RIBA/LU | SA305 | 6/7/2025 12:00 am- 1:00pm | Register here Boston Convention & ...

AIA25: Explore Building Performance Events at Boston’s Architecture Conference

By Luz Angela Toro Acuna Intl. Assoc. AIA posted yesterday
Boston is gearing up for a landmark event in architecture and design, and you won’t want to miss it. This year’s AIA Conference on Architecture & Design (AIA25) brings together top minds in AEC for four dynamic days (June 4-7). Be sure to mark your calendar for the official Building Performance events , but that’s just the beginning. AIA25 offers a lineup of inspiring sessions designed to educate, connect, and shape the future of design. BPKC events Reducing Carbon: Better Enclosures by Studying the Best 1.25 HSW/RIBA/LU | WE126 | 6/4/2025 1:30 am- 2:45pm | Register here Boston Convention & Exhibition Center 253AB ...

AIA Small Firm Exchange Awards

By Jeremiah S. Russell AIA posted yesterday
To all my fellow small firm architects and small firm owners, Over the last several months the Small Firm Exchange Board has been working to craft recommendations to expand AIA National Awards for Small Firms and Small Firm Architects. And earlier today we submitted a letter to the AIA Awards Task Force asking for the addition of the following awards programs specifically geared to Small Firms and Small Firm Architects: Proposals: The SFx Board and our membership appreciate the efforts of the Awards Task Force and respectfully offer the following recommendations to expand national AIA award opportunities for small firms. 1. Establish an "AIA Small Firm ...

Small Firm Guide to AIA25

By Scott Busby AIA posted 4 days ago
The AIA national Small Firm Exchange board hand-selected the following sessions and events for small firm leaders at AIA25. WEDNESDAY JUNE 4 First-Timers Orientation: AIA Conference on Architecture and Design 8:30am-9:15am EV102 Stronger by Design: Architecture Firm Business Recovery & Resiliency Post-Crisis 9:30am -10:30am WE105 Legal Best Practices for Architects 9:30am-11:30am WE102 AIA Annual Business Meeting 1:00PM-4:00PM EV104 Streamlined Financial Habits for Busy Firm Owners 4:00PM-4:30PM WE140 One Foot in Your Mouth, the Other in a Grave 4:00PM-4:30PM WE145 THURSDAY JUNE 5 David vs. Goliath: How Small ...

Meet the COD Miami: Design at the intersection of Climate, Culture, and Beauty Speakers!

By Alison Karfeld posted 5 days ago
Jeffrey Huber, FAIA Principal, Director of Landscape Architecture, Urban Design and Planning, BROOKS + SCARPA, and Professor, School of Architecture, Florida Atlantic University Jeff’s talk at the Kampong National Tropical Botanic Garden will illuminate the struggle to find strategies to adapt and mitigate the effects of climate on planning and architecture in the South Florida region and how a regional approach to climate has shaped the architecture, communities and culture of the region. He is a principal, manages the South Florida studio, and serves as Director of Landscape Architecture, Urban Design and Planning at Brooks + Scarpa. A distinguished architect ...

Practice content at AIA25

By Emma Tucker posted 5 days ago
If you are coming to the AIA Conference on Architecture & Design (AIA25) this year (June 4-7 in Boston), there is an official PMKC event plus many more great sessions to consider! PMKC events Thursday: PM Lunch EV124 | 12pm-1:30pm | $100 before April 9 / $115 after April 9 Today's practice leaders face a vastly changed professional climate post-recession and in the new millennium. During the Practice Management Luncheon, practice leaders will speak about their personal and professional experiences with practice and career development in the 21st century. Learn what these leaders are doing to set their firms apart, engage new ...

