AIA Virginia Newsletter: April 2026

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Parker Honored with Young Architect Award
We are elated that the American Institute of Architects (AIA), has announced that Carrie Parker, AIA is a recipient of the 2026 Young Architect Award.
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Registration Closes April 21
Join us for Design Forum XVII and hear from Marlon Blackwell, FAIA, Patricia Gruits, AIA, Ron Rael, and Mike Reynolds, who are vanguards of change, risk-takers whose practices challenge the standards of what it means to be an architect.
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ArchEx 2026 Call for Presentations
You have until April 30th to submit your presentation for consideration at this year’s Architecture Exchange East annual conference. ArchEx 2026 will be held in Richmond on November 4-6, 2026.
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Honors Call for Nominations
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2026 AIA Virginia Honors. Who will you nominate?
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Design Awards Call for Entries
Entries are now open for the 2026 Awards for Excellence in Architecture
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A Call for Candidates
We applaud and appreciate the continuing contributions of Kendall Nicholson, Ed. D., Assoc. AIA, who serves as the At-Large Director on the AIA Virginia Board. And we look forward to welcoming his successor and our next president-elect as we announce a call for candidates to both positions.
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Resiliency Speaker Series
Join us on Zoom for an exploration of resiliency in the built environment and discover why investing in resilient solutions can help protect us all.
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Tickets Now Available
From Vision to Action: The AIA VA COTE 2026 Sustainability Summit is a full-day event structured to spark inspiration, elevate practitioner insight, and produce tangible next steps for the profession. Join us on Thursday, May 28, and don’t wait to register; tickets are limited.
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2026 AIA Virginia Prize Awarded
$5,500 has been awarded for the 2026 Virginia Prize. The brief allowed students to design a Third Space in Bridgewater, Virginia.
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VA COTE + USGBC Building Tour
Harvesting the Elements: How the Nature Conservancy Harnessed the Sun, Water, and Plants
Join us for our 2026 building tour series! We wish to celebrate exciting and innovative sustainable building design around the Commonwealth. Our April tour will be at the Nature Conservancy in Arlington, VA.
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NAC Update
Read the NAC Q1 newsbite and StAR, Aidan Brown, shares the results from the recent Associate survey.
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The 2026 Honors Committee
AIA Virginia gratefully acknowledges those who will serve on this year’s Honors Committee.
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VA COTE + USGBC Building Tour
Join us for our 2026 building tour series! We wish to celebrate exciting and innovative sustainable building design around the Commonwealth. Our May tour will be the LEED Silver – Virginia Tech Data and Decision Sciences Building in Blacksburg, VA.
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Welcome New Members
We are always excited to welcome new members to Virginia. The following members recently joined AIA Virginia.
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Historic Tour: Tangier Island
Visit the island of Tangier, Virginia, with AIA Virginia’s Historic Resources Committee to learn about the community’s long history and insights about its built environment.
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We Need You
We need volunteers to join the Education Advisory Council. This is meaningful, high-impact work – and we need representative voices from across the state and our member constituencies to ensure our programs truly serve their needs.
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Newly Licensed
We all 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.
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Amber Book
Are you ready to get licensed? Access the ARE study materials – the Amber Book for 60 days for just $99.
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VANOMA Project Pipeline
Please consider contributing to VANOMA’s Project Pipeline. This enriching camp is designed to introduce students (grades 8–12) to the world of architecture and design.
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Bill Lecky
William “Bill” Prescott Lecky, FAIA, age 92, of Annapolis, MD, passed away peacefully on April 5th, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.
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Donate to the PAC
By speaking with a united voice, architects influence government actions that affect our profession and the quality of life for all Virginians. AIA Virginia uses the collective power of its membership to participate in the legislative and regulatory policy-making process.
www.aiavapac.org

Demystifying Fellowship for Small Firms
Please join the AIA Small Firm Exchange (SFx) for an exclusive panel discussion designed to shed light on the AIA Fellowship process and what it means for small firm practitioners.
Register>>

2026 AIA Firm Survey now in the field
Invitations were sent on March 25, with reminders continuing through late April. If you received an invitation, please participate! Didn’t get one? Request an invitation at economics@aia.org. The survey helps benchmark firm performance and inform AIA research and advocacy. Firms of all sizes are encouraged to participate.

Demystifying Fellowship for Small Firms Practitioners

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Please Join the AIA Small Firm Exchange (SFx) for an exclusive panel discussion designed to shed light on the AIA Fellowship process and what it means for small firm practitioners.

