CHRISTIE MELGAR, ASSOCIATE AIA
Leuterio Thomas, LLC
Class of 2024 AIAPV Emerging Professional Awards Winners
MOTHERS IN ARCHITECTURE
By Christie Melgar, Associate AIA | Architectural Project Manager at Leuterio Thomas, LLC
Published in Potomac Valley Architect – December 4, 2024
What is the role of a woman in the Architectural world? If you find yourself in a meeting for a project, no matter the phase of the project, take a look around and evaluate the ratio of male to female. How many female Architects can you count in the room?
As of 2022, AIA has more than 96,000 members, 26% percent of those are women, which is an increase. Two in five new architects are women according to NCARB by Numbers 2022. This is a 4% increase. The number of women in the Architecture industry appears to be on the rise, however there is still a steep drop-off over the course of a women’s career. Historically women leave the industry at higher rates than men. Why is this? Is this due to the pinch point in a woman’s career where she picks between becoming a mother or continuing her career path? The 2018 AIASF Equity by Design and Equity in Architecture notes that 44% of women are the primary caregivers after giving birth. Male architects tend to be parents at all points in their career which is not the case of females. Refer to Figure 1 below.
Source: 2018 AIASF Equity by Design and Equity in Architecture
How can we close this gap? Can reorganizing maternal leave be an answer?
EPAP CLASS OF 2023
Class of 2023 AIAPV Emerging Professional Awards Winners
EPAP CLASS OF 2023 AUTHORS BOOK
A Taste of Leadership
Published in Potomac Valley Architect – May 1, 2024
In 2023 AIAPV’s Emerging Professionals Awards Program (EPAP) brought together five emerging leaders from within the chapter. At the beginning of the year, we were assigned a mentor from the local AIA chapter who helped us each consider and take the next steps in our individual careers. Along the way we have found mentorship, friendships, and inspiration.
Our group bonded over recurring questions and a desire to connect with more female leaders in the industry. How can we be great leaders? What does the path to leadership look like? Is there a recipe for success?
As a cohort, we embarked on a journey to interview leaders in the industry who inspired us, collect their stories, and celebrate the many paths to leadership. While we have interviewed and met with many incredible women, we are also certain there are wonderful women who have been missed. As such, this publication is not meant to be a detailed description of every potential path to leadership, merely just a taste of limitless possibilities.
We dedicate this book to the female leaders featured within, as well as all future leaders in the industry. We hope their stories inspire you on your journey.
On behalf of our cohort: A Taste of Leadership.
Emily Lally, AIA, CPHC
Zavos Architecture + Design
Class of 2023 AIAPV Emerging Professional Awards Winners
COAST TO COAST
AIA Conference ’23 in San Francisco to AIA Women’s Leadership Summit ’23 in Boston
By Emily Lally, AIA, CPHC | Director of Passiv at ZA+D
Published in Potomac Valley Architect – November 1, 2023
This year is a year of learning for me. I am learning how to be the best designer I can and how to be an effective leader in this industry.
The AIA Conference was overwhelming, the sheer number of people in the keynote sessions was astonishing, coming in at 15,000+ attendees. There were so many sessions to attend, I packed my schedule as much as I could. I learned about the impact of biophilic design on the occupants, how seeing green can influence people to question their choices and lead them to be more sustainable.
I discovered the components of emotional intelligence and how crucial it is to be self-aware of my own emotions and those I am interacting with. Emotional intelligence is “the ability to identify, assess, and control one’s own emotions, the emotions of others, and that of groups” – Daniel Goleman.
A walking tour that was of high interest to me was the tackling chronic homelessness tour at 1064 Mission Street. This project is constructed of modular units, each with a colored butterfly sunshade that signifies transformation. The shades also give tenants a sense of identity as they can point out from the street which unit is theirs. The property includes a public plaza, courtyards, and a chef program for the tenants. I learned a lot of valuable takeaways we plan to implement with the Task Force to End Homelessness in Frederick County.
JANELLE C. HORST, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
MSB Architects
Class of 2023 AIAPV Emerging Professional Awards Winners
A’23 – First-Timer’s Review
By Janelle Horst, AIA LEED AP BD+C | Architect – MSB Architects
Published in Potomac Valley Architect – June 28, 2023
The AIA National Convention (A'23) was held in San Francisco, from June 7–10. Janelle Horst, member of AIAPV’s EPAP Class of 2023, attended as part of her EPAP leadership development activities. The following article recounts and reflects upon Janelle's experience.
Are you a young professional who is considering whether attending the AIA National Conference is worthwhile? Maybe you have recently learned about its existence or perhaps you have been contemplating attending for a few years but have never taken the plunge. I may be able to assist you in making a decision for the future. This year, I had the opportunity to attend A'23 in San Francisco. As a first-time attendee and an emerging professional, I would like to share my thoughts and insights with anyone who is undecided about attending A'24.
