Resiliency is the ability to quickly recover from disruption. But, how quickly can our buildings and systems bounce back from natural or man-made disasters? Can our infrastructure rapidly adapt to changing environmental, social, and economic conditions?
Please save the dates and join AIA Virginia from 12:00-1:00 pm each day from April 22 to April 26 for an exploration of resiliency in the built environment and discover why investing in resilient solutions can help protect us all.
Virginia HRC kicked off 2024 with a great retreat at Frazier Associates in Staunton, VA and a BIG thank you to Kathy Frazier, FAIA for hosting. We are planning to do 5 tours and 2 webinars throughout the year with a Craftsperson’s Crawl at the AIA Virginia Architecture Exchange East Conference in November and ending the year with the traditional HRC Trivia night in December.
Please visit the Historic Resources Committee webpage here to learn more and see our calendar of events for 2024.
If you are interested in participating in HRC leadership or activities, contact us at dogden@aiava.org and members are always welcome to join our monthly calls.
AIA Virginia is pleased to announce the jury for the 2024 AIA Virginia Prize. The competition — which took place over the weekend of Feb. 2-5 —challenged students to design a public library in Phoebus, VA as a community public room to be a place both welcoming and safe for individuals, as well as for groups that choose to gather and interact.
The AIA Virginia Prize is a design charrette that engages students at all of the accredited architecture programs in Virginia. Conducted simultaneously at each institution, students are given the competition program Friday at 5 p.m. They work over the weekend to create a board presenting their design solution by 9 a.m. the following Monday. The competition is intended to promote collaboration between the profession, students, and professors in Virginia.
Each school’s faculty reviewed the submissions and sent up to 10 finalists for final consideration by the jury which will be chaired by Trey Trahan, FAIA, NOMA.
About the Jury
Trey Trahan, FAIA, NOMA approach to architecture begins with his conviction that a building can create something that extends beyond its walls—and when we build, we shape our landscapes, communities, and cultures. His practice is dedicated to creating spaces resonant with authenticity, cultural significance, and ecological resilience, resulting in a harmonious portfolio that blends the arts, conservation, historic preservation, and social responsibility. Trahan’s work, oriented towards serving the public, strives to create venues that foster powerful communal experiences and connections, reaching beyond the traditional bounds of architecture—to shape our landscapes, communities, and cultures. Trahan is commended for his innovative use of sustainable materials, stemming from his strong personal belief in environmental conservancy. The firm has signed the AIA 2030 Commitment. He has navigated a four-decade career exploring global artistic and construction traditions, drawing influences from Eastern, Western, and Indigenous cultures. Trahan’s particular interest in Japanese culture is reflected in his extensive collection of ceramics, lacquerware, and bronzes by notable Japanese artists, with objects dating back to the 1500s. This deep interest in how materiality shapes cultures has profoundly influenced the firm’s approach to the built environment. Trahan received the Architecture Review Emerging Architecture Award in London in 2005 and was elected to the AIA College of Fellows in 2006. The firm has received recognition for combining research in emerging materials and construction with a connection to history, place, and culture, creating innovative work that feels simultaneously rooted and contemporary. In 2021, he was honored as the Laureate of the American Prize for Architecture by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
Robbie Eleazer, AIA is passionate about finding new expressions of built form and working with clients to communicate those expressions to their stakeholders. The experience he brings to the New York design team includes a range of projects that exhibit inclusive design including the Coca-Cola Stage at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, GA, to the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum in Washington D.C. He has contributed to work that has gained national recognition for innovation and leveraged technology in the design of beautiful facilities that contribute to wellness. As a leader in the computational design community, Robbie engages with technology to expand his understanding of what architecture can be and how it impacts people’s lives, particularly regarding materiality and safety practices to encourage public health. Robbie has contributed his expertise to a diverse portfolio of work that purposefully integrates buildings into their landscapes—believing that architecture should defer to natural settings wherever practical. Robbie’s experience includes leading the conceptual and technical design for high performance façades in a variety of climactic zones; working on complex, multi-phased projects that involved site planning, strategic renovation, and new construction; specializing in work where landscape-driven solutions provide a framework for buildings; and significant experience in cultural spaces.
David Sweere, AIA a native Arkansan and graduate from the Fay Jones School of Architecture + Design at the University of Arkansas, joined Trahan Architects’ New York studio in January 2022. He believes place memory and cultural context are critical sources of inspiration in a world of increasing globalization and optimization. Prior to joining Trahan Architects, David was a designer at MARVEL in New York and Marlon Blackwell Architects in Fayetteville, Arkansas, where he gained experience on a wide range of cultural, master planning, educational, retail, and government projects. He also served 9 years in the United States Air Force as an Electrical Journeyman, including multiple tours abroad in base maintenance and new construction units. In 2019, he received The Aydelott Travel Award, a $20K travel grant focused on self-directed architectural analysis, through which he traveled to 13 countries across Europe and Asia. In presenting this work, David has lectured at the Bengal Institute for Architecture, Landscapes, and Settlements and the University of Arkansas.
The Virginia Engineers Conference (the VEC) will be held March 12-13, 2024 in Newport News. The program offers a vertical track – on topics of common interest to architects, engineers, and contractors – and features an AEC Code Forum with Code Representatives from Southeast Virginia.
The VEC registration site is now open and AIA member rates are available for either the AEC Code Forum or the entire conference. An early bird discount is available until February 12, 2024. Receive up to 6 AIA LU | Electivepending
We will offer another Code Forum Event in Richmond, featuring code officials from the local area, on the afternoon of Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Please save the date. Additional information will be provided in the not-too-distant future.
Hurry, get your tickets! REGISTRATION CLOSES FRIDAY, MARCH 22!
