Architects Foundation

WASHINGTON – April 17, 2025

Architects Foundation, the philanthropic partner of the American Institute of Architects, announced the appointment of Jennifer Calvert Hall as its new Executive Director. Calvert Hall was identified following a highly competitive national search and brings extensive experience in fundraising and nonprofit management. The appointment of Calvert Hall as the Foundation’s Executive Director becomes effective on May 12, 2025.

Foundation President and Board Chair Dan Kirby, FAIA, said, “I believe that the appointment of Jennifer Calvert Hall as our new Executive Director represents an important milestone in our efforts. Her enthusiasm for the role paired with her success in non-profit management and development will advance our mission. I am confident that her appointment will be transformative in our efforts to expand our capacity to support aspiring architects, empower communities, and create impactful experiences.”

Calvert Hall shared, “It’s an honor to join the Architects Foundation as Executive Director, merging my passion for design, education, and community building. I believe in its mission to invest in the next generation of the design community and demonstrate the cultural and societal impact of architecture, and I look forward to working with the Board and staff to strengthen this commitment.” A Certified Fund Raising Executive, Calvert Hall currently serves as the Vice President of Membership and Advancement for the American Alliance of Museums (AAM). Prior to joining AAM, she served as the Executive Director at the Fund for Education Abroad, was a Major Gifts Officer at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery, and was the Associate Director of Individual Giving at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, DC. Calvert Hall holds a Master of Arts from the Parsons School of Design in the History of Design and Curatorial Studies Program held at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. 

Executive search firm Vetted Solutions assisted with the search.

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WASHINGTON – The Architects Foundation today announced the recipients for five of its scholarship programs that support future leaders of the profession in equity, diversity, and sustainability.

The Architects Foundation is continuing to support the future of the architecture profession by recognizing and supporting scholars through an ever-expanding scholarship and grant program offering. Programs listed below represent the latest recipients of the Architects Foundation’s scholarship and grant programs.

2023 Diversity Advancement Scholarship
The Architects Foundation is continuing to support diversity in the architecture profession by awarding its Diversity Advancement Scholarship to 3 students entering architecture school. Each of the students will receive $4,000 per year towards tuition for the next five years totaling $20,000 each. This year’s recipients are:
• Sherwin-Williams Scholar Justin Chappell, a freshman at Florida A&M University.
• Fireclay Tile Scholar Gabriella Doe, a sophomore at University of Notre Dame.
• RS&H Scholar Silvia Kim, a freshman at Carnegie Mellon University.

2023 Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship
The Architects Foundation is awarding the 2023 Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship to Michelle Ovanessians.

2023 Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship
The Architects Foundation is awarding the 2023 Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship to Alec Harrigan.

2023 Jason Pettigrew Memorial ARE Scholarship
The Architects Foundation is awarding the 2023 Jason Pettigrew Memorial ARE Scholarship to 10 emerging professionals to defray the costs associated with the Architect Registration Examination (ARE). Scholarship recipients will receive funds to cover the cost of the ARE, as well as $500 for study materials to prepare for testing. This year’s recipients are:
• Fallon Barrett
• Calvin Gallion
• Nancy De La Vega
• Jason Hegenauer
• Brittany Leneave
• Taisa Peree-Sehic
• Oswaldo Rivera-Ortiz
• Caroline Sorge
• Maddison Wells
• Ruichen Xu

This year, we had an extraordinary number of exceptional applicants to the Jason Pettigrew Memorial ARE Scholarship. Thanks to Tiffany Brown, Assoc. AIA, NOMA, 400FORWARD will fund the exam costs for an additional three applicants, expanding the reach and impact of this program and encouraging these emerging professionals at a pivotal point in their career. The applicants supported by 400FORWARD are:
• Darius Mathius
• Dezha McKoy-Overton
• Stephanie White

2023 Student Loan Relief Grant
The Architects Foundation is awarding the inaugural Student Loan Relief Grant to provide $5,000 of support to architecture graduates who are struggling with student debt. This year’s recipients are:
• Jasmyn Byrd
• Joshua Foster

WASHINGTON – The Architects Foundation today announced that the Communities by Design program at The American Institute of Architects will now be housed at the Architects Foundation. 

The Communities by Design program brings together architects and other professional disciplines to work alongside the residents, professionals and institutions of host communities on key local issues. Every project is community-driven and includes meaningful public participation in an intensive process to match professional expertise with public values and aspirations to create an action plan with phased, implementable recommendations for the future. 

Since the program’s start in 1967, the Communities by Design (CxD) program has completed over 230 projects and won more than a dozen awards globally. Past CxD projects have helped tackle critical issues including downtown and economic revitalization, disaster recovery and preparedness, affordable housing, zero carbon policy, and historic preservation. 

“The Communities by Design program aligns spectacularly with the values and programming of the Architects Foundation,” said Bill Roschen, FAIA, Architects Foundation President.  

“We are thrilled for the opportunity this program brings to expand our efforts as AIA’s philanthropic partner to attract, inspire and invest in the next-generation design community, and support the communities where we live, work, play, learn and thrive.” 

Learn more about the Communities by Design program , upcoming events and donation opportunities on the Architects Foundation website. 

The Architects Foundation is proud to present the 2023 Richard Morris Hunt Prize Fellow and scholar, selected at the December 2022 jury in Washington, DC at The Octagon. Congratulations to Lurita and Marika!

Lurita McIntosh Blank, NCARB, RBEC, APT RP, has received a 6-month travel fellowship to France to study Vertical Timber Framing Practices.

Lurita is a Principal with Raths, Raths & Johnson, Inc., a national engineering, architecture, and forensics consulting firm headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.  She is a Registered Architect in multiple states, a Registered Building Envelope Consultant through the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC), a Recognized Professional through the Association for Preservation Technology (APT), and holds of Master of Science in Historic Preservation from Columbia University. 

