We understand the dedication and effort required to study for and pass the ARE. Congratulations to the following members for passing their exams and gaining licensure. This is great news that thrills all of us and we are so proud to call you architects!
Anna Krüger, AIA (Richmond) Adam Hines, AIA (Blue Ridge) Arnold Lee, AIA (Northern Virginia)
Have you recently passed the ARE? Upgrade your membership to Architect using this AIA form. or send an email to your Member Services Director, Cathy Guske, cguske@aiava.org
Are you ready to get licensed? AIA Virginia has 60-day Amber Book subscriptions for $50 here>>
Have questions about licensure? Contact AIA Virginia’s State Licensing Advisor, Michael Hammon, AIA at mhammon@glaveandholmes.com
AIA Virginia is pleased to announce the jury for the 2023 AIA Virginia Prize. The competition — which took place over the weekend of Feb. 10-13 weekend —challenged students to design a house for two artists that will include their workshop and a public program in the form of an exhibition space and an educational space.
The AIA Virginia Prize is a design charrette that engages students at all of the accredited architecture programs in Virginia. Conducted simultaneously at each institution, students are given the competition program Friday at 5 p.m. They work over the weekend to create a board presenting their design solution by 9 a.m. the following Monday. The competition is intended to promote collaboration between the profession, students, and professors in Virginia.
Each school’s faculty reviewed the submissions and sent up to 10 finalists for final consideration by the jury which will be chaired by Forrest Frazier, AIA.
About the Jury
Forrest Frazier, AIA studied Architectural History and Design at the University of Virginia before receiving his Master’s in Architecture from the University of California at Berkeley, where he was the recipient of the Stephen Lenci Award and Chester Miller Traveling Fellowship. He has over fifteen years of broad professional experience at award-winning design firms including Mark Cavagnero in San Francisco, Alterstudio in Austin, and Tod Williams Billie Tsien in New York. Prior to founding Two Street Studio, Forrest worked on high-end residences in Manhattan and the Hamptons with the acclaimed boutique architecture/development firm founded by Cary Tamarkin. Forrest is the director of Two Street Studio’s Richmond office.
Azadeh Rashidi, AIA is a Registered Architect and Project Manager at Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects | Partners (TWBTA). She holds Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Architecture from the University of Virginia, where she has also taught. Since joining TWBTA in 2008, she has managed several of the firm’s projects from conception to completion. Her expertise working with cultural buildings for the firm began with the David and Reva Logan Center for the Arts at the University of Chicago. Azadeh has also overseen the renovation and expansion of the Hood Museum of Art at Dartmouth College. Most recently, she completed TWBTA’s renovation of David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center, home to the New York Philharmonic. Prior to her work at TWBTA, she was an associate at WG Clark Architects in Charlottesville, VA, and was involved in the design of the award-winning addition to the School of Architecture at the University of Virginia. Beyond her practice as an architect, Azadeh is devoted to creating opportunities for young designers of diverse backgrounds and spearheads TWBTA’s mentorship program.
Everald Colas, AIA is an award-winning Haitian American architect, educator, and storyteller and is the founder of Storyn Studio for Architecture. He has led a variety of internationally acclaimed projects during his time as an architect and specializes in projects that require a sensitive approach to integrating mixed-use buildings in a historical context. As a practitioner, he is committed to civic engagement and how design can promote stronger communities, create more inclusive spaces, foster place-making in a neighborhood, and be identity-affirming to individuals within a community and greater city. He is motivated to find solutions for designing equitable spaces for all voices and believes that design is a tool for social change. Before creating Storyn, Everald was a senior architect for Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). Everald holds both a Master of Architecture degree and a Master of Science in Architectural Pedagogy from The University of Florida. In 2018, he co-founded and organized the annual University of Florida School of Architecture COMING HOME Alumni Lecture Series. He has been awarded the Garcia Award for Design Excellence by the Tampa Bay AIA, Florida’s Young Architect Design Award, and the Distinguished Service Award from the University of Florida.
