Member Perspectives: AIA25 Recap

Scott Rodwin, AIA, AIA Colorado President, Principle, Rodwin Architecture

“My favorite thing about going to AIA conferences is the unexpected new friends that I make. At the AIA gala, I sat next to a Fellow who had successfully nominated this year’s–and last year‘s–national Firm of the Year. She knew everybody. We traded war stories, curiosities, and observations all night, and I came away with a friend after just a few hours. 

I also had a wonderful time reconnecting with old friends from AIA Colorado, going out to dinner and deepening those friendships. 

My two favorite sessions were the CRAN talk (Custom Residential Architects Network), and Pete Buttigieg’s keynote. Both were inspiring.

Oh, and going to Fenway Park to see the Red Sox play was a special treat!

Lastly, being Colorado’s delegate this year, interviewing, and then voting for our new president-elect, treasurer, and board member at large was a wonderfully educational process and gave me great confidence that members are doing their best to responsibly steward the organization and keep it serving the members as effectively as possible.”

Mike Waldinger, Hon. AIA, CEO, AIA Colorado and Scott Rodwin, AIA, President, AIA Colorado attended a Red Sox game at historic Fenway Park.

Kaylyn Kirby, AIA, Young Architects Forum Representative, Associate Principal, Semple Brown

“Boston – AIA2025 – over 100,000 steps, lobster mac, old and new friends, inspiring keynotes (go Pete!), and puppies – my first national conference was an overwhelming success. I returned home exhausted, but with my cup full, reminded why I volunteer with the AIA, why I show up, and what we’re all working toward. 

Throughout the week, I had serendipitous reunions with old classmates and colleagues from my architectural circles in Colorado, Minnesota, and Louisiana. I also connected with fellow Young Architects Forum (YAF) representatives from across the country—both current members and alumni. These spontaneous moments reaffirmed a central truth: this organization is powered by people, and the relationships we build here stretch across miles and endure for a lifetime.

One memorable moment was attending the Annual Business Meeting and candidate caucus alongside AIA Colorado President Scott Rodwin, AIA. I was deeply impressed by the tenacity and thoughtfulness of our membership. Delegates from all over the country posed insightful, challenging questions to board candidates, offering a powerful glimpse into their values and visions for AIA’s future. Another standout moment was the conversation between AIA President Evelyn Lee, FAIA, and Secretary Pete Buttigieg—a compelling reminder of the unique role architects play in shaping our world for the better.

I closed out the conference with an event I helped organize as part of the YAF Strategic Vision Focus Group: Young Architects Forum: Bridging Generations. Held over 30 years following YAF’s founding at AIA National, the session brought together attendees from every stage of career—from students to Fellows. We engaged in thoughtful dialogue around mentorship, career development, wellness, burnout, and the evolving future of architecture. What began over 30 years ago as a small gathering of emerging architects has now grown into a 60+ member committee representing young professionals across the U.S. and internationally. It was an honor to be part of continuing that legacy.

Now back home in Denver, I’m holding tight to the energy and momentum sparked by this incredible week—and feeling cautiously optimistic about all that the rest of 2025 has in store.”

John Glenn, AIA, AIA Colorado Secretary, Associate, Davis Partnership Architects, participating in Young Architects Forum: Bridging Generations event.

Andy Nielson, FAIA, Principal, Anderson Mason Dale

“What better way to close out the conference than with a Friday evening boat tour of Boston Harbor led by a group of really smart landscape architects? Although a little chilly by the end, it was a beautiful evening and a great perspective on Boston, its diverse neighborhoods, its history, and how the community is shaping a resilient future for its waterfront confronted by the challenges of climate change. Thanks AIA!”

Sarah Broughton, FAIA, Founding Principal, Rowland + Broughton

Boston was amazing! The venue was well laid out, great food and beverage and the surrounding Seaport neighborhood is very inspiring.  Boston hosted many great tours, many walking straight from the conference center. I was very impressed on a tour of an adjacent part of Seaport, hearing from the developer and the architects and landscape architect how the multi-block design was knitted into existing context and even built over highway on ramps. They are building 6′ above current water like to adapt to rising sea levels.

