October 14, 2026 
Design + Leadership Awards
Engage in the Napkin Sketch Contest at Design + Leadership Awards 2026
This year's theme is: "Reimagine the Perfect Coffee Cup for the Architect on a Deadline."
Come to AIAPV Design + Leadership Awards and participate in the 2026 AIAPV Napkin Sketch Contest, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Lee/Shoemaker PLLC!
The Napkin Sketch Contest is an AIA Potomac Valley design awards ceremony tradition. The Contest provides an opportunity to show off your sketching skills, so take time to stop by the Napkin Sketch table, get your napkin, and sketch away during the reception—you may even win a prize! First and second place winners will be announced during the awards ceremony.
AIAPV Design + Leadership Awards 2026 Celebration
October 22, 6:00 − 9:00 PM
7:00 PM Awards Ceremony + Networking
It’s not too late to join us—Register today for AIAPV’s annual awards celebration!
AIAPV's Design + Leadership Awards 2026 will spotlight outstanding projects and individuals who are shaping the built environment in meaningful and innovative ways, featuring the AIAPV’s Excellence in Design Awards and recognition of winners from our Student and Emerging Professional Design Awards programs.
This is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy some tasty beverages, small plates, and hors d'oeuvres while connecting with colleagues, peers, and friends, celebrate design achievements in our community, and gain inspiration from some of the region’s top talent. Don’t miss this signature event—register now!
→ Sponsorship opportunities are still available through October 16. Sign up here.
Click here for details on advertising in Potomac Valley Architect
Potomac Valley Events
Improving Health and Safety Through Smart Home Enabled Windows & Doors [CRAN]
October 15, 5:00 − 7:00 PM
North Bethesda, MD | 1 LU/HSW | REGISTER
Join us at 5:00 pm for Happy Hour & Networking to learn about the latest products and trends and speak with experts and installers. Refreshments will be provided. Event is free and open to all.
Then attend the educational course at 6:00 pm that will explore recent trends in smart home technology for residential construction looking at a wide range of options available to architect designing a smart home. It will also review the benefits of collaboration with smart home integrators.
Organized by the AIA Potomac Valley Custom Residential Architecture Network (CRAN) committee.
Health, Safety and Wellness of Rainscreen Cladding and the Use of Solid Wall Terra-cotta
October 21, 12:00 − 1:00 PM
Webinar | 1 LU/HSW | REGISTER
This program will educate and explore the use of terracotta rainscreen versus barrier wall systems for the prevention of water penetration through the building envelope and displays how the material provides HSW benefits on each job. This is to include the history and development of rainscreen technology including manufacturing, installation, finish details for systems and ways to specify the product.
UMD Fall 2026 Lecture Series
Wednesdays, September 23−November 4, 2026 | 4:00 − 5:30 PM
College Park, MD | Architecture Building Auditorium | Details
The University of Maryland is hosting several notable lecture series in Fall 2026 across different colleges and departments. AIA credits are provided courtesy of AIA Potomac Valley.
The Politics of Design: A Conversation with Maurice Cox
October 21, 2026 | 5:30 − 7:00 PM | 1 LU | Details
Speaker: Maurice D. Cox, Emma Bloomberg Professor in Residence of Urban Planning and Design, Harvard Graduate School of Design (Karl Du Puy Lecture / LeFrak Lecture)
AI + Architecture Summit
October 26, 28 & 30
Architecture Building Auditorium
Architecture in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (Keynote)
October 26, 2026 | 4:00 − 5:30 PM | Details
Speaker: Neil Leach, PhD, Professor and Director of the Doctor of Design Program, Florida International University
The AI-Enabled Practice: How Will Architecture Change in the Next Five Years? (Industry Panel Discussion)
October 28, 2026 | 4:00 − 5:30 PM | Details
Panelists: JJ Rivers, AIA, Co-Managing Director and Principal, Gensler; Antonio Rebelo, AIA, IIDA, Co-President and Chief Design Officer, Grimm + Parker Architects; Scott Welch, AIA, LEED Green Associate, Certified Passive House Designer, Senior Principal and Board Member, Torti Gallas + Partners
Moderator: Hooman Koliji, PhD, Associate Clinical Professor, University of Maryland; Co-Founder, BioBulb
Collaborative AI Design Workshop Architecture Firms + Faculty + Students
October 30, 2026 | 12:00 − 2:00 PM | Details
Open to Architecture Firms, faculty and students
Workshop Outcomes + Roundtable Discussion
October 30, 2026 | 2:00 − 4:00 PM | Details
Open to Architecture students
Why Listen?