Spring is upon us… (I hope). I for one am happy that spring has arrived as it brings about change all around us.
New growth in the trees.
Plants breaking free of the earthly bonds, seeking warmth and growing.
The sounds of brightly colored birds
New and different kinds of weeds are growing in my yard (not really happy about the weeds, but that is a different conversation.)
But most importantly, it is still daylight when I leave the Office.
It is also a busy time at AIA Virginia and the components around the state. Everyone has been busy putting together great events and other opportunities for growth and participation.
In celebration of Resilience Week in Virginia, AIA Hampton Roads is presenting a series of seminars on resiliency. These seminars are scheduled for the week of April 17th. Register today>>
The AEC Conference is scheduled for April 25th and 26th in Richmond. This event is the result of the joint efforts by AGC, ACEC, and AIA Virginia. The conference brings together the architectural, engineering, and construction community in one location.Register today>>
The Art of Practice is scheduled for June 23rd in Charlottesville. This year’s focus is on preparing for economic stress and maintaining resilience. Only 50 tickets will be sold so Register today>>
AIA Virginia has issued the Call for Entries for the 2023 Design Awards Program. More here>>
The Call for Nominations for AIA Virginia Honors is now open too. More here>>
Planning is well underway for ArchEx ’23 scheduled for November 1st thru 3rd, in Richmond. Save these dates for our annual family reunion!
The events take the time and energy of a dedicated few to plan and execute. I encourage each of us to take a few minutes and visit the website of each of our local components and AIA Virginia. Find out how we can make a connection, serve in our communities, and participate. There are several components looking for committee members and board members. Each one of us is an important part of AIA.
Look forward to seeing you all at the AEC Conference.
Entries to the 2023 Design Awards program are now being accepted. AIA Virginia’s Awards for Excellence in Architecture (also known as the Design Awards) recognize outstanding design, built and unbuilt, from the past seven years. The program is juried by a team of esteemed practitioners from outside of the region.
Each entry will be judged on how successful the project is in meeting its individual requirements. Consideration is given to aesthetics, social impact, innovation, context, performance, and stewardship of the natural environment — with particular emphasis on the Framework for Design Excellence.
Each entry must include a completed Framework for Design Excellence Project Information Form as page one of their submission. Note: Entrants should not feel obligated to respond to every measure within the Framework — only those that apply to the project being submitted. It is understood that every project is different and may not respond to each measure within the Framework. The jury will consider each design holistically and within context.
No specific number of awards is set, and the program is open to all categories of building as well as interiors projects. The location of projects is not restricted, but any built works submitted for consideration must have been completed on or after Jan. 1, 2016. Enter online.
Entries are due by 5 p.m. on June 28, 2023.Note: You should be prepared to submit your concealed ID and project submission upon entry.
Entry fees
AIA VirginiaMembers: $190 for the first project $160 for each additional project The Small Projects Category has a reduced entry fee of $100 Note: The entrant must be a member of AIA Virginia to be eligible to receive the member discount. The submitting AIA Virginia member must be a contributor to the design team.
Non-members of the AIAVA (must have an office located in Virginia): $245 for the first project $220 for each additional project The Small Projects Category has a reduced entry fee of $200
Developed by members of the AIA, the Framework for Design Excellence, represents the defining principles of good design in the 21st century. It’s intended to be accessible and relevant for every architect, every client, and every project — regardless of size, typology, or aspiration.
The 10 measures that make up the Framework are intended to inspire progress toward a zero-carbon, equitable, resilient, and healthy built environment. They represent standards of excellence as defined by members of the AIA. These measures align with the AIA’s core values which are collectively defined by members across the country.
The completed Framework for Design Excellence Project Information Form is required and shall be page 1 of each submission. The remaining 6 pages of each submission may be designed and defined by the entrant.
Use the Project Narrative section to describe how the design aligns with the Framework for Design Excellence. Entrants are encouraged to address all applicable measures.