2025 Q1 Materials Pledge Newsletter - Letter from the Chairs

By Jay R. Hindmarsh AIA posted 7 days ago
Welcome to 2025, Materials Community! We are excited to be co-chairing the Materials Pledge Working Group as we dive headfirst into the second year of reporting, open from February 1st through May 31st. We learned a lot from the inaugural reporting cycle last year (thank you to the 92 firms submitting inaugural data!), most importantly, the deep level of interest and engagement from this community. We've been able to address some of the feedback provided in this current reporting cycle, including: Separate survey for firm questions versus project and product questions, Clarification to questions and response options, elimination of redundancies, ...

Current YAF State Representatives (YARs)

By Kathleen McCormick posted 13 days ago
State Representative Alabama Ashley Askew, AIA Alaska Zane Jones, AIA Arizona Andrea Hardy, AIA Arkansas Lauren Miller, AIA California Magdalini Vraila, AIA Colorado Kaylyn Kirby, AIA Connecticut Andrew Gorzkowski, AIA DC Kumi Wickramanayaka, AIA Delaware Jack Whalen, AIA Florida Bryce Bounds, AIA Georgia Laura Sherman, AIA Hawaii Krithika Penedo, AIA Idaho Katie Darter Bennett, AIA Illinois Raquel Guzman Geara, AIA Indiana Matt Jennings, AIA International Jason Holland, AIA Iowa Ben Hansen, AIA Kansas Garric Baker, ...

Current YAF Advisory Committee

By Kathleen McCormick posted 13 days ago
Name Role Sarah Woynicz, AIA Chair Kiara Gilmore, AIA Vice Chair Jason Takeuchi, AIA Past Chair Nicole Becker, AIA Director, Communications Arlenne Gil, AIA Director, Knowledge Tanya Kataria, AIA Director, Advocacy Seth Duke, AIA Director, Community Carrie Parker, AIA Director, Strategic Vision Bill Hercules, FAIA College of Fellows Liaison Patty Boyle, AIA Strategic Council Liaison Get involved! Apps open in May, due in June 2025. (Info below from 2024 for reference only.) The American Institute of Architects actively promotes a diverse profession, including ...

Letter from the Chair – March 2025

By Alison Karfeld posted 14 days ago
By Rebecca Baibak, AIA Dear Committee on Architecture for Education Community, In late 2021, I was appointed to serve on the American Institute of Architects Committee on Architecture for Education for a five-year term. Since then, I have had the great privilege to serve with talented individuals from all over the country who share a commitment to CAE’s mission to foster “innovative and collaborative design of educational facilities, and to heighten public awareness on the importance of these learning environments.” As my year as Chair rolls forward, we have been busy meeting as a leadership group, building on prior years’ efforts, and continually challenging ...

March Member Spotlight: Bob Dillon, AIA

By Alison Karfeld posted 22 days ago
Hello. My name is Bob Dillon, and I am a registered architect and the Quality Assurance Director for Vocon Architects New York City office. The thing I like about my job is that it allows me the opportunity to share my three decades of professional experience in the design, execution, and management of Interior architecture projects with a staff of up-and-coming architects and designers. Education and mentoring are my passions, and I lean into opportunities to share all the things I have learned (including the mistakes) with a young group of talented architects and designers. Growing up outside of Chicago, I was fascinated by spatial relationships ...

IAKC March Letter from the co-chairs, Yutaka Takiura, AIA & Candice Rabovsky, AIA

By Alison Karfeld posted 22 days ago
Dear AIA Members, February was a productive month for the Interior Architecture Knowledge Community (IAKC). Thanks so much for your active participation, our town hall session encouraged us to continue our activities. We also appreciate the opportunities the AIA Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. provided, which enriched our experiences and expanded our networks. We are excited to use the insights gained as we plan for the future. Sincerely, Yutaka Takiura, AIA Candice Rabovsky, AIA, LEED AP BD+C 2025 AIA IAKC Co-Chairs IAKC co-chair Yutaka Takiura (far right) featured with other Knowledge Communities leaders at the AIA Leadership ...

