Congregation Beth Israel recognized with AIA Virginia’s 2025 Test of Time Award

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Congregation Beth Israel has been selected to receive the prestigious 2025 Test of Time Award from AIA Virginia, which honors architectural excellence that has stood the test of time. The award is given to a structure at least 25 years old that continues to serve its original purpose while maintaining its original appearance and integrity.

Founded in 1881, Congregation Beth Israel is the longest continually operating synagogue in Virginia and the tenth oldest in the United States. Nestled beside Historic Court Square in downtown Charlottesville, the synagogue underwent a transformative expansion nearly three decades ago. With a strong commitment to remaining at the heart of the city, the congregation chose to add a 14,000 square-foot modern extension to its original 7,000 square-foot 19th-century sanctuary.

Designed collaboratively by brw architects and the congregation’s design committee, the addition pays homage to the historic structure while enhancing its presence. The project introduced a new chapel and entrance inspired by original architectural detailing, complemented by a contemporary two-story steel and glass window. A new courtyard now connects the historic and modern elements, creating a small urban park and welcoming community space.

Over the past 30 years, this thoughtful integration of old and new has strengthened congregational life, enriched the neighborhood’s character, and embodied the synagogue’s values of resilience, openness, and continuity.

Congregation Beth Israel will be officially recognized at the Visions for Architecture gala on Thursday, November 6, 2025, at the Richmond Downtown Marriott. Tickets will be available beginning September 2, 2025, at www.aiava.org.

Willie Greenough Awarded Honorary Membership by AIA Virginia

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AIA Virginia is proud to announce that Willie Greenough has been selected for Honorary Membership in 2025, a distinction reserved for individuals of esteemed character who, though not eligible for conventional membership, have made exemplary and sustained contributions to architecture and the built environment.

Willie Greenough is a masterful model builder known for his meticulous craft, artistic integrity, and clarity of vision. Greenough brings a unique perspective informed by his lived experience as an autistic individual. As noted by his nominator, “Willie’s autism isn’t something he works around; it’s something he channels,” enabling him to make precise decisions that elevate his work.

Greenough’s models serve not only as tools for communication and design resolution but also as works of art that foster understanding and connection between architects, clients, and communities.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Willie Greenough will be honored at the Visions for Architecture gala on Thursday, November 6, 2025, at the Richmond Downtown Marriott. Tickets will be available starting September 2, 2025, at www.aiava.org.

AIA Virginia Newsletter: August 2025

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Revised Contract Standards for A/E Services
AIA Virginia and ACEC Virginia Collaborate with DGS to Revise Contract Standards for A/E Services.
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ArchEx 2025 Registration Opening Soon
Registration starts on Tuesday, September 2. Take advantage of the Early Bird rates until September 17.
More>>

ELA 2026 Applications Open
Applications are now open for the 2026 class of Emerging Leaders in Architecture. Check with your local component for scholarship opportunities.
More>>

A Call for Candidates
We are still searching for a StAR: could it be you?
More>>

The Helene Combs Dreiling, FAIA Fellowship
The call for applications is now open through August 22, 2025.
More>>

ArchEx 2025 Keynote Panel Announced
Join us at ArchEx 2025 for our Kickoff and Keynote Panel Discussion with Margaret Cavenagh, AIA, LEED AP (Perkins & Will), Elliott Felix (Buro Happold), and Peter B. MacKeith, Assoc. AIA (Fay Jones School of Architecture + Design, University of Arkansas) Uncertainty to Opportunity: Designing Resilience in a Changing World.
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Thank you and all the very best to Irem Sezer
Please join us in wishing a fond adieu to Irem Sezer, Assoc. AIA. Irem joined the team in October 2023 as the AIA Virginia-Virginia Sea Grant Coastal Adaptation & Resilience Design Post-Graduate Research & Development Fellow.
More>>

Building Reuse & Decarbonization Webinar Series Recap
Did you miss the Building Reuse & Decarbonization webinar series? You can watch the recorded webinars on our AIA Virginia YouTube channel here>>

Welcome New Members
We are always excited to welcome new members to Virginia. The following members recently joined AIA Virginia.
More>>

Designing for LEED v5: What Architects Need to Know Now
Join AIA Virginia for a webinar about LEED v5 on Tuesday, August 19, from 12:00-1:00 pm EST.
Register>>

