Career Stage Member Roundtables
2026-03-04 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom Virtual Meeting
Join us for our Career Stage roundtables to discuss issues that are important to you!

Emerging Professionals
Mid-Career Professionals
Late-Career Professionals

Free
1 LU|elective
Register>>

Advocacy Advisory Council
2026-03-10 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-04-14 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-05-12 14:00 - 15:00, 2026-06-09 14:00 - 15:00 | Zoom Virtual Meeting
The Advocacy Advisory Council is responsible for reviewing, advising, and coordinating activity in the broad area of government affairs, whether on legislative, regulatory, code, or other issues at the state level.
For information on this advisory council or any other council or committee, contact Paul Battaglia, AIA or email info@aiava.org

PAC Board of Trustees
2026-03-17 14:30 - 15:30, 2026-05-19 14:30 - 15:30 | Zoom Virtual Meeting
To stimulate persons engaged in the practice of architecture, their employees and others with similar interests to take a more active and effective role in governmental affairs. To solicit and receive from persons engaged in the practice of architecture, their employees and others with similar interests contributions into a fund to be used to assist candidates for public office who support the profession of architecture.
For information on this Board of Trustees or any other advisory council or committee, contact Paul Battaglia, AIA or email info@aiava.org

J.E.D.I. Committee Meeting
2026-03-19 09:00 - 10:00, 2026-04-16 09:00 - 10:00, 2026-05-21 09:00 - 10:00, 2026-06-18 09:00 - 10:00 | Zoom Virtual Meeting
The AIA Virginia Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (J.E.D.I.) Committee promotes diversity within the profession and the association by developing implementable strategies to help serve and support more diverse and inclusive audiences.
See our recommended EDI Resources here>>
For more information or to serve on this or any other AIA Virginia committee, contact Cathy Guske or email info@aiava.org.

Gerdau Steel School and Mill Tour
2026-03-24 10:00 - 15:00 | Gerdau Petersburg, 25801 Hofheimer Way, Petersburg, 23803, United States
Join the American Institute of Steel Construction for an exclusive Gerdau Steel School and Mill tour specially designed for architects. This unique event provides a firsthand look at the steel manufacturing process through an informative briefing and a guided walking tour, allowing you to witness the creation of the materials that form the backbone of our built environment. Gain invaluable insights into steel crafting, enhancing your understanding and application in future projects.
Lunch will be provided.
4 AIA LU | HSW
AIA Member: $15
Non-Member: $30
Students: FREE
Register Here>>
*Registration closes at 5:00pm on 3/19.
Schedule
9:00-9:45 am: Arrival and mingling
9:45 am: Distribution of Personal Protective Equipment
10:00 am: Safety Briefing for Plant Tour
10:30 am – 12:00 am: Tour of Melt Shop and Rolling Mill
12:00 am – 1:00 pm: Lunch
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Presentations and Q&A

VA COTE Building Tour: Highland Springs High School - Built for Performance
2026-03-26 09:30 - 10:30 | Highland Springs Highschool, 200 S Airport Dr, Highland Springs, 23075, United States
(Photo credit: Maylone Photography)
Join AIAVA COTE and USGBC for our 2026 building tour series! We wish to celebrate exciting and innovative sustainable building design around the Commonwealth. Each month we will focus on a project in one of the five AIA Virginia component areas that has achieved LEED or other sustainable certification. Tours will provide AIA and USGC CEU’s for participants.
Join us for a tour of LEED Gold Highland Springs High School, located in eastern Henrico County, and experience how thoughtful design and public investment can deliver measurable energy, health, and community benefits. The building features an on-site solar PV array contributing to 54% whole-building energy cost savings, supported by building-level energy metering, demand-response participation, and comprehensive commissioning of building systems and envelope. A strong emphasis on indoor environmental quality—including MERV-13 filtration, low-VOC materials, construction IAQ management, acoustic performance targets, and occupant thermal and lighting controls—supports healthier, more productive learning environments. The project also showcases smart site reuse, reduced water use, dark-sky compliant lighting, waste reduction, and material transparency, offering a replicable model for cost-effective, resilient, and community-focused public school design.
1 AIA LU | HSW
1 GBCI LU
AIA Member: $15
USGBC Member: $15
Non-Member: $30
Students: FREE
Register Here>>
*Registration closes at 12:00pm on 3/25.
*Attendees must bring identification and check in at the front office to obtain a VISITOR badge