AIA25: Don't Miss Out on Historic Resources Committee events and More at Boston's Architecture conference

By Luz Angela Toro Acuna Intl. Assoc. AIA posted 25 days ago
Save hundreds with early bird—now through April 9! Calling all AIA25 attendees! Boston. is gearing up for a landmark event in architecture and design, and you won't want to miss it. This year's AIA Conference on Architecture & Design (AIA25) is bringing together the brightest minds in AEC for four power-packed days (June 4-7) Be sure to mark your calendar for the official HRC event, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. AIA25 boasts a lineup of incredible sessions designed to inspire, educate, and connect you with the future of design. HRC events HRC luncheon: A Landmark for our Future: The Boston Public Library 1.5 LU/HSW | ...

Letter from the chairs, March 2025

By Daniel J. Overbey AIA posted 02-21-2025
By: Jesse Walton , AIA and Daniel Overbey, AIA As Co-Chairs of the AIA 2030 Working Group, we are hitting the ground running in 2025. Through our collective work , the AIA 2030 Commitment continues to serve as a vehicle for high impact climate action in the building sector. WHAT WE ACCOMPLISH ED IN 2024 The latest edition of the 2030 By The Numbers attests to the impact of our collective action. In the last reporting period, 490 signatory companies reported a little over 3.9 billion gross square footage across 24,742 projects and 116 countries through the DDx. These projects ...

Letter from the Chair: March/April 2025

By Robin Leigh Ziegenbalg Puttock AIA posted 02-19-2025
According to the AI results from a google search of “g rassroots ”, these efforts require collaboration to spread awareness and inspire action . If you are like me, in 2025, you are looking for ways to do all of the above efficiently and effectively. I would like to boldly suggest the following: · If you are already a member of the AIA COTE Community online and would like to share local events and/or online events, I encourage you to post them on the AIA COTE Events Page . You can also register and join a COTE Network Quarterly Call online. The next call is May 13 from 2-3pm ET and the topic is “Regional Issues”, the main goal to help build ...

AIA 2030 Working Group 2025: Meet the members

By Eana Bacchiocchi posted 02-18-2025
Jesse Walton, AIA, LEED AP BD&C | Mahlum Architects | 2024-25 2030 Working Group co-chair With over 20 years of experience working with educational clients, I am dedicated to creating sustainable, healthy spaces for learners of all ages. As a project architect and energy efficiency specialist, I collaborate closely with design teams and district staff to maximize efficiency. An early adopter of BIM, I am a leader in Revit documentation, building envelope design, and building and energy code compliance within our office. I co-chair the National AIA 2030 Working Group, advocating for enhanced data collection, visualization, and communication. I currently ...

AIA Materials Pledge Working Group 2025: Meet the members

By Eana Bacchiocchi posted 02-18-2025
Maria Papiez, AIA, NCARB | EwingCole | 2024-25 Materials Pledge Working Group co-chair Maria’s professional portfolio includes science & technology, healthcare, university, and corporate workplace project design. She is currently serving as Co-Chair of the national AIA Materials Pledge Working Group, is an active participant in the AIA Large Firm Roundtable (LFRT) and the Sustainable Design Leaders (SDL) network, and previously taught design studios as an adjunct Professor of Practice in the School of Architecture at NC State University. She is the 2020 recipient of the Gail Lindsey Award from AIA Triangle for her contributions to the culture of sustainable ...

Design for Freedom Summit - March 27 2025

By Kira L. Gould Hon. AIA posted 02-17-2025
Now is the time to harness the power of the built environment to uphold and support human rights and remove forced and child labor from the building materials supply chain. Grace Farms welcomes leaders from the architecture, engineering, construction, tech, government, manufacturing, non-profits, real estate, and academic sectors to the Design for Freedom Summit to advance the movement and create true market transformation. Attendees will engage with the latest research and technology to actualize the Design for Freedom Principles: to find and address forced labor, pursue ethical decarbonization and prioritize circularity. The 2025 Design for Freedom Summit ...