AIA Chicago

AIA Chicago is pleased to be an industry partner for the conference in September 17th! We hope you can attend this not-to-be-missed event and be inspired by excellent presentations and discussions about emerging Facade engineering and fabrication trends.

The 2026 Chicago event is co-chaired by AIA Chicago members Carl D'Silva, FAIA, and Marius Ronnett, AIA.

To learn more, view the full agenda and register at https://facadesplus.com/chicago26

Congratulations to Raquel Guzman Geara, AIA, the 2026 Recipient of the Dubin Family Young Architect Award

Raquel, an Associate and Design & Project Architect at SmithGroup, has built her career around community, mentorship, and empathy. After arriving in the United States from the Dominican Republic, she has used her experiences to shape a human centered approach to architecture and advocate for others in the profession.

Read the full press release: aiachicago.org/aia-chicago-foundation-to-honor-Raquel-guzman-geara

Read more about the Dubin Family Young Architect Award: aiachicago.org/dubin-family-young-architect-award

AIA Chicago is pleased to be an industry partner for the conference in September 17th! We hope you can attend this not-to-be-missed event and be inspired by excellent presentations and discussions about emerging Facade engineering and fabrication trends.

The 2026 Chicago event is co-chaired by AIA Chicago members Carl D'Silva, FAIA, and Marius Ronnett, AIA.

To learn more, view the full agenda and register at https://facadesplus.com/chicago26/.

🎉 Designight 2026 tickets are now on sale!

Join AIA Chicago for Designight 2026, Chicago's premier celebration of architecture, as we recognize outstanding projects, emerging talent, and lifetime achievements shaping the future of the built environment.

Following the Awards Ceremony, continue the celebration at the After Party featuring live entertainment from DJ KZMO, interactive experiences, complimentary food and drinks, and plenty of opportunities to connect with colleagues, clients, and industry leaders.

🎟️ Awards Ceremony + After Party combined tickets are available now. Awards Ceremony Only tickets will be released soon, so stay tuned!

For more information and registration:
https://aiachicago.org/designight2026/

Interested in showcasing your brand at one of the year's most anticipated architecture events? Designight sponsorship opportunities are also available, offering unique ways to engage with hundreds of architects, designers, and industry professionals.

For sponsorship information:
https://aiachicago.org/sponsor/

We can't wait to celebrate with you this fall!

🚨 This week, a federal council could gut the process that protects historic buildings nationwide, and we need you to take action: https://aia.quorum.us/campaign/166624/

Architects, here's what you need to know:

💡 Section 106 is a federal law (part of the National Historic Preservation Act) that requires federal agencies to evaluate the impact of federally funded or permitted projects on historic properties before moving forward.

The rewrite would permit Federal agencies skip consultations with State Historic Preservation Officers (SHPOs), Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (THPOs), Tribes, and local governments in shaping outcomes.

Late last Friday, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP)circulated this near-complete draft with a sweeping rewrite of the regulations, and requested a vote by this Friday.

⚠️ For architects, that's not less red tape — it's more risk.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is already coordinating national advocacy and legal strategy, pushing Congress to force ACHP to pause the vote. This kind of rapid-response muscle is exactly what your membership organization does — and exactly what's needed this week.

📣 Act now: contact your members of Congress today and tell them to press ACHP to delay this vote until stakeholders get a real say.

Sign your name: https://aia.quorum.us/campaign/166624/

From new beginnings to new leadership opportunities, Sheetal Vora, Assoc. AIA’s journey reflects the power of diverse perspectives in shaping the future of architecture.

As the first Illinois participant selected for AIA National's Next to Lead program, Sheetal spent the past year developing her leadership skills alongside a cohort of racially and ethnically diverse women in architecture.

Through mentorship, shared experiences, and meaningful conversations, the program expanded her perspective on leadership and reinforced the importance of creating a more inclusive profession.

Read more about Sheetal’s experience:
AIAChicago.org/Next-to-Lead

Learn more about Next to Lead and apply:
AIA.org/Resource-Center/Next-Lead

Bird-friendly design is becoming an essential part of sustainable practice.

Join AIA Chicago's Committee on the Environment (COTE) + 2030 Commitment for a guided tour of Flyway City: Architecture for a Flourishing Ecosystem at the Chicago Architecture Center. Co-created by Studio Gang and the Chicago Architecture Center, the exhibit explores design strategies that create healthier urban habitats while addressing the more than 1 billion birds that die each year in the U.S. from collisions with building glass.

Friday, July 10, 3:00 - 4:00pm
Chicago Architecture Center, 111 East Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL

For more info and to register: https://aiachicago.org/aia-events/flyway-city-exhibit-tour/

The tour will be led by Alissa Anderson of Studio Gang, who will share insights into the exhibit's design and the role architects can play in protecting avian life through the built environment.

After the tour, continue the conversation with fellow attendees at The Northman Beer & Cider Garden on the Riverwalk.

The Obama Presidential Center is now open, and Chicago architects helped make it happen! Swipe to learn more about four local firms whose work shaped this significant addition to the city’s cultural landscape.

Guess-A-Sketch returns for an electrifying night of architectural artistry! Honoree sketchers will transform blank canvases into masterful depictions of the world’s most iconic buildings in this quick and high-stakes game of architectural picture guessing game.

Eight sponsored teams will go head-to-head in a battle of speed, skill, and architectural knowledge. The pressure’s on, the crowd’s roaring, and the stakes are high – who will be crowned the 2026 champion?

Be more than a spectator – join the excitement! Test your architectural wit in audience challenges, with prizes that celebrate design excellence. But the real masterpiece? Every sketch created during this adrenaline-fueled evening becomes a chance to invest in architecture’s future. All proceeds from the sale of sketches benefit the AIA Chicago Foundation’s vital scholarships and grants, nurturing the next generation of architectural change-makers.

Your admission includes a culinary experience featuring “Taste of Chicago” stations, where you can enjoy local staples like mini Chicago dogs, a vibrant Chinatown station serving dumplings and lo-mein, and a selection of savory street tacos, all paired with complementary beverages.

For more info and to register, visit aiachicago.org/guess-a-sketch

The deadline for the AIA Chicago Design Excellence Awards is fast approaching, and we don't want your work to miss the opportunity for recognition.

📅 Submit by this Friday, June 12, 5:00 PM central:
AIAChicago.org/Awards

These awards celebrate outstanding architecture and interior architecture by AIA Chicago members and firms, highlighting projects that advance design excellence, sustainability, and equity. From Citation of Merit recipients to the prestigious Honor Awards, this program recognizes projects that exemplify the highest standards of the profession.

If you have a project you're proud of, now is the time to share it.