Member Services Advisory Council
2026-04-01 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-05-06 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-06-03 09:30 - 10:30 | Zoom Virtual Meeting
The Council is responsible for the delivery of exceptional services to the membership, which in return, influences membership growth. Goals and strategic planning are executed to increase diversity and inclusion within the profession, engage state universities, and ensure that the AIA Virginia membership pipeline is consistently being nurtured.
For information on this advisory council or any other council or committee, contact Cathy Guske or email info@aiava.org

Design Awards Submissions Open
2026-04-15 08:00 - 17:00
Design Awards | Awards for Excellence

Honors Nominations Open
2026-04-15 08:00 - 17:00
AIA Virginia Honors

Board of Directors Meeting
2026-04-17 08:00 - 17:00 | Varina Library, 1875 New Market Road, Henrico, VA, 23231, United States
Regular meeting of the AIA Virginia Board of Directors

VA COTE + USGBC Building Tour: Harvesting the Elements: How The Nature Conservancy Harnessed the Sun, Water and Plants
2026-04-23 15:30 - 16:30 | Nature Conservancy, 4245 Fairfax Drive, Arlington, 22201, United States
Join AIAVA COTE and USGBC for our 2026 building tour series! We wish to celebrate exciting and innovative sustainable building design around the Commonwealth. Each month we will focus on a project in one of the five AIA Virginia component areas that has achieved LEED or other sustainable certification. Tours will provide AIA and USGC CEU’s for participants.
Join us on April 23rd for a tour of The Nature Conservancy’s 8-story office building in Arlington, VA where systems were upgraded including increasing air-tightness of exterior envelope, capture of waste heat, air scrubbers and monitoring system via cloud based building management. Photovoltaics, a green roof and a cistern to collect rainwater to reduce stormwater runoff also contributed to the 50.2% reduction in energy consumption.
1 AIA LU | HSW
1 GBCI LEED Specific BD+C and LEED Green Associate CE
AIA Member: $15
USGBC Member: $15
Non-Member: $30
Students: FREE
Register Here>>
*Registration closes at 12:00pm on 4/22.
*Attendees must wear closed toed shoes

Virginia Design Forum XVII: Against the Grain
2026-05-01 13:00 - 2026-05-02 16:30 | Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech, 190 Alumni Mall, Blacksburg, 24061, United States
Registration is now open for Design Forum XVII!
Please join us for the upcoming Design Forum XVII on Friday, May 1, and Saturday, May 2, 2026, at the Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. You will hear from Marlon Blackwell, FAIA (Marlon Blackwell Architects), Patricia Gruits, AIA, LEED AP (MASS Design), Michael Reynolds (Earthship Biotecture), and Ronald Rael (Rael San Fratello).

Purchase Tickets Here

Earn 7.5 AIA LU | Elective
Schedule
FRIDAY
1:00 p.m. Meet and Greet, Registration Opens
2:00 p.m. Virginia Tech Architecture School Studio Walk
4:00 p.m. Welcome and Moderator Remarks | Ronald Rael
4:40 p.m. Speaker 1: Marlon Blackwell, FAIA
6:00 p.m. Reception
7:30 p.m. Reception ends (attendees out on your own)
SATURDAY
8:30 a.m. Check-in and Light Breakfast
9:10 a.m. Speaker 2: Patricia Gruits, AIA
10:30 a.m. Speaker 3: Ronald Rael
11:50 a.m. Lunch & Networking
1:30 p.m. Speaker 4: Michael Reynolds
3:00 p.m. Moderator Remarks and Speaker Panel
3:45 p.m. Closing Remarks
4:00 p.m. Tour of the Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech
Location
Attendees can join us at the award-winning Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia.
Tickets
AIA Member/VANOMA Member: $265
Assoc. AIA Member: $185
Non-member: $318
Student: $63