November 4, 2026 | 4:00 − 5:30 PM | 1.5 LU/HSW | Details
Speaker: Carin Smuts, Principle, CS Studio and Architects (Colden Florence-Thomas Eichbaum Lecture)
AIAPV 2026 Design + Leadership Awards Celebration
October 22, 6:00 − 9:00 PM
College Park, MD | REGISTER
AIAPV's Design + Leadership Awards 2026 will be held on Thursday, October 22 at the College Park Aviation Airport Operations Center in College Park. This annual celebratory event provides the opportunity for architects and the greater design community to network with professional peers, celebrate the best work of our members and our region through the chapter's professional Excellence in Design Awards program and our Emerging Professional and Student Design Awards programs, and recognize outstanding leadership. We invite you to join us!
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR 2026 DESIGN + LEADERSHIP AWARDS SPONSORS!
NAPKIN SKETCH SPONSOR
PATRON SPONSORS
Moody Graham
Think Make Build
WDG Architecture
A Path to Low-Carbon Building Design with LEED v5
November 3, 12:00 − 1:00 PM
Webinar | 1 LU/HSW | REGISTER
This course explores USGBC’s LEED v5 framework, highlighting credits and strategies to deliver ultra-low carbon buildings. Participants will review the intention behind the LEED v5 system goals, targeting decarbonization. We will explore the science of carbon emissions and their critical role in global warming, providing a foundational understanding of the chemical properties of carbon and its impact on the environment.
Sealing Joints in the Building Envelope
November 18, 12:00 − 1:00 PM
Webinar | 1 LU/HSW | REGISTER
This program focuses on different expansion joint technologies and how they interface with and seal the building envelope. In this course, participants will gain practical insight into common design oversights and how to avoid them.
Fenestration Strategies for Affordable Housing
December 16, 12:00 − 1:00 PM
This presentation will focus on the concerns of builders and developers of affordable housing units. It will review what affordable housing is, why communities need this type of housing, and various affordable housing programs. The pros and cons of building affordable housing will be weighed, along with how to overcome the challenges with a focus on cost, durability, maintenance, and maximizing performance. Creative fenestration solutions in affordable housing will finally be reviewed.
Oct 21 | Emerging Professionals Committee (Virtual) 6:30 PM
Member News
Celebrating Krutika Shah: BD+C 40 Under 40 Class of 2026
Please join us in congratulating Krutika Shah, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, SEED, COA on her selection to the prestigious Building Design+Construction (BD+C) 40 Under 40 Class of 2026!
Each year, Building Design+Construction honors 40 emerging leaders across architecture, engineering, construction, real estate, and allied AEC fields. Krutika—who currently serves as AIAPV Secretary—brings an extraordinary breadth of leadership and global experience to the profession.
At Sheladia Associates, Inc., she leads a 10-member multidisciplinary architecture team. Her distinguished portfolio includes from serving as Project Manager and Project Architect for the award-winning St. Elizabeths Shelter in Washington, D.C., as Project Director for a multilateral development bank (MDB) regional campus modernization in South Africa, to mentoring the next generation through AIA, Krutika’s impact spans local and global communities.
Krutika’s recent notable honors also include selection for the AIA Young Architects Forum’s 2026 Align Mentorship Cohort and recognition in AIA Northern Virginia’s “30 Women in 30 Days” initiative (2024).
"I am beyond thrilled and deeply honored to be named to the Building Design + Construction 40 Under 40 Class of 2026!" — Krutika Shah
Congratulations, Krutika, on this well-deserved national recognition!
Photo credit on magazine cover: Danielle McCormick, AIA, NCARB, LEED Green Associate
AIA Supports Associate AIA Members Through Licensure With FREE ARE Practice Exams
The AIA Associate Licensure Program gives eligible Associate members access to PrepARE benefits and exclusive pricing designed to support the path to licensure, including free ARE practice exams for all six ARE divisions (a $120 value) plus exclusive member pricing on expanded learning and community support. It’s another way AIA has your back on the path to licensure.
Is Your AIA Profile Up to Date?
Tell us more about yourself! Members can manage contact information, demographic, firm affiliation, education and other pertinent details in their My Account. Accurate and complete data helps support AIA's diversity, equity and inclusion. Review and update outdated or missing information in your My Account today. Thank you!