Credit: Emily Lally
Advantages:
- Educational Value: I made sure to attend all keynote speeches and participated in a minimum of three seminars each day. Personally, I found the keynotes to be particularly enriching, especially Dame Jacinda Ardern, who served as the 40th prime minister of New Zealand. Some seminars offered HSW credits, while others touched on topics that personally interested me. Many of the classes I selected focused on leadership and managing a firm, but there was a wide range of topics and interests to choose from. The AIA provided “tracks” to guide the selection process. Some advice: register early for tours and social events. Seminars also filled quickly, but people seemed to come and go so if you couldn’t register for a class go anyways and see if there’s available space.
- Explore and Experience a New City: I was able to attend a variety of informative seminars. However, my schedule did not allow for much time to truly experience the city. In hindsight, I would have considered extending my stay by a day to fully explore. However, I was fortunate to take part in two off-site activities. I visited the American Bookbinders Museum, which was conveniently located nearby, and joined the AIA-organized tour to the Sutra Baths and Cliff House. Additionally, I appreciated the Yerba Buena Gardens which I walked through every day on my way to the conference center.
- The Expo Hall: The Expo Hall at the conference center had product representatives from 475 companies. With its extensive size, it required a substantial amount of time to explore everything that was on display. Despite my best efforts, I was unable to fully cover the entire Expo Hall. The area also offered supplementary educational opportunities, relaxation and lounge areas, and a variety of other spaces. If you plan on attending A’24, it is highly recommended to visit the Expo Hall, and it is advisable to wear comfortable footwear as the distance covered can be considerable. I found myself averaging four miles per day just walking between my hotel, the conference center, and the Expo Hall.
GREG GOLDSTEIN, ASSOC. AIA
Torti Gallas & Partners, Inc.
Inaugural class of AIAPV Emerging Professional Awards Winners
A TIME TO GET INVOLVED AS CITIZEN ARCHITECTS
By Greg Goldstein, Assoc. AIA
Published in Potomac Valley Architect – February 22, 2023
The building sector is responsible for nearly 50% of greenhouse gas emissions. Towards the end of 2017, Montgomery County declared a climate emergency and laid down the groundwork for climate action with an aggressive commitment to eliminate greenhouse gases and reach carbon neutrality by 2035. A recent milestone was Bill 16-21. Unanimously passed by Montgomery County’s County Council last April, Bill 16-21 targets commercial and residential buildings over 25,000 sf for a dramatic improvement in energy performance by establishing new standards and benchmarking requirements to mobilize the county towards its carbon-neutral goal.
Because of my outspoken interest in building performance during AIAPV’s Emerging Professional Awards Program last year, several of our Fellows encouraged me to apply for a position on the Building Performance Improvement Board (an advisory committee for implementation of the County’s energy performance standards). A few months later, I was nominated by County Executive Elrich and voted into the board by the County Council. The shared experience with knowledgeable and diverse stakeholders continues to be educational and fulfilling. So many of us in the building sector have shown enthusiasm in addressing greenhouse gas emissions and taking responsibility for our hefty slice of the pie-chart. While design solutions can and are being implemented, the legislative world beyond our drawings has even more potential for lasting impact!
Veena Shahsavarian, AIA
Balodemas Architects
Inaugural class of AIAPV Emerging Professional Awards Winners
During her EPAP term, Veena gained valuable insights into managing and growing a firm as she was taking on new responsibilities at her job. She also was a key designer of Addition/Alteration Chevy Chase, Maryland which won an AIA Potomac Valley Excellence in Design Award and was the cover story of the Washington Post’s Real Estate section, which recounted the project’s path from fire-damaged structure to extraordinary home.
STEPHEN ROSENFELDER aia, leed ap bd+c
Grimm + Parker Architects
Class of 2024 AIAPV Emerging Professional Awards Winners
A NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN OUR BACKYARD: MY AIA24 EXPERIENCE
By Stephen Rosenfelder AIA, LEED AP BD+C | Associate at Grimm + Parker Architects
Published in Potomac Valley Architect – July 10, 2024
In early June, I was fortunate to attend the AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2024 in Washington, DC. Hosted at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, the size and scale of the event was impressive, while the local venue made it easy to attend without much hassle. Having never attended an AIA Conference before, I had some idea of what to expect but was still awestruck by the event and the people.
I made sure to fill my day with as many educational seminars as possible, navigating around the convention center and finding a great variety of topics ranging from leadership to technical detailing. These educational sessions also took place in the Expo Hall. Similar to the overall event, the size of the Expo Hall was astonishing, as it seemed to continue on endlessly (I had to reorient myself using the Expo map a few times). It was very valuable to have these exhibits all in one place and oriented to architects. I was able to learn about new products and technologies, reconnect with familiar reps, and finally meet multiple contacts in person that I’d only previously known from email correspondence. It served as a nice reminder of how small our world and profession can be, even at a massive event.
TIM LAUBACKER, AIA, NCARB
SK+I Architecture
Class of 2023 AIAPV Emerging Professional Awards Winners
EPAP CLASS OF 2023 TOURS SK+I ARCHITECTURE
By Timothy Laubacker, AIA, NCARB | Associate at SK+I
Published in Potomac Valley Architect – June 14, 2023
The Class of 2023 for the AIA Potomac Valley’s Emerging Professional Awards Program (EPAP) has been hard at work—attending conferences, executing private studies towards registration or certifications and, most recently, hosting firm tours during which EPAP cohort members can start open-discussion about trending topics in architecture and exchange ideas. Earlier this spring Zavos Architecture + Design hosted the first of such tours, led by EPAP member Emily Lally.