Purchase Tickets Here

Lodging
We have a room block at The Inn at Virginia Tech – please reserve your room HERE. The room block will be open until April 8, 2026.
Do you want to be a 2026 Design Forum Sponsor? Secure your sponsorship HERE and/or contact Jody Cranford.

2026 Fellows Fête
2026-05-02 18:00 - 21:00 | The Inn at Virginia Tech, 901 Prices Fork Road, Blacksburg, 24061, United States
Saturday, May 2, 2026
6 – 9 p.m.
BLACK TIE
The Inn at Virginia Tech
Purchase Tickets>>
The Fellows Fête is open to all Fellows in The Region of The Virginia’s
ticket sales close April 17, 2026.
Book your hotel room for May 2nd
Reservation Link>>
Deadline: April 9, 2026
If you are also attending the Design Forum XVIII and need to extend your hotel for April 30 and May 1, please call The Inn at Virginia Tech’s reservation desk at (540) 231-8000 for help in completing your reservation for both events.
Thank you to our sponsors
if you would like to sponsor the Fête, email Cathy Guske

Historic Tour: Tangier Island History and Vernacular Architecture Tour
2026-05-09 10:00 - 15:45 | Tangier Island, 16070 Main Ridge Rd., Tangier, VA, 23440
Visit the island of Tangier, Virginia with AIA Virginia’s Historic Resources Committee to learn about the community’s long history and insights about its built environment. Lincoln Lewis, Climate Equity Doctoral Fellow with the University of Virginia’s Equity Center where he works on the Coastlines and People (CoPe) project for Virginia’s Eastern Shore, will be leading the tour. As part of HALS, he documented the Tangier Island Watermen Working Landscape.
Tangier is a unique island community that is experiencing dynamic environmental change in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay. Storms, erosion, and subsidence have reduced the low-lying island’s area by more than two-thirds since 1850. The community of about 300 residents have found ways to prosper and have adapted their own form of vernacular architecture to suit the environment. Participants of the day trip will ride a round-trip ferry to the island from either Reedville (Virginia), Onancock (Virginia), or Crisfield (Maryland). While coming into Mail Boat Harbor participants will see the vernacular crab houses and then have an opportunity to eat lunch at a local restaurant. A 30-minute golf cart tour will provide an overview of the island and participants will see the historic Swain Memorial Methodist Church along with other vernacular buildings. Free time will be available for participants to visit the Tangier Island Museum and Interpretive Cultural Center along with other sites.
1.5 AIA LU | HSW
AIA Member: $15
Non-Member: $30
Students: FREE
Register Here>>
*Registration closes on May 8.
Schedule:
10:00 – Depart from Ferries (Reedville, VA, Onancock, VA)
11:30 – Arrive at Tangier’s Thomas main dock
11:35 – 12:05pm Golfcart Tour (30-minute)
12:10 – 1:10 Lunch (1-hour)
1:10-1:30 Walk together to Swain Memorial Methodist Church, continue walking together to the museum (meet the Mayor)
1:30-2:15 Free time (talk more with Mayor, go into museum [$3 entry], visit gift shops, or wander around; museum is about 7 minutes walk back to docks)
2:15 – Depart Tangier for Reedville
(departure is 3:30 for Onancock, VA)
Costs

AIA Virginia tour fee of $15 (AIA member) or $30 (non-member)
Ferry roundtrip $35 (each person needs to confirm and pay the ferry company themselves depending on which port they are traveling from)
Golf cart 30-minute tour $10 (each person pays the tour provider individually, CASH only)
Lunch will be pre-ordered from Muddy Toes Café for your payment and pickup during the tour. An email will be sent to registered attendees in advance to gather the orders. Link: www.muddytoestva.com/

Ferry Links
(MAKE YOUR RESERVATION IN ADVANCE. FERRIES CAN SELL OUT)
Reedville, VA: https://tangiercruise.com/

Departs Reedville: 10:00am
Departs Tangier: 2:15pm

Onancock, VA: https://www.tangierferry.com/

Departs Onancock: 10:00am
Departs Tangier for Onancock: 3:30pm

*Please note – The event is contingent on weather and you are required to stay in contact with the ferry to understand if the ferry might be canceled.

