Dean Maltz, AIA, is set to convene and chair the Design Awards Jury for AIA Virginia. As a Managing Partner at Shigeru Ban Architects (SBA), based in New York City and focusing on the Americas, Dean is responsible for executing Shigeru Ban’s creative vision for experiential architecture and design at all scales. He holds a B.Arch. from the Cooper Union School of Architecture and an M.Arch. from Harvard Graduate School of Design.
Advocating for low-carbon design practices, Dean is a vocal proponent of the use of mass timber construction as a sustainable alternative to concrete and steel. He is a frequent lecturer and speaker at universities and industry events while holding licenses to practice architecture in seven U.S. states.
A part of SBA for more than 20 years, Maltz has led multiple award-winning projects recognized for design excellence and technological innovation, including Cast Iron House (2021), Aspen Art Museum (2014), and Metal Shutter House (2010).
His current projects include the Altadena Center for Community in Los Angeles (2026); a 19-story hybrid mass timber residential condominium in Vancouver (2028); a 14-story residential condominium in Miami (2029); and a single-story pre-K wood structure in Maui (2026).
Dean is a recipient of the AIA Henry Adams Certificate of Merit (1984), the American Society of Interior Design Pinnacle Award (2005), and the Peter Cooper Public Service Award (2024).
As of March 2026, CSI has changed its licensing structure and method of access for all its specification formats. These formats include OmniClass, UniFormat, MasterFormat, and SectionFormat. The fee structure is currently advertised as a firm-wide subscription-based license, where the cost will depend on annual firm revenue. Previously, licenses to use any formats were issued to the individual. Those previously issued licenses for digital and printed copies of the formats will remain active, and individuals will be held to the licensing user agreements they accepted during their purchase. Anyone who wishes to use the previous formats may continue to do so without changing their license. If their specifications are monetized and used by others without a license, then a new license will be required of those users.
If you currently outsource specifications writing to a third-party firm, you still must have a license if you use the specifications as a deliverable within a project manual or referenced on the drawings. If you utilize a third-party platform to write your project specs, you must also have a license to export, share templates, and submit as a deliverable. This is in addition to the software platform having their own agreements to use the formats within their products.
Over the last few days, I’ve been reflecting on last week’s Design Forum held at Virginia Tech. Not only did I come away inspired and reenergized, I also have a renewed sense of optimism for our profession. The program underscored the impact that architects and designers can have on society, not only through the places we design, but through how we think, lead, and engage with the communities we serve.
The theme of Design Forum XVII was “Against the Grain.” Each speaker offered a distinctly different approach to this theme – from the creative and innovative use of local building materials, to reimagining centuries-old building materials through advancing technologies, to mitigating threats to fragile ecosystems through both building and landscape design. Together, these examples reinforced that meaningful design often begins with a willingness to challenge convention.
The event also reminded me that good design is not just about aesthetics. It is equally about the underlying values that fuel the work we do for our clients and communities. In that sense, good design is not only visible in the built product; it is embedded in the systems and processes that shape the work from the very beginning.
This reflection also brought me back to something I shared last November at Architecture Exchange East: that optimism is a key characteristic of effective leadership. As Melinda Gates has said, “Optimism isn’t a belief that things will automatically get better, it’s a conviction that we can make things better.” That idea felt especially relevant after the Forum. The future of architecture will be shaped by practitioners who are willing to think differently, act boldly, and be agents of the positive change our profession can create.
Sincerely, Bill Hopkins, AIA AIA Virginia President
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!
Emily Koller, AIA (Northern Virginia) Mahamudul Hasan Asif, AIA (Northern Virginia) Grace E. Becker, 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
Transfers into AIA Virginia Annika M. Detwiler, AIA (Northern Virginia) from AIA Maryland Sari Diller, AIA (Northern Virginia) from AIA Maryland
Upgraded to Emeritus William R. Drury, AIA Member Emeritus (Northern Virginia) Kristen C. Bell, AIA Member Emeritus (Richmond) Robert P. Tierney, AIA Member Emeritus (Richmond) Nora O’Sullivan, AIA Member Emeritus (Northern Virginia) Joan M. Dannemann, AIA Member Emeritus (Northern Virginia) Jean Kennedy-Sleeman, AIA Member Emeritus (Coastal Virginia) Ercument Ackman, Intl. Assoc. AIA (Northern Virginia)
New/Renewed Allied Members Joanna Orallo, Architectural Project Manager, Marvin
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.
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.
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 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.