We recognize every project is different and may not respond to every measure within the Framework. The jury will consider the design holistically and within context.
Data may not be available for some metrics on the form, or the client may prefer to keep certain metrics confidential. If this is the case, space is provided on the form to provide an explanation.
Entrants are encouraged to call out extraordinary responses to specific measures in the remaining 6 pages of their submission as well.
Do you have a colleague who deserves recognition? Is there a firm with a great culture that consistently produces incredible work? Is there a building that has captured your heart? Consider nominating them for an award in AIA Virginia’s 2023 Honors Awards program.
The Honors program recognizes the best efforts of Virginians who — by profession or avocation — have made creating, preserving, and enhancing Virginia’s communities an important life commitment.
Nominations
Nominations must be submitted online. Nominations should be submitted as a single PDF up to 20 pages (not including letters of support) and no larger than 15 MB.
Nominations for all AIA Virginia honors may be made by individual members, by chapter honors committees, by AIA Virginia committees, or by the Board of Directors itself.
Current AIA Virginia Board members and Honors Committee members are not eligible for any award. Members of the Honors Committee may not be used as a reference or adviser or be solicited by the candidate or the candidate’s advisor.
The deadline is Friday, June 16, 2023, at 5 p.m.
Eligibility
Eligibility criteria and submission requirements vary by award. Click on the awards listed below for additional details and to review past recipients.
The William C. Noland Medal, as the highest award bestowed on a member architect, is intended to honor a distinguished body of accomplishments, sustained over time, that spans a broad spectrum of the profession and that transcends the scope of normal professional activities. Only one medal may be bestowed each year.
The T. David Fitz-Gibbon Virginia Architecture Firm Award, as the highest honor bestowed by AIA Virginia to a Virginia-based architecture firm, recognizes a firm that has consistently demonstrated outstanding and continuous contributions to design, the profession, and to the community for at least ten years.
The Virginia Emerging Architect Award recognizes the accomplishments of an emerging leader in Virginia for their contributions to the profession in any of the following: design, research, education, service as a “citizen architect,” service to the profession, service to the community, or initiatives to advance social justice, equity, diversity, or inclusion.
*NEW FOR 2023*The Virginia Associates Award recognizes the accomplishments of individual Associate AIA members for being outstanding leaders and creative thinkers for significant contributions to their communities and the architecture profession.
The Award for Distinguished Achievement recognizes either a singular achievement by an architect or the work of an entire career in any of the following: design, practice, education, service as a “citizen architect,” service to the profession, or initiatives to advance social justice, equity, diversity, or inclusion.
The Test of Time Award recognizes architectural design of enduring significance. The structure should be in Virginia and must be no less than 25 years old. Building use may change over time if the overall design is cherished as a significant contribution to the community and the built environment.
Public Awards
The Architecture Medal for Virginia Service is AIA Virginia’s most prestigious public award, honoring an individual or organization that has made an unusually significant contribution to Virginia’s built environment or to the public’s understanding and awareness of the built environment. Only one medal may be bestowed each year but may be given simultaneously to more than one person.
Honorary Membership is bestowed upon a person of esteemed character who is not eligible for membership in the AIA Virginia but who has rendered distinguished and exemplary service, over a sustained period of time, to architecture and the built environment within the domain of AIA Virginia.
AIA Virginia Honors may be bestowed on non-member individuals or organizations that have inspired, influenced, or complemented the architecture profession in Virginia through practice of an allied profession, research, education, planning, legislation, architectural writing, the arts, or crafts. An individual who has previously been elected an Honorary Member of AIA Virginia is ineligible to receive AIA Virginia Honors.
