Last month’s Art of Practice brought together a vibrant cross-section of the profession—firm leaders, emerging leaders, architects who work for contractors, and owner’s representatives—for a day that felt both timely and timeless. Framed around the theme of “The Future of Work,” the gathering invited us not only to look ahead, but also to pause and take honest stock of where we are now.
Our planning committee member’s reflections below:
“Organizing Art of Practice with Delaney Ogden and two members of the Leaders in Architecture and Business (LAB) Task Force – Erin Agdinaoay, AIA, and Gina Robinson, AIA – was an exciting way to demonstrate the impactful business and management training curriculum we developed for LAB. Based on member feedback, it was a huge success!
Personal highlights included: Kelly O’Keefe’s master class on understanding client needs, communicating value, and securing the right kind of work; Keith Waters’ insightful analysis of economic trends in Virginia and the DC region; and the inaugural meeting of the Non-Traditional Roundtable provided a much-needed platform for diverse perspectives within the profession.
I was especially proud to organize and moderate the Peer Panel: Strategic Planning for Strong Firm Culture, which addressed one of architecture’s most pressing challenges—leadership transitions. Architects are aging – the average architect is 51 years old – and these transitions are critical to ensuring the long-term health of firms and our profession. Consider these statistics:
- 70% of architects are over 40 years old, with an average age of 51.
- More architects are over 60 than under 40
- Other industries are younger: tech (35), finance (40), structural engineering (40), construction (42), electrical engineering (44)
The panel featured an exceptional lineup of leaders: Susan Pryor, AIA (Principal at Quinn Evans, AIA Firm of the Year), Donna Phaneuf, FAIA, and Scott Campbell, AIA (VIA Design, AIA Virginia Firm of the Year), and Mel Price, FAIA (Work Program Architects, one of Fast Company’s 2025 Most Innovative Companies). Beyond designing award-winning projects, these leaders have built firms with enviable cultures, impressive growth, and thoughtfully planned leadership transitions. As Susan Pryor aptly stated during the discussion: “Our staff come for the projects and stay for the people. Building your firm is building your people.”
The panelists shared a range of experiences—from completing a 15-year transition plan, to buying-in to a firm at 29, initiating a new strategic plan, and navigating a national merger —all underscored by key themes:
- Trust your community: Empower staff early by recognizing talent and advancing leaders quickly. Be open and transparent about how your company works. Granting autonomy fosters buy-in and often leads to surprising results.
- Duty of care: Build well-organized businesses that will last, enabling future generations to meet challenges and reach new heights.
- Internal coaching and external sponsorship: Do all you can to coach. Invest time in mentoring your team one-on-one and encourage the driven individuals in your network to grow and achieve.
- Building your firm is building your people: Taking care of your people is paramount. Workplaces where staff feel supported enhance productivity, creativity, and loyalty. Practice “unreasonable hospitality” to shift your interactions from transactional to relational – where trust and connection are foundations of success.
It’s important to note that these three award-winning firms, with exemplary cultures and strategic planning, are led by women architects whose dedication to their teams and communities is evident in their success. Their focus on “the work that makes work possible” is a model for all firms aspiring to thrive.
While I’m proud of what we accomplished this year, my only regret was that more members couldn’t join us. I hope to see even more participants at the next Art of Practice as we continue building connections across Virginia’s architectural community.” Shawn Mulligan, AIA
“One idea emerged early in the day and seemed to echo across every conversation, “What is your desired state, and where are you now?” Posed as both a personal and organizational reflection in the Kelly O’Keefe’s presentation at the start of the day, this question grounded the day’s discussions in a productive tension between vision and reality. Whether exploring leadership, culture, the economy, or strategic planning, speakers and conversation repeatedly returned to this idea, not as a challenge, but as a compass. Throughout the event, there was a shared sense that the future of architectural practice won’t be defined by a single innovation or shift, but rather by the clarity of our intentions and the alignment of our actions. From mingling lunch or coffee conversations to panel discussions, it was clear that many in the profession are asking similar questions, and more importantly, are eager to shape the answers together. Art of Practice reminded us that the future is not a fixed point on the horizon. It’s a reflection of what we value, what we design into our daily work, and how bravely we’re willing to evolve through the everyday decisions that we make today and tomorrow.” Erin Agdinaoay, AIA, NOMA
“This year, I had the opportunity to not only attend but to help organize the Art of Practice. A behind the scenes perspective really made it clear all the preparation and coordination that goes into an event like this, and I hope our team’s work came through to the other attendees. As a member-led organization, I think it’s so important that AIA Virginia is open and welcoming of our input, and that we have the ability to shape all the different ways we can engage with fellow architects and our communities. The speakers at Art of Practice come from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, but one of my biggest takeaways from the day is that we’re all grappling with the same issues – just on different scales. As professionals, we all have to face uncertainty – about the economy, a new project or client, the future of our practice – and we all process that uncertainty in different ways. Just being in conversation with people who are going through or have been through the things that are also on your mind is reassuring.” Gina Robinson, AIA, WELL AP