Resiliency Speaker Series 2026
2026-05-12 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom Virtual Meeting
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 join AIA Virginia on Zoom for an exploration of resiliency in the built environment and discover why investing in resilient solutions can help protect us all.
First in our series is: Alternative Onsite Wastewater Management for Improved Coastal Resiliency
Triangle Environmental, now part of LIXIL, was awarded funding from Growth & Opportunity (GO) Virginia, the Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission, and Virginia Sea Grant through a challenge administered by RISE Resilience Solutions to pilot two innovative onsite wastewater treatment systems in rural coastal Virginia. Another benefit of this program was pairing each awardee with an academic partner, a role fulfilled by Jori Erdman, Associate Director of the School of Art, Design, and Art History, and Patrice Ludwig, Interim Assistant Vice President for Research & Innovation. Through this program, LIXIL demonstrated a solution for many of today’s failing onsite wastewater systems while envisaging the resilient home of the future.
Earn 1 AIA LU (submitted for approval)
AIA Member – $15
Non-member – $20
Students – FREE
Register Here>>

Upcoming:
June 9: 12:00-1:00pm – VMDO – Topic TBD
July 7: 12:00-1:00pm – TBD
August 4: 12:00-1:00pm – TBD

VA COTE + USGBC Building Tour: Leed Silver - Virginia Tech Data and Decision Sciences Building
2026-05-21 16:00 - 17:00 | Virginia Tech Data and Decision Sciences Building, 727 Prices Fork Rd, Blacksburg, 24060, United States
Join AIAVA COTE and USGBC for our 2026 building tour series! We wish to celebrate exciting and innovative sustainable building design around the Commonwealth. Each month we will focus on a project in one of the five AIA Virginia component areas that has achieved LEED or other sustainable certification. Tours will provide AIA and USGC CEU’s for participants.
Join us on May 21 for a tour of The Data and Decision Sciences Building at Virginia Tech is a 120,000 SF, four-story academic facility that opened in 2023 to support interdisciplinary collaboration in data analytics and decision sciences. Located on the campus in Blacksburg, Virginia, the building brings together students and faculty from the College of Engineering, the College of Science, and the Pamplin College of Business. Its Collegiate Gothic exterior clad in Hokie Stone reflects the university’s architectural traditions, while the interior features a vibrant multilevel atrium, advanced data visualization classrooms, a trading lab, and more than 30 team rooms designed for collaborative learning.
The tour will highlight key sustainability strategies integrated into the project, including a 33% reduction in whole-building energy use, 35% reduction in indoor water use, and participation in demand-response programs. Additional highlights include high-performance indoor air quality strategies, responsible material sourcing and transparency, 87% construction waste diversion, and biophilic design elements that support occupant wellbeing and connection to nature.
1 AIA LU | HSW (submitted for approval)
1 GBCI LEED Specific BD+C and LEED Green Associate CE (submitted for approval)
AIA Member: $15
USGBC Member: $15
Non-Member: $30
Students: FREE
Register Here>>
Registration closes at 12:00pm on 5/20.

Vision to Action: AIA Virginia COTE 2026 Sustainability Summit
2026-05-28 09:00 - 16:00 | Lost Office Collaborative, 5000 Old Main Street, Henrico, 23231, United States
Join us for the AIA Virginia COTE 2026 Sustainability Summit on Thursday, May 28, 2026 in Richmond, VA.