At the Feb. 14, 2023 meeting, the AIA Virginia Board of Directors affirmed the following appointments to the 2023 Honors Committee:
David Keith, FAIA (Chair) Bill Brown, AIA Scott Campbell, AIA Tim Colley, AIA Emily Hogan, AIA Randy Holmes, FAIA Jeanne LeFever, AIA Rob Reis, FAIA Warees Smith, AIA Kevin Sneed, FAIA Michael Spory, Assoc. AIA Karen Van Lengen, FAIA Kenneth Wiseman, FAIA
The honors program recognizes the best efforts of Virginians who, by profession or avocation, have made creating, preserving, and enhancing Virginia’s communities an important life commitment.
Resiliency is the ability to quickly recover from disruption. But, how quickly can our buildings and systems bounce back from natural or man-made disasters? Can our infrastructure rapidly adapt to changing environmental, social, and economic conditions?
Join AIA Virginia in collaboration with AIA Hampton Roads for an exploration of resiliency in the built environment and discover why investing in resilient solutions can help protect us all.
Monday, April 17th @ noon–1 p.m. Shoreline Restoration and the Elizabeth River Project Sam Bowling, AIA | Architect & Project Manager, Work Program Architects Luisa Black | Resiliency Manager, The Elizabeth River Project Living Shorelines and shoreline buffers help protect against erosion, restore wildlife habitat, and help mitigate tidal flooding. Using the Ryan River Lab as a case study, learn how buildings can be a model for protecting both the ecosystem and humans as sea levels rise. WATCH RECORDING
Wednesday, April 19 @ 3-4 p.m. Decarbonization and the Built Environment Michael Lenox, Ph.D. | Taylor Murphy Professor of Business Administration, Senior Associate Dean and Chief Strategy Officer, University of Virginia Learn about the urgent imperative to address carbon in the building sector and understand how policy changes and emerging technologies can help accelerate the transition. WATCH RECORDING
Friday, April 21 @ 1:30-2:20 p.m. Master Planning for Resiliency
Paula Loomis, Ph.D, FAIA | Director of Research, Senior Architect, Senior Planner, Urban Collaborative Meet the challenges of a rapidly changing climate. Learn how we can protect our structures, systems, and natural spaces by working in collaboration with designers, citizens, and policy-makers to build climate-resilient communities. WATCH RECORDING
This series is organized by AIA Hampton Roads in collaboration with the AIAVA Outreach Advisory Council.
Karen Van Lengen, FAIA, is an architect, the Kenan Professor of Architecture, and former Dean (1999-2009) of the School of Architecture at the University of Virginia. To her deanship, she brought a decade-long conversation on the relation of ethics and aesthetics to the School and successfully introduced several faculty-designed additions and renovations to the Architecture School that gave the University a new vision of campus architecture. Her current research focuses on the exploration of sound and communication as an integral part of the architectural design process. With artist Jim Welty, they have created interpretive visual animations of the soundscapes of iconic buildings and landscapes. Their work is included in the permanent collections of several international museums. Van Lengen has authored several books and articles related to themes of sonic spaces, and landscapes. Van Lengen began her professional career as an Associate of I.M. Pei & Partners before founding her own award-winning firm in New York City, Karen Van Lengen Architects.
Where did you go to architecture school?
Columbia University School of Architecture Planning and Preservation, MArch.
What do you think it takes to be an architect?
A strong dedicated belief in the future. That what we design, make, alter, and restore can positively influence the world around us and one another.
Is there an architect that particularly inspires you?
There are many: Hans Scharoun, Sauerbruch and Hutton, Thom Pfeiffer, Deborah Berke, Lacaton & Vassal, Jeanne Gang, Toshiko Mori and others.
What’s the best meal you’ve ever had?
Hard to pin that down to one meal, but off the top of my head, a delicious memory comes from a tiny informal restaurant in Portoria, Umbria, Italy where I had the most exquisite Linguine Porcini, never to have been matched since. At home, I would say Red Snapper Soup made by my husband Jim Welty.
Why do you volunteer with AIA?
The organization is an essential part of our professional community. It allows a diversity of people, from practitioners to academics to work together for the common good of our very important designed and natural environments.