Evelyn Lee, FAIA, gave an amazing speech on Friday morning reminding us when AIA began at a time of great uncertainty and natural disasters. Through optimism and leadership of our founders, AIA remains a constant champion and backbone to our profession. Built through advocacy and participation. Get involved, stay involved and help shape our future. 

Finally, it was an honor for John and me to be included in a book signing of our recently published monograph, Designing Aspen, at the AIA Bookstore. We were with great company and we are so appreciative of the support! 

Nikolaus Remus, AIA, Advocacy Engagement Director, AIA Colorado

Resilience was one of the key topics at AIA25 in Boston and members of the AIA National Resilience and Disaster Response (RADR) committee embraced this opportunity to attend and lead multiple breakout sessions in addition to an open forum event hosted by myself, co-chair Sammy Shams, and chair-elect Alan Scott to talk about the work the RADR committee has been doing.

At our open forum, we talked about our major 2025 committee efforts, which include updating AIAU’s resiliency-related offerings, creating a knowledge hub website to help AIA members quickly find useful resources for their practice, and building a list of members nationwide with post-disaster rebuild efforts who can quickly help local AIA components after a disaster to understand what architects can expect in the coming weeks, months, and years. Stephanie Lamore with AIA National spoke about our ongoing efforts to preserve federal funding, primarily for FEMA, to continue providing grant funding and post-disaster assistance.

Finally, I chatted with Julie Wormser, chief climate officer for the City of Cambridge, MA and Nasser Brahim, director of climate resilience with the Boston-area Mystic River Watershed Association. They offered great insight on how local communities identify key community resiliency projects and how to fund them. Both panelists have extensive experience with sea level rise effects in particular, but their knowledge is broadly applicable to any community faced with prioritizing local resilience efforts. We all walked away inspired on how to maintain a positive attitude and look for opportunities to improve our communities instead of dwelling on policy changes we can’t control.

Marisol Gallagher, AIA, Marisol Studios

I landed in Boston just in time for a dinner hosted by the TAP + COTE symposium sponsors, Autodesk and Forma—and it couldn’t have been a better way to kick off the week. The conversation was rich with insight, diving into how technology is (and isn’t yet) being fully integrated into design workflows, especially in small and medium firms. It set the tone for a conference centered on collaboration, innovation, and the future of our profession.

From there, AIA25 unfolded into an energizing experience surrounded by peers, mentors, and visionaries—all committed to advancing the impact of architecture. A particular highlight for me was the launch of the AIA Business Academy, a first-of-its-kind professional development series designed for firm leaders who are ready to work on their business, not just in it.

The inaugural session—“Designing Your Firm’s Strategic Blueprint”—offered a deep dive into building the kind of business foundations we’re rarely taught in design school: articulating a clear value proposition, leveraging relationships for competitive advantage, and aligning strategy with execution. With a mix of real-world frameworks, group discussions, and hands-on collaboration, it was a powerful start to a seven-month journey focused on clarity, growth, and long-term impact.

I was especially excited to reconnect with a familiar face—Dana Ellis, AIA—and to meet Kevin Stockton, AIA, both fellow Colorado architects participating in the Academy. Colorado ended up being the most represented state in the cohort, which made the experience feel even more connected and collaborative.

I also had the honor of speaking on a panel during the TAP + COTE Symposium: “Implementation Strategies for Small and Medium Firms”, alongside Barry Yoakum, FAIA, Hafsa Burt, AIA, and Paul Doherty, moderated by Vickie Patel. What began as a structured Q&A quickly evolved into a lively, open discussion—touching on everything from the role of design technologies in high performance design and embedding environmental performance across firm portfolios. 

The Business Academy blends online and in-person sessions for a sustainable pace, and I appreciate that the workload is manageable for practicing leaders. It’s already offering insights that are directly shaping how I think about leading Marisol Studios with intention.

This experience marks the beginning of an exciting chapter—not just for me, but for my new firm and the broader community of architects stepping more fully into strategic leadership. I’m grateful to be part of it.

David Beal, AIA, David A. Beal & Associates, LLC

“Pete Buttigieg’s keynote was the most memorable speaker at AIA25 and I really enjoyed what he shared.

Something new that I learned is that AI is way ahead of what I understood. I got some valuable feedback from some Colorado Architects at my seminars that have introduced AI into their day-to-day.”