VA COTE Programming Interest Survey
Please take 2 minutes to give us your feedback about VA COTE programming.
Take the survey>>

Garland Appointed
Lynden Garland, AIA, has once again been appointed to the Art and Architecture Review Board by the Governor. Congratulations Lynden! Learn more about the state commissions and boards>>

PAC Award Update
We’ve got a tie at the top of the leaderboard for the 2025 AIA Virginia PAC Challenge. Your donation today could mean your chapter wins $1,000.
More>>

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.
More>>

EDI Resources
AIA’s Guides for Equitable Practice use real-world-derived best practices, relevant research, and other tools to help foster equitable, diverse, and inclusive firm cultures and work environments. Short on time? Read the Executive Summaries of each chapter>>
More>>

AIA Virginia’s SME Portal
We have launched a portal through which members can indicate and self-report their interest and expertise in a wide range of subjects.
More>>

Amber Book
Ready to get licensed? AIA Virginia offers Associate AIA members a discounted 60-day Amber Book subscription.
More>>

Joseph Wisnewski
We recently learned of the passing of AIA Emeritus member Joseph Wisnewski.
Obituary>>

Design to Win: €10K Prize Pool & Exhibition at ArchEx 2025
The Field Station invites participants to design a multidisciplinary campus within the Shenk Property, a secluded nature reserve along Virginia’s Severn River (USA). Surrounded by wetlands and woodlands, this site offers a unique opportunity to blend architecture with one of the East Coast’s most sensitive ecosystems.
More>>

Featured Job Listings
HEDS Architects in Charlottesville is looking for a designer with 1-5 years of experience with a degree in Architecture from an accredited college or university.
More>>

PAC Award Update

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The PAC Award Challenge continues for 2025. It’s time to celebrate the engagement and commitment of a local AIA component that supports the advancement and mission of the PAC; one of the sharpest tools in our advocacy toolkit.

Contribute to the PAC>>

Points are accrued in three areas: local component Board participation, the percentage of local component’s membership who have invested in the PAC, and the total amount of money invested by the members of the local component. Points are allocated as follows:

  1. Local component Board participation
    a. Did 100% of the Board of Directors invest in the AIA Virginia PAC?
    i. Yes = 20 points
    ii. No = 0 points
  2. Percentage of local component members who have invested in the AIA Virginia PAC
    i. Component with highest % = 40 points
    ii. Component with second highest % = 20 points
    iii. Component with third highest % = 10 points
  3. Average investment per member from the total local component membership
    i. Component with highest average investment/member = 40 points
    ii. Component with second highest average investment/member = 30 points
    iii. Component with third highest average investment/member = 20 points
    iv. Component with fourth highest average investment/member = 10 points
    v. Component with fifth highest average investment/member = 0 points

Current Leaderboard:
AIA Central Virginia – 60 points
AIA Coastal Virginia – 60 points
AIA Richmond – 30 points
AIA Northern Virginia – 10 points
AIA Blue Ridge – 10 points

Scoring will close on Friday, October 10, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. EST. The winning component goes home with $1,000 cash for Architecture Week/Month and the award trophy at Architecture Exchange East in November. AIA Central Virginia is the reigning champ, but it’s a new competition – we’ll see who prevails. And if you need additional inspiration, in this same issue of the newsletter, Patrick Cushing, our retained lobbyist, shares his perspective on the importance of the PAC.

Revised Contract Standards for A/E Services

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AIA Virginia and ACEC Virginia Collaborate with DGS to Revise Contract Standards for A/E Services

ACEC Virginia and AIA Virginia have been actively working with the Virginia Department of General Services (DGS) to update and clarify the standards that govern the procurement and execution of Architecture and Engineering (A/E) services in the Commonwealth. This collaboration has resulted in key updates to the CO-3a Terms and Conditions of the A/E Contract, directly addressing concerns from the A/E community.

Key Revisions and Improvements Include:

  • Refined Standard of Care Language: One of the most significant updates was the removal of the phrase “highest standard of care” from the contract. This revision brings the standard of care in line with industry norms—requiring services to be performed with the care and skill ordinarily used by members of the profession practicing under similar conditions—which eliminates insurability concerns.
  • Updates to Section 32 – Contractual Claims clarifies and makes explicit how issues beyond the immediate control of the A/E can establish a cause for claim for compensation, and how the process for resolving that claim should proceed.
  • Incorporation of CPSM-Related Language: Relevant content from Section 9 of the A/E Manual, related to Design Not to Exceed (CPSM), has been relocated and integrated into Section 32 of the contract. This realignment ensures that CPSM provisions are directly and clearly addressed within the contractual framework.
  • Section 12 establishes the maximum amount of Professional Liability Insurance required, regardless of the Design-not-to-exceed Budget.

