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 an architect!
Becky Virgl, AIA (Northern Virginia) Judith Orellana, AIA (Northern Virginia) Sydney Huibregtse, AIA (Northern Virginia) Alex Haley, AIA (Richmond)
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 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
Transfers into AIA Virginia Dana Archer, AIA (Northern Virginia) from AIA Washington DC Sally Cejauskas, AIA (Northern Virginia) from AIA California David Kaplan, AIA (Northern Virginia) from AIA Washington DC Jessie McLain, Assoc. AIA (Northern Virginia) from AIA Washington DC Evelyn-Pierce Smith, Assoc. AIA (Northern Virginia) from AIA Washington DC Matthew Young, AIA (Blue Ridge) from AIA Oklahoma
New/Renewed Allied Members Brian Hunt, Vice President, Keith Fabry Dan Longenderfer, Director of Marketing, York Building Products
We’re excited to announce a bold new design competition, in collaboration with TerraViva Competitions. This is an open international call for visionary, bold, and interdisciplinary ideas that offer creative solutions to real-world challenges.
Get your team together: this is your chance to collaborate, experiment, and make your mark. Design competitions are a powerful platform for creative exploration, pushing the boundaries of what design can do and how it can shape the future. You’ll also connect with a global design community. Entries will be reviewed by a distinguished jury panel of U.S. and internationally based architects.
Winning proposals will be exhibited during the Architecture Exchange East 2025 Conference, themed “Design the Future: Advancing Technology, Community & Business” to a wide audience of design professionals and industry leaders.
AIA Virginia Members:
A unique registration code is available for AIA Virginia members, allowing them to register free of charge. This code is tied to the email addresses in your AIA profile.
Please note: The code must be applied during checkout using the same email address linked to their AIA Virginia membership. While participants can join as teams, at least one member (the registrant/team leader) must be an AIA Virginia member.
Don’t miss this chance to contribute, compete, and be seen.
Irem Sezer, Assoc. AIA Coastal Adaptation & Resilience Design Post-Graduate Research & Development Fellow
Optimism is at the heart of architecture. As architects, we believe in the possibility of shaping a better, more resilient world that enhances the lives of others. In a time of constant change, adaptability is key, and we have both the opportunity and responsibility to lead with solutions that promote resilience, sustainability, and forward-thinking design.
Last month, AIA Virginia’s Board gathered for our annual strategic retreat, where we outlined key priorities to guide our work over the next two years. Our focus is centered on five critical areas that will strengthen our impact and elevate our profession. We will amplify the voices of architects through Public Awareness. We will enhance the value we provide to our members by strengthening our Flagship Programs. Through collaboration and Community Connections with our local components, we will foster unity and shared purpose. We will Cultivate Learning by advancing knowledge-sharing and professional development. Finally, to ensure AIA Virginia remains a dynamic, inclusive, and impactful organization, we will deepen engagement through a strong Leadership Culture.
AIA Virginia remains committed to our vision and mission, ensuring that we are at the forefront of conversations that impact our profession and the built environment. This commitment was evident in February, when we joined architects from across the country on Capitol Hill as part of AIA’s Leadership Summit. Architects play a crucial role in advocating for policies that support sustainable design, energy efficiency, and resilient communities. Our discussions with legislators focused on the importance of design freedom for federal buildings, tax incentives for architects and their practices, investing in resilient communities, and fostering affordable housing programs across our communities. Our collective advocacy is essential in shaping a future that prioritizes environmental stewardship and responsible growth.
In the coming weeks, we must also recognize that the ability to adapt to unexpected challenges is vital to our collective vision for the future. This is our opportunity to innovate, foster resilience, and find inspiration in the face of uncertainty. Engage within, share insights, challenges, and success stories to strengthen our network. Continue to mentor and empower our emerging leaders to bring fresh ideas and a bold vision to our field.
As we navigate the evolving landscape of architecture, our collective efforts will shape a future that is adaptable, innovative, and deeply rooted in sustainability. I invite each of you to contribute your voice and leadership as we forge ahead together. Let’s continue to lead with purpose, passion, and a commitment to a better future.