The Virginia COTE Sustainability Summit brings together design professionals across Virginia committed to advancing sustainability throughout our practices. This full-day summit is structured to spark inspiration, elevate practitioner insight, and produce tangible next steps for the profession.
Earn 6 AIA LU | HSW
Purchase Tickets Here
An opening keynote will frame the urgency and opportunity before us. Short, focused presentations by practitioners will highlight critical topics, innovations, and on-the-ground experiences to set the stage for more in depth discussion. Participants will then engage in breakout sessions centered on key sustainability issues — the specific focus of these breakouts will ultimately be defined by the attendees, but at a high level topics are anticipated to include policy and legislation, energy innovations, the AIA Materials Pledge, and resilience imperatives across the state. Each group will identify strategic priorities and actionable recommendations before sharing insights with the broader audience. The day concludes with a collective synthesis session, where themes are refined and distilled into a focused set of priorities to guide our shared work in the coming year.

Draft Agenda for the day:
8:30-9:00am: Arrival/check in & networking 9:00-9:30am: Opening keynote 9:30-9:50: Three 5-minute presentations by practitioners 9:50-10:15: Define 3-5 subtopics for breakouts/bio break/networking break 10:15-11:15: Breakout discussion sessions 11:15-11:45: Report out12:00-1:00: Lunch 1:00-1:30: Three 5-minute presentations by practitioners 1:30-1:45: Define 3-5 subtopics for breakouts 1:45-2:45: Breakout discussions 2:45-3:15: Report out3:15-4:00: Closing session – review priorities established during breakouts and confirm COTE priorities moving forward 2026-2027
LocationLost Office Collaborative5000 Old Main StreetHenrico, VA 23231
TicketsAIA Member: $85Assoc. AIA Member: $75Non-member: $99Students: FREE
Purchase Tickets Here
(Photo credits: Illustration by Thanh Huong Bui on Unsplash)

Honors Nominations Close
2026-06-12 08:00 - 17:00

VA COTE + USGBC Building Tour: The Edgar Shannon Library
2026-06-17 16:00 - 17:00 | Shannon Library, 160 McCormick Road, Charlottesville, 22904, United States
(Photo Credits: Tim Hursley)
Join AIAVA COTE and USGBC for our 2026 building tour series! We wish to celebrate exciting and innovative sustainable building design around the Commonwealth. Each month we will focus on a project in one of the five AIA Virginia component areas that has achieved LEED or other sustainable certification. Tours will provide AIA and USGC CEU’s for participants.
Join us on June 17 to tour the LEED-Gold renovation of Shannon library. The renovation brought the building up to current standards of performance, safety, accessibility and service. It was essential to restore the library to the position it enjoyed when it first opened in 1938 — a contemporary library with modern amenities suited to the needs of its users. Scope includes a new 130,000-square-foot addition and renovation of 100,000 square feet of the historic building, encompassing open shelving for better access to the extensive holdings, study areas, reading rooms, staff work areas and spaces for scholarly research and preservation of books. The building offers a better layout and more natural light, including in two new study courts, for members of the University community as they study, research, and socialize. Historic fixtures, furniture and bookshelves were refinished and restored, with the lighting converted to LED. 75,000 gallon cisterns under Nameless field retain rainwater runoff, and over 120 tons of metal shelving was recycled. Aligning with UVA standards, there is no irrigation on-site. The project demonstrated over 40% energy cost savings from the baseline and prioritized low-emitting products and those with transparency in manufacturing and content. It is now ready to serve the University community for another century.

1 AIA LU | HSW
1 GBCI LEED Specific BD+C and LEED Green Associate CE
AIA Member: $15
USGBC Member: $15
Non-Member: $30
Students: FREE
Register Here>>
*Registration closes at 12:00pm on 6/16

Board of Directors Meeting
2026-06-19 08:00 - 17:00 | Richmond TBD

Design Awards Submissions Close
2026-06-26 08:00 - 17:00