Additional revisions pertain to requirements for additional insurance, HR training, etc. Members would do well to review the documents in their entirety. For your convenience, a comparative text document highlighting the recent revisions can be accessed here>>. To view the updated CO-3a Terms and Conditions in their full and official form, visit the DGS Forms Center at https://dgs.virginia.gov.

We appreciate the willingness of DGS leadership to listen and respond to the concerns of industry. We also appreciate the willingness of our members to voice their concerns, apply their expertise and experience, and propose, consider, and refine alternatives.

This successful collaboration highlights the value of continued dialogue between key stakeholders and the A/E industry. Through this work, ACEC Virginia and AIA Virginia continue to advocate for the interests of our members and our professions.

Please continue to keep us apprised of issues that affect our practice and industry. Alert us to issues and/or stakeholders that need to be addressed. We remain committed to the cause and are eager to advocate on your behalf.

Thank you and all the very best to Irem Sezer

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Please join us in wishing a fond adieu to Irem Sezer, Assoc. AIA. Irem joined the team in October 2023 as the AIA Virginia-Virginia Sea Grant Coastal Adaptation & Resilience Design Post-Graduate Research & Development Fellow. We value our continued partnership with Virginia Sea Grant which made this opportunity possible.

We always knew this position would be one of the many steps in Irem’s journey, and we are pleased to celebrate the next of those steps: Irem is now Instructional Assistant Professor at Texas A&M’s College of Architecture and will begin teaching courses there this Fall.

Irem is extremely thoughtful, effective, and collaborative.  We appreciate her initiative and contributions. And we look forward to her future accomplishments. In fact, her work with us is not yet done. Irem is scheduled to return to ArchEx to exhibit and celebrate the results of the international design competition she organized. And it’s not too late to register for that competition; the registration fee is discounted for AIA Virginia members. Information can be found here >>

Newly Licensed

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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!

Ava Helm, AIA (Northern Virginia)
Breta Bishop, AIA (Northern Virginia)

Have you recently passed the ARE? Change your membership to Architect at me.aia.org

Are you ready to get licensed? AIA Virginia has discounted 60-day Amber Book subscriptions. Read more about it here>>

Support our Associate members on their path to licensure with your support of the discounted Amber Book subscription. Donate to the AIA Virginia Foundation

Have questions about licensure? Contact AIA Virginia’s State Licensing Advisor, Gina Robinson, AIA, at gina.robinson@hdrinc.com

New Members

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We are always excited to welcome new members to Virginia. The following members recently joined the ranks of AIA Virginia.

New Architect Members
Patrick Finucan, AIA (Northern Virginia)
Sara Hall, AIA (Blue Ridge)

New Associate Members
Justin Boyle, Assoc. AIA (Northern Virginia)
Giorgia Cannici, Assoc. AIA (Blue Ridge)
Sarah Gates, Assoc. AIA (Northern Virginia)
Angelika Giavis, Assoc. AIA (Northern Virginia)
Garrett Klingaman, Assoc. AIA (Richmond)
Michael Matthews, Assoc. AIA (Northern Virginia)
Angela Ozorio-Guareno, Assoc. AIA (Northern Virginia)
Abigail Perry, Assoc. AIA (Richmond)
Daniela Quintero, Assoc. AIA (Northern Virginia)
Morgan Seras, Assoc. AIA (Northern Virginia)
Miriam Shron, Assoc. AIA (Richmond)
Clayton Sykes, Assoc. AIA (Richmond)
Harshit Verma, Assoc. AIA (Blue Ridge)
Kylie Rae Wheeler, Assoc. AIA (Coastal Virginia)
John White, Assoc. AIA (Blue Ridge)

Transfers into AIA Virginia
Prashansa Sharma, Assoc. AIA (Northern Virginia) from AIA New Jersey

Change to Emeritus status
Kevin Deck, AIA Member Emeritus (Blue Ridge)

New/Renewed Allied Members
Dan Chung, Owner, Wind and Water Architectural Photography

View all of the AIA Virginia Allied members

Junior Designer

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HEDS Architects | Charlottesville, VA

Designer with 1-5 years of experience with a degree in Architecture from an accredited college or university. Proficiency in CAD is required – we use ArchiCAD as our CAD platform but proficiency in Revit or related 3D CAD programs is sufficient.