We assembled again on May 23rd, hosted by Bethesda, MD firm SK+I Architecture. I have been part of this amazing group of architects and designers for eight years, leading teams to design, develop, and construct projects on the east coast and beyond.
We kicked off the evening with a tour of SK+I’s office, designed by the team back in 2014 upon relocating within downtown Bethesda. The floor plan is open concept, with the conference rooms, and administrative offices towards the center, surrounding the reception area.
Emily Lally, AIA, CPHC
Zavos Architecture + Design
Class of 2023 AIAPV Emerging Professional Awards Winners
AIA LOBBY DAY, LEADERSHIP SUMMIT 2023
By Emily Lally, AIA, CPHC | Director of Passiv at ZA+D
Published in Potomac Valley Architect – March 8, 2023
The AIA Leadership Summit (formerly AIA Grassroots) was held in Washington, DC, from February 14-17. Emily Lally, member of AIAPV’s EPAP Class of 2023, attended as part of her EPAP leadership development activities. The following article recounts and reflects upon Emily’s experience.
The Summit began with AIA President Emily Grandstaff-Rice, FAIA speaking about the role of architects as policy advocates and how the power of design can be harnessed to address society’s most pressing challenges from climate change to social justice. Kevin Holland, FAIA, NOMAC, LEED AP then discussed the top priorities of AIA: Climate Action, Future Economy and Equitable Communities. Kevin left us with this thought: “We want to do well while we do good.”
AIA EVP/Chief Executive Officer Lakisha Ann Woods, CAE, spoke about implementing change that builds on past progress. As CEO of AIA, she has reduced the priorities list dramatically because “if you’re trying to be all things, you cannot execute and cannot be exceptional.” As a fellow Marylander, she brought up the state motto “Fatti maschii, parole femine,” which means Strong deeds, gentle Words. She correlated this motto to how we can all approach legislators as partners for progress.
On the second day I participated in AIA Lobby Day where I represented AIA Potomac Valley and AIA Maryland to discuss two bipartisan bills that are important to the profession of architecture: Democracy in Design Act and Resilient AMERICA Act. The Democracy in Design Act protects freedom in design for federal buildings and the Resilient AMERICA Act would increase the amount of pre-disaster mitigation funding available through FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program. It is critical to be proactive and invest in communities’ infrastructure before disaster strikes. We cannot continue to pay in lives and livelihood, we need all hands on deck. As Kara Kempski stated, “What’s predictable should be preventable.”
LAUREN KUHENS, Assoc. aia
Grimm + Parker Architects
Inaugural class of AIAPV Emerging Professional Awards Winners
AN EMERGING PROFESSIONAL’S PERSPECTIVE ON A’22
By Lauren Kuhens, Assoc. AIA
Published in Potomac Valley Architect – July 13, 2022
A few weeks ago, I had the exciting opportunity to attend the annual AIA Conference on Architecture in Chicago. Following two years of COVID-19 lockdowns and many days working isolated at home, it was a pleasure to be surrounded by so many inspiring professionals. Aside from the expansive exposition floor and the many fantastic architectural tours offered by the AIA, this year’s conference included several influential speakers—including Lakisha Woods, Jeanne Gang, Vishaan Chakrabarti, and former President Barack Obama.
After four fantastic days attending various events and seminars, what resonated with me the most was the common focus on an architect’s role in influencing climate change action and social impact. For example, while at the conference, the AIA awarded Brooks + Scarpa Architects with the AIA Gold Medal for their work in affordable housing in California. MASS Design Group won Firm of the Year for the philanthropic work abroad. I attended six different seminars related to climate disaster adaptation, innovations in affordable housing, and how architects can drive equitable development through policy and community engagement. To me, this focus symbolizes an important period in the profession of architecture—a period dedicated to the importance of being a citizen-architect and using our expertise to not just achieve design excellence, but also implement design that improves the environmental and human condition.
Linda Clark, AIA, IIDA, NCIDQ, NOMA, NCARB, WELL AP
Grimm + Parker Architects
Inaugural class of AIAPV Emerging Professional Awards Winners
Linda drew inspiration from the AIA Grassroots (now the AIA Leadership Summit) sessions she attended as an EPAP, particularly as they related to leadership and guidance for her role as Founder and CEO of Creative Build-Up Initiative, a nonprofit dedicated to providing equal opportunity access for minority students to STEAM educational programming regardless of social-economic status. During her EPAP term, Linda was promoted to Senior Associate at Grimm + Parker and she served on the architectural design team for Graceland Park-O’Donnell Heights ES/MS and Holabird Academy, which won an Excellence in Design Award in the 2022 AIA Maryland Design Awards Competition. Linda and her team were recognized on September 29, 2022 at The Center for Architecture and Design in Baltimore.