Tickets are now available for the 2024 Virginia Design Forum XVI – [Un]Certainty: Reflections on Craft at the Cyber Frontier! Taking place in Richmond, VA on April 5-6, 2024 at the Institute for Contemporary Art VCU. Our speakers will challenge assumptions and define new boundaries along the spectrum of craft and design, evolving how humanness and technology continue to intersect in our built environment.
FRIDAY 2:00 p.m. Meet and Greet, Registration Opens 3:00 p.m. Welcome and Moderator Remarks | Dwayne Oyler 4:00 p.m. Ted Flato, FAIA 5:30 p.m. Happy Hour Reception 7:00 p.m. First Fridays in Richmond, VA (attendees out on your own)
SATURDAY 8:30 a.m. Check-in and Breakfast 9:30 a.m. Billie Tsien, AIA 10:45 a.m. Rick Joy, FAIA 11:45 a.m. Provided Lunch 1:00 p.m. Moderator Remarks and Speaker Panel 2:00 p.m. Tour of the Institute of Contemporary Art VCU with Quinn Evans (associate architect) 3:00 p.m. Closing Remarks
R. Corey Clayborne, FAIA was in the innagural ELA class of 2009. Corey has served at local and state AIA components and now is the AIA Senior Vice President, Knowledge & Practice. Corey is a strong believer in increasing diversity in the profession and offering opportunities for all to gain knowledge and advancement in their careers.
In 2022, AIA Virginia established a scholarship in Corey’s name to honor his dedication to emerging professionals and provide financial assistance to those interested in participating in the ELA program. The R. Corey Clayborne, FAIA ELA Scholarship is available to any ELA applicant with financial need, either to cover tuition or travel expenses for their class year.
The inaugural scholarship is awarded to 2024 class member Philip Baxter, Associate AIA, an Associate Architect at DNA-Workshop Dyke Nelson Architecture in Richmond. In his application for the scholarship, Baxter commented “I learned about ELA through the Architecture Exchange where I developed a strong network of mentors and insight, who inspired me with their stories of how much the ELA program really changed their lives and accelerated their careers. I was inspired by the challenge, and in life, anything worth doing is going to be difficult, but the reward is exceptional.”
Congratulations, Philip!
Donations to the R. Corey Clayborne, FAIA Scholarship can be made through the new AIA Virginia Foundation in the coming months. To make your donation, contact cguske@aiava.org.
Meet the Emerging Leaders in Architecture class of 2024! This year’s class of 15 comprises architects and associates from around the state and students from Hampton University and Virginia Tech. We will be traveling around the state throughout the year for our educational sessions and focusing on the Alexandria/Arlington area for this year’s class project. Would you like to support the class as they travel around the state? Contact Cathy Guske, cguske@aiava.org for more information. Be sure to follow the ELA Instagram account at ela_aiavirginia to follow their progress throughout the year.
KJ Ammon, Associate AIA (AIA Richmond nominee) Philip Baxter, Associate AIA Zachary Britton, Associate AIA (AIA Blue Ridge nominee) Danielle Corbin, Associate AIA (AIA Central Virginia nominee) Miguel Gereda, Associate AIA Noor Hadi, Associate AIA Ananth Jayaraj, Associate AIA Tony Lin, Associate AIA (AIA Hampton Roads nominee) Brynn McClatchey, AIAS (Virginia Tech) Shukrullo Miruaydullaev, Associate AIA Niki Pardakhti, Associate AIA (AIA Northern Virginia nominee) Amari Ross, AIAS (Hampton University) Emily Savoca, AIA Irem Sezer, Associate AIA Jessica Somgynari, AIA
We have a few open spots on the AIA Virginia Committee on the Environment Steering Committee and would love for you to join us. Coordination meetings are held virtually on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. Contact info@aiava.org or dogden@aiava.org for more information.
The Committee on the Environment (COTE) is an AIA Virginia Knowledge Community working for architects, allied professionals, and the public to achieve climate action and climate justice through design. We believe that design excellence is the foundation of a healthy, sustainable, and equitable future. Our work promotes design strategies that empower all AIA members to realize the best social and environmental outcomes with the clients and the communities they serve.
Visit The Committee on the Environment page here to learn more!
Do you have a love and passion for historic architecture? Maybe adaptive reuse of existing buildings? If so, we need more committee members and would love to have you join this wonderful knowledge community.
Mission To identify, understand, and preserve architectural heritage within the Commonwealth of Virginia. VHRC is engaged in promoting the role of historic preservation, rehabilitation, and adaptive use within the profession through the development of information and knowledge among members, allied professional organizations, and the public.
Virginia HRC’s activities are developed and sponsored by a leadership group of AIA Virginia members from across the state.
If you are interested in participating and being a member of the committee, please contact us at info@aiava.org or dogden@aiava.org
Please join us for the upcoming 2024 Design Forum XVI on Friday, April 5-Saturday, April 6, 2024 in Richmond, VA at Institute for Contemporary Art VCU. The theme of Design Forum XVI will be [Un]Certainty: Reflections on Craft at the Cyber Frontier, and our speakers will challenge assumptions and define new boundaries along the spectrum of craft and design, evolving how humanness and technology continue to intersect in our built environment.
We are excited for this event and hope to see you there!
The Virginia Design Forum is a biennial event celebrating and exploring critical topics around design. Curated by the Design Committee, the two-day event showcases the talent and work of some of the profession’s most cutting-edge designers, and brings together and connects architects of all ages as we engage the pressing issues of our time.
Launched in 1994, the Virginia Design Forum continues a tradition of matching urgent topics with engaging speakers, which have included Samuel Mockbee, Tod Williams, Kai-Uwe Bergman, Anne Fougeron, Glenn Murcutt, Doris Kim Sung, and many more.