It’s not too late to renew for 2026. Win a free trip to AIA27! Renew by December 1, 2026, for a chance to win an all inclusive trip* to the architecture and design event of the year in Philadelphia. Terms and conditions apply. Stay connected and renew to avoid a break in your membership.
Membership Dues Payment Plan is Now Open
More flexibility is coming to installment payments. The six-month installment program opened October 1 and is available through April 30.
Renewing, new, and rejoining Architect, Associate, International Associate, and National Allied members are eligible to participate in the Membership Dues Payment Plan (“Payment Plan”).
This year, members can enroll using either electronic checks or credit cards, providing greater flexibility when spreading out dues payments. For questions regarding membership or eligibility, contact AIA Member Support at (800) 242 3837, option 2.
Events, Education & Opportunities
Passive House DC Chapter Meeting
October 15, 12:00 − 1:00 PM
Virtual | REGISTER
Attend and network with others working to transform the building industry across the US. Get the latest, regional, national and international Passive House news. Hear reports on ongoing efforts and help brainstorm new ones. Please invite friends or colleagues who may be interested. Zoom link is provided with registration.
Passive House Washington DC is part of The Passive House Network, in affiliation with the International Passive House Association, and the Passive House Institute. Questions welcome: [email protected]
Disaster Risk Reduction & Resilience Pledge
October 15, 2:00 − 3:00 PM
Webinar | REGISTER
AIA's Disaster Risk Reduction & Resilience Pledge encourages architects and the profession to make resilience an integral part of practice and design. Join this live webinar to learn more about the pledge and its role in shaping a more resilient future.
Manage Moisture with Rainscreen Systems and Fiber Cement
October 15, 3:00 − 4:00 PM
Virtual | 1 LU/HSW | REGISTER
This course will explore the importance of designing resilient buildings and the dangers of moisture intrusion for building longevity. It will examine how rainscreens manage moisture, their components, and climate specific considerations. It will demonstrate how fiber cement siding and horizontal steel furring can be used to create a rainscreen system, including important installation considerations.
AIA 2030 Commitment By the Numbers (RY25): A Look into Firms’ Progress Towards Net Zero Emissions
October 16, 1:00 − 2:00 PM
Virtual | 1 LU/HSW | REGISTER
Explore how more than 24,000 projects are advancing toward net-zero carbon through the AIA 2030 Commitment. This AIAU course examines the evolving metrics, strategies, and reporting practices shaping the future of climate action in design.
Economic Update Q4 2026 ABI Insights
October 21, 2:00 − 3:00 PM
Virtual | 1 LU | REGISTER
Join AIA Chief Economist Richard Branch for a quarterly conversation about the AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index (ABI). The ABI is a leading monthly economic indicator that uses proprietary AIA data to predict nonresidential construction activity 9–12 months ahead. Get ahead of emerging challenges and opportunities and inform your strategic planning with key insights into the industry’s latest economic data and trends.
Activating the Guides for Equitable Practice, Mentorship and Sponsorship
October 22, 4:00 PM
Virtual | CEUs Available | REGISTER
The final monthly Guides in Action discussion will explore mentorship and sponsorship and their role in creating equitable, inclusive, and sustainable career pathways in architecture. The interactive discussion highlights Chapter 6 of the Guides for Equitable Practice and will explore strategies for engaging as mentees, mentors, sponsors, and allies. Space is limited and registration is required.
K–12 IDEA Group Presents: Fireside Chat with Yiselle Santos Rivera, AIA
October 29, 4:00 − 5:00 PM
Virtual | 1 AIA LU | REGISTER
Join the K–12 IDEA Group for a fireside chat with incoming AIA President-elect Yiselle Santos Rivera, AIA. Hear about her journey to architecture and the importance of K–12 outreach.
2026 Future Forward Conference & Expo
November 4, 8:00 AM − 5:00 PM
Linthicum Heights, MD | Maritime Conference Center | Details | REGISTER
The Future Forward Conference & Expo brings together architects, engineers, tradesmen, and professionals from the construction field, along with associates and industry leaders from Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia.
Explore cutting-edge sustainability practices, network with decision-makers, and gain actionable insights to lead the industry forward. This landmark event features distinguished speakers, special events, and a dynamic expo showcasing cutting-edge products and services.