📅 April 30, 2026
🕛 2:00-3:30 PM ET


Register for the free online session: aia.zoom.us/meeting/register/ValXAnvbRyGztAwn7Bx77g

Panelists:

  • Jeanne Jackson, FAIA – Chancellor of the AIA College of Fellows, Utah
  • Greg Ibanez, FAIA – Former Regional Rep to CoF, Texas
  • Alicia Belton, FAIA – Founding Principal UDP, Minnesota
  • Thomas Lawrence FAIA – AIA Sfx Board member, Washington

Host/Moderator:

  • Joshua Zinder, AIA – SFx Board Member, New Jersey

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insights and guidance directly from leaders who know the Fellowship process best!

The talk is gear to small firm practitioners,  but it is open to everyone and any one pursuing fellowship will find it to be helpful.

I hope you can join.

NAC Update

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The NAC Q1 newsbite gives a rough summary of what the committee has been up to this past quarter! 

Thank you to everyone that took the time to respond to the Associate Member Survey. Your voices truly matter and we appreciate all of the productive feedback!

Based on the survey (view results here),  Associates members in Virginia share a strong desire for professional growth, meaningful connections, and guidance on the path to licensure. While AIA Virginia continues to provide value through events, community engagement, and continuing education, these responses highlight an opportunity to further align resources with the evolving needs of Associate members. Particularly, respondents shared a need for licensure support, mentorship, and early career development. Strengthening this alignment will be key to fostering deeper engagement and supporting the next generation of architects across the Commonwealth.

We hope to take this feedback into consideration, ensuring that we can serve all of our members across the state! Thank you again for your time and input.

Aidan Brown, Associate AIA
AIA Virginia StAR

Bill Lecky Passes

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William “Bill” Prescott Lecky, FAIA, age 92, of Annapolis, MD, passed away peacefully on April 5th, 2026 surrounded by his loving family.

Born on January 21st, 1934 in New York, NY, Bill lived an incredible life, touching millions as a world-renowned Washington, D.C. based architect. After his father passed away when he was very young, Bill was sent to boarding school at the Cooperstown Academy in Cooperstown, NY. It was there, during his formative years, that he developed a love of woodworking and design. Later, while enlisted in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, Bill was on leave in Mexico when he visited a contemporary designed church and discovered his life’s calling. 

Upon completing his service in the military, Bill attended the University of Virginia where he got his B.A. in Architecture in 1960. Shortly after he graduated, Bill formed a partnership with W. Kent Cooper, and Cooper-Lecky Architects became a stalwart of the Washington D.C. architectural community for nearly 40 years. Known for developing and training hundreds of young architects who passed through their doors, Cooper-Lecky holds fond memories for many of today’s leading D.C. area architects. During his career, Bill worked on numerous projects ranging from schools, churches and libraries to custom offices and unique private homes, including several government landmarks including the Blair House, White House Press Room, and projects at the National Zoo. Over the course of his career, Bill’s design aesthetic was inspired by Bauhaus, Frank Lloyd Wright and mid-century modern approaches to architecture.

One of his proudest achievements involved working on renovations at numerous public and private buildings immediately after congress passed the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, requiring buildings to be retrofitted for accessibility for the disabled.  Through this work, Cooper-Lecky Architects led the way on what became the first wave of accessibility standards for building design in the United States.

Above all, Bill was known for his prominent roles in designing and constructing the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial and the Korean War Veterans’ Memorial on the National Mall, in Washington, DC. Conceived by Yale Architecture Student Maya Lin, the Vietnam Memorial concept was selected in a national design competition. Given that Lin had not yet graduated from college, an Architect of Record was required to finalize the design and engineering and to oversee construction. Bill’s prominent role in this project led to Cooper-Lecky Architects being selected as the design team for the Korean War Veterans Memorial which was dedicated in 1995. 

It was a combination of projects that led to numerous professional awards including the AIA’s 25-year design award for the Vietnam Memorial and Bill’s induction into the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA) in 2008.

Outside of architecture, Bill was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He relished time with his family at their weekend home in Bethany Beach, DE, and he loved to travel, with Tuscany and Sante Fe being two of his favorite destinations. Following his retirement, Bill returned to his roots in woodworking and artisanship, creating sculpture and making jewelry as a way to continue his creative passions. His self-published book, Designing for Remembrance: An Architectural Memoir (2012), remains one of the most interesting and detailed accounts of the trials and tribulations of building memorials on the National Mall. Bill remained a loyal UVA alumnus and Cavaliers sports fan, as well as a die-hard Redskins/Commanders fan until his passing.

Bill is survived by his wife of more than 60 years, Paula, his children Brooke (Matt Supple), Eric, and his grandchildren Stirling, Campbell, Ava and Grant.

