Call for the Next SFx Representative

Posted on by cguske

As you know, I’ve had the privilege of serving as the Virginia State Representative on the National Small Firm Exchange (SFx) for the past three years. It has been an honor and a truly rewarding experience, but it’s time to hand over the reins to another member who can benefit from this great opportunity.

The mission of the AIA Small Firm Exchange is to advance the mutual interests of architects practicing in small firms. Its objectives are threefold:

  1. Advocate for the value of small firms, the national SFx, and local SFx groups—both within the AIA and to the public.
  2. Curate and share the most relevant resources and information from the AIA and beyond that benefit small firms.
  3. Inform the AIA of current issues facing small firms and highlight areas where additional resources or information are needed.

Application Requirements
AIA Membership – Applicant must be an AIA member in good standing within AIA Virginia (AIA Blue Ridge, AIA Central Virginia, AIA Coastal Virginia, AIA Northern Virginia, and AIA Richmond).

Letter of Interest – From Applicant. Indicate understanding of the position, qualifications/experience, and reasons for seeking appointment. Limit one page.

Letter of Recommendation – From an AIA member. Indicate the Nominee’s qualifications for the position. Limit one page.

Letter of Support – From Employer. A Principal (or Officer) within the candidate’s firm must commit to supporting the candidate in fulfilling the role’s obligations. Limit one page on company letterhead.

Resume – Indicate education, employment history, organizations, activities, honors, and awards. Limit two pages (It is NOT in the applicant’s best interest to simply submit a firm resume with project experience).

Timeline
Prospective candidates should send their application materials to EVP Paul R Battaglia, AIA at pbattaglia@aiava.org no later than Wednesday, 12 November 2025. The Board of Directors will review candidates and make an appointment to a two-year term commencing 1 January 2026.

I’m happy to answer any questions if you are interested in serving. Thank you again for allowing me to represent small firm architects and serve as a bridge between our state and the national organization. It’s been a wonderful experience.

Best,
Dan Zimmerman, AIA
dan@alloyworkshop.com

From the Desk of the Executive Vice President

Posted on by cguske
Paul Battaglia, AIA

Autumn is beginning to make itself known. I enjoy the wistfulness of the season. And the appreciation of the harvest that results from past and continuing labor, which is made more poignant when shared collectively.

I look forward to us being together at Architecture Exchange East and Visions for Architecture – to fete and applaud our awardees and honorees, to share what we have learned and experienced, to be fortified by our collegiality, to recall what has been accomplished, and to gear up for what needs to be done.

I hope to see you there.

Register for ArchEx and/or Purchase Tickets for Visions>>
2025 Design Awards>>
2025 Honorees>>

We Have Our Next StAR: Aidan Brown, Assoc. AIA

Posted on by cguske

Associates constitute almost twenty percent of AIA membership nationwide; twenty-three percent in Virginia. The National Associates Committee (the NAC) is the voice of Associate members. State/Territory Associate Representatives (StARs) serve on the NAC promoting excellence, providing information and leadership, fostering inclusiveness, representing and advocating for both mainstream and non-traditional associates, and encouraging professional development. Aidan Brown, Assoc. AIA has been appointed StAR by the AIA Virginia Board of Directors to succeed Caitlin Morgan, Assoc. AIA, who has been serving so well in that position. Gratitude to both of you. We sincerely appreciate your service.

Newly Licensed

Posted on by cguske

We understand the dedication and effort required to study for and pass the ARE. Congratulations to the following member for passing their exams and gaining licensure. This is great news that thrills all of us and we are so proud to call you architect!

Henry Mahns, 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

Posted on by cguske

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

New Architect Members
Lonny Bradley, AIA (Northern Virginia)

New Associate Members
Hafsa Abdi, Assoc. AIA (Northern Virginia)
Elizabeth Carroll, Assoc. AIA (Central Virginia)
Atheeni Eacharath, Assoc. AIA (Northern Virginia)
Abigail Fowler, Assoc. AIA (Central Virginia)
Aimee Lawson, Assoc. AIA (Central Virginia)
Elizabeth McEwen, Assoc. AIA (Central Virginia)
Olivia Woods, Assoc. AIA (Northern Virginia)

Transfers into AIA Virginia
Ashley Paytas, Assoc. AIA (Richmond) from AIA Florida
Kimberly Wojcik, Assoc. AIA (Northern Virginia) from AIA Washington DC

New/Renewed Allied Members
Donnie Yancey, Technical Sales Rep II, Dryvit Temco CPG Inc.

View all of the AIA Virginia Allied members

Updates from the Small Firm Exchange

Posted on by cguske

Attached are the All Call summaries from our monthly SFx meetings. 