35th Annual Affordable Housing Summit
November 20, 8:00 AM − 2:30 PM
Rockville, MD | REGISTER
The 2026 Annual Affordable Housing Summit, Housing Affordability in Practice: Promises vs. Reality, will be held November 20, 2026, at the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville, MD.
Panels will include:
- Opening plenary: The Housing Production Conundrum: Housing Affordability or Housing Shortage?
- Community-Led Development
- Technical Innovation in Housing: Modular Urban Construction
- Breaking the Codes: Non-Zoning Costs to Housing
- Moving Forward: Transit Progress in Affordable Housing
- The 21st Century Road to Housing Act Opportunities
- How to Navigate Housing Finance Obstacles
- Housing for Elderly and Disabled Populations
- Renter Protections
For inquiries, contact Executive Director, Melissa McKenna.
From AIA
Eleven AIA Advocacy Updates
Check out breaking advocacy news in this roundup from Matt Toddy, AIA, of the AIA Board of Directors’ Government Affairs Committee.
AIA Quarterly Update | Q3 2026
Read the latest update from AIA EVP/CEO Carole Wedge, FAIA.
AIA National Associates Committee Q3 2026 NewsBites
This issue highlights the progress NAC and its State/Territory Associate Representatives (STARs) have made this quarter in advancing our 2026 priorities, developing resources for Associate members, strengthening connections across the country, and celebrating the work happening within our Associate community.
System for Award Management
General Services Administration announces short selection process for small firms. The administration has a new, streamlined method for awarding architecture/engineering contracts under $350,000.
AIA 2030 Commitment: 2025 Results Are In
AIA has released the latest 2030 Commitment By the Numbers annual report, highlighting the architecture and design industry’s progress toward carbon-neutral buildings. The report analyzes 2025 performance data and identifies strategies firms can use to improve results year over year.
New Resource: Climate Justice in Architecture
The Climate Justice in Architecture Guide highlights 10 exemplary projects that address both the environmental and social impacts of climate change through design and community engagement. Explore strategies at the building, neighborhood, regional, and global scales that align with the AIA Framework for Design Excellence.
Calls, Competitions & Deadlines
Call for Submissions: Health and Wellness Showcase
Deadline for Submissions: October 15
The AIA Baltimore Health & Wellness Committee invites healthcare and wellness project teams to participate in a November 12th peer-to-peer showcase. We welcome completed projects, projects in progress, and post-occupancy insights, with particular interest in Emergency Department projects. Selected teams will provide a brief project overview and join an informal moderated discussion focused on design strategies, lessons learned, and best practices.
AIA Maryland 2026 Early Professional Friendly Firm Award
Application Deadline: October 19 at 11:59 PM
Applications are open for AIA Maryland's 2026 Early Professional Friendly Firm (EPFF) Award. The program recognizes firms that make supporting early professionals a meaningful part of their practice.
From mentorship and licensure support to professional development, workplace culture, and opportunities to lead, EPFF recognizes firms that are creating places where the next generation of architects can build their careers.
There is no fee to apply.
Classified Ads
2026-10-14:
The Texas Society of Architects has begun a search for their next EVP/CEO. With 7,800 members, the Texas Society of Architects (TxA) is the voice for Texas architecture, protecting and advancing a profession that plays an essential role in strengthening communities and addressing complex challenges in housing affordability, sustainability, resiliency, and public safety. TxA is in a strong financial and operational position with an influential advocacy voice, an established event portfolio, one of the most respected regional architectural periodicals in the nation, and an engaged network of 18 local components throughout the state. As Executive Vice President & CEO, you will build on these strengths to amplify and scale what’s working while identifying opportunities for TxA to better serve its members and the profession. Your leadership will help TxA embrace the same spirit of continuous improvement that defines the practice of architecture itself.
With a new strategic plan in place, TxA’s future direction centers on furthering advocacy impact; strengthening the value proposition for members across demographics and career stages; modernizing how TxA communicates its value and the value of the profession; and helping architects navigate significant changes related to technology advancement, workforce challenges, and licensure. To lead TxA into this next phase, you will oversee a capable staff of 10 across conferences and events, membership, advocacy and government affairs, communications and marketing, education, operations, and finance. You will manage a $4.2MM operating budget with $6.9MM in reserves, including the recently established TxA Legacy Fund, an endowment-like asset designed to support operations and new initiatives that benefit members and the profession.