For those wishing to commemorate or remember Bill, we invite you to leave comments on his “Lecky Design Studio” Facebook Page.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Architects Foundation (https://architectsfoundation.org/donation/), the philanthropic arm of the American Institute of Architects investing in scholarships and educational programs to help the next generation of young architects succeed in their careers. The family will gather for a private ceremony in Richmond, VA.

The 2026 Honors Committee

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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.

Bruce Wardell, FAIA

AIA Virginia gratefully acknowledges those who will serve on this year’s Honors Committee: Bruce Wardell, FAIA (who will chair), Rebecca Brady, AIA, April Drake, AIA, Harry Falconer, FAIA, Jessie Gemmer, AIA, Katie Honbarrier, AIA, Mark Humbertson, AIA, Andrew McKinley, AIA, David Prevette, AIA, Mel Price, FAIA, Susan Pryor, AIA, Mitch Rowland, AIA, Lauren Shirley, AIA. Paul R Battaglia, AIA will serve as the AIAVA liaison.

Be advised that members of the Honors Committee may not be used as a reference or advisor on any award or be solicited by the candidate or the candidate’s advisor. They’ll be busy reviewing the submissions. But you can please help us acknowledge and celebrate those doing great work in domains within and adjacent to our profession by nominating them and facilitating their submission.

A Call for Candidates

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A Call for Candidates for At-large Director and President-Elect

We applaud and appreciate the continuing contributions of Kendall Nicholson, Assoc. AIA, who serves as the At-Large Director on the AIA Virginia Board. And we look forward to welcoming his successor and our next President-Elect as we announce a call for candidates to both positions.

At-large Director Position

The At-large Director’s viewpoints should be statewide in scope. The term of office for this position is two years (non-renewable; non-consecutive terms). This position is open to both architect and associate members.

President-Elect

President-elect is a one-year position at the beginning of a three-year term of service on both the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee. During the first year the President-elect presides in the absence of the President. Following the initial year, the individual serves one year as President (presiding over the organization), and thereafter one year as Past President.

Candidate Declaration  

Any member-in-good-standing may declare their candidacy by informing the Secretary, through the Executive Vice President, of their intention to be considered for one of the available positions.

Submissions by candidates are due by 5:00 p.m. EDT, Monday, August 10, 2026, to Paul R. Battaglia, AIA, Executive Vice President, at pbattaglia@aiava.org. Candidates must submit the following:

  • A resume, headshot, and statement of philosophy. The statement of philosophy is limited to 250 words.
  • A declaration indicating that the individual’s firm does not employ unpaid labor on projects.
  • A letter of support from three different AIA Virginia members-in-good-standing.
  • Aspirants for the At-Large position must also submit a statement of acknowledgment from their local AIA component that the candidate will stand for election.

The Board of Directors will approve the full slate of candidates during its August Meeting, and the slate will be announced to members in advance of the elections to be held during the Annual Meeting of the Membership at Architecture Exchange East in Richmond, VA, on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. Terms of those elected will commence at the Board Meeting scheduled for Friday, December 11, 2026.

Opportunities to support VANOMA’s Project Pipeline

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Please consider contributing to VANOMA’s Project Pipeline. This enriching camp is designed to introduce students (grades 8–12) to the world of architecture and design through hands-on activities, mentorship, and creative exploration. It’s a great opportunity for students to discover new career paths, build confidence, and connect with like-minded peers. This year VANOMA’s Project Pipeline will be hosted in two locations: Brightpoint Community College’s Chester Campus and Hampton University. Both camps will take place July 13-17th.

There are several ways to help.

Spread the word by sharing this opportunity with students and families. Those who are curious can learn more and register for the camp here>>

Volunteer. Your engagement makes Project Pipeline a success for the campers. For general information and to learn more about volunteer schedules, you can email info.vanoma@gmail.com. Or you can register as a volunteer at VA NOMA 2025 Project Pipeline Mentor Registration Form.

Thank you for supporting programs that inspire and empower the next generation of leaders and designers.

Carrie Parker, AIA – 2026 Young Architect Awardee

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We are elated that the American Institute of Architects (AIA) has announced that Carrie Parker, AIA is a recipient of the 2026 Young Architect Award. The AIA Young Architects Award honors individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to the architecture profession early in their careers.

Carrie has provided service and leadership to the AIA Manufacturer’s Council, the YAF Forum, the Strategic Vision Council, the AIA Virginia Advocacy Council, and EP Roundtable, as well as AIAS, NCARB, and NAAB. Carrie has stated that “the recognition is deeply meaningful, and I’m grateful to the AIA for elevating leadership, service, and impact within our profession.” Our response: Carrie, we appreciate the leadership, service, and impact you have provided and congratulate you on this well-deserved award.