Dan Zimmerman, AIA

July 2025>> Why be a citizen architect

August 2025>> How Does Artificial Intelligence Benefit the Small Firm

SFx is hosting a webinar: Demystifying AIA Fellowship on October 9, 2025. Register here>> 

The Small Firm Exchange is a fantastic way to stay connected with other small firms. It is a great forum for asking questions and getting great feedback from our peers.
View the community conversation here>>



Harlow and Parker receive Helene Combs Dreiling, FAIA Fellowships

Posted on by cguske

The AIA Virginia Foundation joyfully announces Amanda Harlow, Assoc. AIA, and Stephen Parker, AIA, as the most recent recipients of the Helene Combs Dreiling, FAIA Fellowship.  The Fellowship furthers the reciprocal benefit that springs from the interaction of individual members and our organization. The Selection Committee included Helene Combs Dreiling, FAIA, Brian Frickie, FAIA, Shawm Mulligan, AIA, and the members of the AIA Virginia Foundation Board: Kelly Callahan, AIA, Karen Conkey, AIA, Amber Hall, AIA, Meagan Jancy, AIA, Bill Hopkins, AIA, and Paul R. Battaglia, AIA.

Amanda Harlow, Assoc. AIA
Stephen Parker, AIA

Amanda is currently the Residential Planning and Design Manager at Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville (HFHGC) and plans to use the Fellowship to assist with the cost of participating in the 2026 Emerging Leaders in Architecture (ELA) class with the intention of growing as a leader, better serving Habitat families, building consensus among diverse stakeholders, and contributing meaningfully to AIA Virginia.

Stephen is an architect at Stantec and a mental health advocate. Stephen intends to develop a presentation and exhibit featuring the sketches and impact of the DrawnOut! Mental Health Sketch Workshops; a series that has allowed participants to delve into the complex issues of mental wellbeing and strive to defy stigma by design.

Tax-deductible contributions to this Fellowship, and our other designated programs, can be made at the AIA Virginia Foundation>>

Celebrating the Life of Bob Boynton, FAIA

Posted on by cguske

Friends and family gathered at The Branch Museum of Design on Saturday, September 6, 2025, to celebrate the life and myriad accomplishments of Bob Boynton, FAIA. A series of speakers, including Bob Musick, Esq., Mitch Rowland, AIA, Bob Steele, FAIA, and Helene Combs Dreiling, FAIA, offered remarks commending Bob’s character, passion, and impact.

Boynton served in many capacities at NCARB, including President (2003-2004). In 2019 his significant contributions to the organization’s mission were honored with the NCARB President’s Medal for Distinguished Service. During her remarks Helene shared that NCARB Region 2 has paid tribute by naming their honorary title given to a member who has demonstrated exceptional efforts, diligence, and dedication; henceforth that honorific will be referred to as the Robert Boyton Member Cum Specialis Award. (Region 2 is a geographic division within NCARB that includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.)

2025 Design Awards Jury

Posted on by cguske
Andrew Chin, Assoc. AIA

Andrew Chin, Assoc. AIA, has mustered a tremendously dignified jury to deliberate over the 2025 Design Awards, which are scheduled to be announced to the membership soon.

This year’s jury, a veritable council of deans, includes:

  • Abimbola Asojo, FAIA, Dean of the School of Architecture and Planning at Morgan State
  • C.L. Bohannon, FASLA, Senior Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs and Community Engagement at the University of Virginia
  • José L.S. Gámez, Dean of the College of Arts + Architecture at UNC Charlotte
  • Marilys Nepomechie, FAIA, DPACSA, Associate Dean for Architecture at Florida International University
  • Quilian Riano, Dean of Pratt Institute’s School of Architecture
  • Chaired by Andrew Chin, Assoc. AIA, Dean of the School of Architecture + Engineering Technology (SAET) at Florida A&M University (FAMU) 

We will celebrate the Design Awardees along with our Honorees in Richmond at our annual Visions for Architecture Gala, the evening of Thursday, November 6, 2025, during our annual convention, Architecture Exchange East. Tickets and registration for the events are available now.

Annual Membership Meeting

Posted on by cguske

Join us in person to hear about vital developments with your professional society, elect officers, and conduct other business at the AIA Virginia Annual Meeting of the Membership. We will also be celebrating our newly licensed architects, emeritus members, award winners, and honorees for 2025. The meeting will be held after the Kickoff & Keynote Panel at Architecture Exchange East, Nov. 5, at noon at the Downtown Richmond Marriott. Earn 1.75 AIA LU|Elective.

Online registration is now closed. Register on site beginning November 5.

2025 Annual Membership Meeting Agenda>>
2024 Annual Membership Meeting Minutes>>

At its August 2025 meeting, the AIA Virginia Board of Directors approved the slate of candidates to elected office. Additional information on the candidates will be provided in the October newsletter. With gratitude to all who stand for election in the service of our members and our organization, the slate is announced as follows. (Click on the candidate name to read their statements.)

President-elect: Paula Loomis, FAIA and Andrew Moore, AIA
Treasurer: Amber Hall, AIA (Incumbent)
Associate Director: Philip Baxter, Assoc. AIA

Paula Loomis, FAIA
Andrew Moore, AIA
Amber Hall, AIA
Philip Baxter, Assoc. AIA

Additionally:
Bill Hopkins, AIA (Coastal Virginia) elevates from 2025 President-Elect to 2026 President
Meagan Jancy, AIA (Northern Virginia) progresses from 2025 President to 2026 Past President

AIA Virginia members can attend the annual membership meeting for free. If you are not attending anything else at ArchEx, but would like to attend the annual meeting, email cguske@aiava.org