Meagan W Jancy, AIA, LEED AP bd+c President AIA Virginia
If you’re finalizing your tax returns, and wishing you had a few more deductions to include, I regret to inform you that it is too late for last year – but you could improve your situation this year by donating to the AIA Virginia Foundation.
Your contributions provide discounted subscriptions to The Amber Book study materials for those preparing for the ARE, support for ELA participants with financial need through The R. Corey Clayborne, FAIA ELA Scholarship, and opportunities for emerging professionals to learn and grow through engagement with AIA events and programs through The Helene Combs Dreiling, FAIA Fellowship. Undesignated gifts support the operations of the Foundation as well as yet-to-be-determined opportunities (e.g., scholarships, outreach, events, exhibits, etc.).
The Call for AIA Virginia Honors will be going out soon. In the meantime, I encourage you to help us identify those organizations and individuals doing great work. These Honors rightly recognize our members and colleagues. But we also do well to direct special consideration to those contributing beyond our own domains. Our Honors include several categories directed towards public outreach – these include The Test of Time Award, The Architecture Medal for Virginia Service, Honorary Membership, and AIA Virginia Honors.
Who deserves commendation? Who is contributing? Whose impact should be celebrated? Point them out. Push them forward. Nominate them. Assist them with their submission. Help us to give them the recognition and appreciation they deserve.
As a friendly reminder, I’ll mention that current AIA Virginia Board members and Honors Committee members are not eligible for any individual award. And 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.
That said, let’s take this opportunity to commend and appreciate the members of the 2025 Honors Committee: Mel Price, FAIA, Andrew McKinley, AIA, Rebecca Brady, AIA, Katie Honbarrier, AIA, Susan Pryor, AIA, and Jessie Gemmer, AIA will join those continuing their service: Bruce Wardell, FAIA, Shannon Dowling, AIA, Eric Keplinger, AIA, Erin Webb, AIA, David Prevette, AIA, Nina Comiskey, AIA, and Lori Garrett, FAIA – who has been appointed as Chair. Gratitude to all – your service is much appreciated.
Here’s a schedule of what we will be talking about the rest of the year
SFx Central Virginia: The newly formed SFx CV chapter has had its second monthly virtual lunch meeting last week. Moving forward, we will continue monthly (virtual) meetings on the 1st Tuesday of each month, punctuated quarterly with in-person gatherings. Email dan@alloyworkshop.com if you are interested in joining.
—-other items of interest and action in service to small firms—-
FYI: This is the AIA Compensation Survey year. Survey respondents (like out in April) get a free copy and the more firms complete the survey the more we can slice and dice the data!
AIA25 Offer – Sign up for first access to AIA25 tours Join our email list by March 9 for early access to AIA25’s always sold-out architect-led tours. You’ll also be able to register 24 hours before everyone else.
AIA25 – Discounts, including volunteering Looks like the same process as last year. Sign up asap for access. https://conferenceonarchitecture.com/discounts/
VANOMA’s Project Pipeline Summer Camp is back! This annual camp empowers young minds to shape their communities through design, connecting them with real-world architects and planners. The camp date for this year will be July 14 – 18, 2025 so Save the Date!
We are so excited to kick-off this year’s Project Pipeline Planning! We look forward to providing you with some key information and seeing you at the first Volunteer Meeting on Wednesday, April 9th from 12 – 1 pm on Zoom. Add it to your Calendar or Learn more at vanoma.org/project-pipeline!
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 an architect!
Matthew B. Hill, AIA (Northern Virginia) James I. Vidoni, AIA (Central Virginia) Antonina Pritchard, AIA (Coastal 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 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
Transfers into AIA Virginia Lauren Nelson Doss, AIA (Northern Virginia) from AIA Washington DC Timothy J. Mock, AIA (Northern Virginia) from AIA Washington DC Sarah Rodovalho, Int’l Assoc. AIA (Northern Virginia) from AIA California Shira F. Rosenthal, AIA (Northern Virginia) from AIA Maryland
New/Renewed Allied Members David DuRant, Director of Commercial Construction, TST Construction Anna Lee Bamforth, President, Bamforth Engineers + Surveyors Paxton Whitmore, Territory Manager, The Garland Company David Weber, Regional Sales Manager, Epic Metals