Responsibilities will include working with the Partner on the design and documentation phases for custom residential projects. The candidate will be responsible for the design and production of construction documents and building detailing. We are seeking self-directed and talented designers who are organized, and thorough.

HEDS focuses on sustainable and modern design with a focus on custom residential work. We focus on the careful integration of buildings with their environment — a focus that operates at several levels — in harmonizing buildings with their surroundings, and in the integration of building and natural systems.

Email resume and work samples to aewing@hedsarchitects.com.

AIA Virginia Newsletter: July 2025

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President’s Letter
Embracing Adaptability in Design and Resilience in an Ever-Changing World.
More>>

ArchEx 2025 – Keynote Speaker Announced
Save the dates for the 38th Architecture Exchange East, November 5-7, plus one of our keynote speakers has been announced!
More>>

A Call for Candidates
AIA Virginia and its members benefit enormously from dedicated, effective, and passionate volunteers serving in many positions, many of which will soon need to be filled. Take a look at how you can serve.
More>>

The Helene Combs Dreiling FAIA Fellowship
The call for applications is now open through August 22, 2025.
More>>

Designing for LEED v5: What Architects Need to Know Now
Join AIA Virginia for a webinar about LEED v5 on Tuesday, August 19, from 12:00-1:00 pm EST.
More>>

Building Reuse and Decarbonization Webinar Series
The AIA Virginia Historic Resources Committee (HRC) and the AIA Virginia COTE have partnered and created a 4-part webinar series that brings together leading experts in architecture, interior design, sustainability, and electrical engineering.
More>>

COTE Corner
VA COTE Programming Interest Survey – Please take 2 minutes to give us your feedback about VA COTE programming.
More>>

Design to Win: €10K Prize Pool & Exhibition at ArchEx 2025
The Field Station invites participants to design a multidisciplinary campus within the Shenk Property, a secluded nature reserve along Virginia’s Severn River (USA). Surrounded by wetlands and woodlands, this site offers a unique opportunity to blend architecture with one of the East Coast’s most sensitive ecosystems.
More>>

PAC Award Update
The race is getting tighter in the 2025 AIA Virginia PAC Challenge. Donate today and your chapter could win $1,000.
More>>

Welcome These New Members
We are always excited to welcome new members to Virginia. The following members recently joined AIA Virginia.
More>>

Resiliency Week Recap
Did you miss the Resiliency Week webinar series? You can watch the recorded webinars on our AIA Virginia YouTube channel here>>

SFx Updates
The 2024 Annual Report for the AIA Small Firm Exchange>>
Small Firm Exchange Insider Report>>

Historic Resources Committee
The Virginia Historic Resources Committee is a knowledge community of the AIA Virginia, comprised of people with an interest in historic architecture, adaptive reuse of existing buildings, and other history-related topics. Join our monthly meetings to learn more and help plan events.
More>>

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.
More>>

Joseph “Ebo” Fauber
We recently learned of the passing of long-time member Ebo Fauber.
More>>

And We Have a Winner!
See the birthday postcard designs coming soon to your mailbox.
More>>

EDI Resources
The Guides for Equitable Practice use real-world-derived best practices, relevant research, and other tools to help foster equitable, diverse, and inclusive firm cultures and work environments.
More>>

AIA Virginia’s SME Portal
We have launched a portal through which members can indicate and self-report their interest and expertise in a wide range of subjects.
More>>

Amber Book
Ready to get licensed? AIA Virginia offers Associate AIA members a discounted 60-day Amber Book subscription.
More>>

Licensure Scholarship
Apply now for OTJ’s Licensure Scholarship for Black/African American Architects and Interior Designers.
More>>

Fire Facilities Design Awards
The Fire Industry Education Resource Organization’s (F.I.E.R.O.*) Facilities Design Awards Program seeks to enhance the understanding of fire officials, mayors, city managers, budget directors, architects, and others of the functional requirements of a modern fire station.
More>>