 With a 15+ year career in architectural forensics, Lurita’s practice focuses on issues with material degradation, building performance, and water intrusion.   Her expertise includes masonry, heavy timber, and roofing/waterproofing.   At RRJ, Lurita leads the historic preservation and federal markets, providing investigation, diagnosis, and repair design for heritage structures across the country.  Her current work includes multiple projects in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, on French colonial vertical log structures.

Marika Dalley Snider, PhD, AIA is the recipient of the 5-week scholarship whose research topic focuses on Curating Paris’s Layers through Historic Preservation.

Marika is an architect, educator, and storyteller who celebrates the small, the forgotten, and the under-appreciated architecture and its associated people through film and visualization, writing, and historic preservation.

Marika’s architectural practice spans a wide variety of small and medium-sized project types but her passion is history and historic preservation. Museum-quality restorations to state owned historic sites such as the home of former U.S. President Warren G Harding and investigative fieldwork on Harriet Beecher Stowe’s House are some of her proudest work. She is equally proud of her work on historic storefronts and supporting preservation in small towns in Ohio, Utah, and Tennessee.

Marika teaches undergraduate and graduate comprehensive studios and the history of architecture series at the University of Memphis. Her research  focuses on virtual and augmented reality for interpretation of historic African-American neighborhoods.

Learn more about the Richard Morris Hunt Prize here.

Earlier this year, the Architects Foundation awarded the 2022 Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship to Cheyenne Yamada. Yamada, a student at the University of Pennsylvania, will receive a $5,000 scholarship towards tuition for demonstrating an exemplary work focus of design that includes sustainability, resilience, wellness, and beauty. The scholarship honors practicing architect Yann Weymouth, FAIA, who will also mentor Cheyenne.

“Cheyenne demonstrated in her student work a practical and imaginative focus on creating environments to support those in society with few resources. She made inventive use of available local materials to respond to local climate and conditions. Her strongest project combined hand-drawn and digital images with which she portrayed her vision of a safe and welcoming community for homeless persons camping in remote Oahu beaches. The unexpected combination of techniques demonstrated a sensitive empathy and mature presentation,” said Weymouth.

“Ms. Yamada’s talent is coupled with a sense of responsibility for how it should be applied to creatively address issues of equity and sustainability.”

Prior to studying at the University of Pennsylvania, Cheyenne graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Professional Architecture in 2021.

Cheyenne is of Chamorro and Filipino descent, born in Saipan of the Northern Mariana Islands and raised in the mainland U.S. just outside of Washington D.C. Coming from these dual landscapes of a fourteen by five mile long island in the Pacific versus a metropolitan area, she has been exposed to incredibly diverse natural, built, and socioeconomic environments. It is her unique upbringing to which she attributes her continuing curiosity about how design influences people from different walks of life as well as how it affects the natural environment in which it intervenes. This curiosity has sustained throughout her architectural studies thus far as her studio projects have naturally gravitated towards sustainable design efforts to simultaneously promote both cultural and environmental resilience.

Applications for the 2023 Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship will open November 7. Sign up to receive notifications about the application opening.

Earlier this year, the Architects Foundation awarded the 2022 Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship to Jada Cannon, a student at Cornell University.

This award honors late architect Sho-Ping Chin, FAIA, a long-time principal at Payette and a healthcare practice leader who was instrumental in defining and elevating the national discourse for women in design. As part of the prize, Jada will receive a $10,000 scholarship and will be mentored by an architect at Payette for the scholarship year.

Jada has acted as a historian for the University of Colorado Denver National Organization of Minority Architecture Students and as a volunteer for Architexx, a feminist architecture collective. Jada is now pursuing a Master’s in Architecture at Cornell University, and serves on the Diversity and Inclusion Council. Jada plans to utilize their background to become an architect who considers an array of different, often underrepresented, perspectives, and represents communal values in an accessible form.

“We are thrilled with the selection of Jada Cannon as the recipient of the 2022 Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Scholarship,” said Kevin Sullivan, CEO of Payette.

“Jada’s vision and passion for architecture to positively affect change in our environment and the communities and culture of the places that we live and work, is inspiring. Jada embodies all the characteristics of someone that Sho-Ping would have much admired and would have loved to have met.”

Applications for the 2023 Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship will open November 7. Sign up to receive news about the scholarship opening.

The Architects Foundation is recognizing and supporting women in architecture with the Sho-Ping Chin Women’s Leadership Summit Grant.

The Sho-Ping Chin WLS Grant provides travel and registration to the AIA Women’s Leadership Summit, empowering women through leadership, knowledge, and community. This year, the grant will fund ten women to attend the summit, which is being held from September 28-Oct 1 in Silicon Valley. This year’s recipients are:

• Valerie Caruolo, Assoc. AIA
• Elsa C. Garcia, Intl. Assoc. AIA
• Sarah Kleiner, AIA
• Sangyoon Park, AIA
• Taisa Peree-Sehic
• Alejandra Rodriguez Leon, Intl Assoc. AIA
• Saakshi Terway, Assoc. AIA
• Julie Trinh, AIA
• Kristine Wentworth, AIA
• Zakiya Wiggins, AIA

The grant was established in 2017 in memory of Sho-Ping Chin, FAIA, a Principal at Payette who founded the inaugural AIA Women’s Leadership Summit in 2009.

“The Architects Foundation is privileged to honor Sho-Ping Chin’s legacy through this grant program, which was established by her colleagues and is now entrusted with us,” said Architects Foundation Executive Director, Marci Reed. “We are thrilled to be gathering again in person to share one another’s passion and wisdom and to support and empower women in architecture.”

The Architects Foundation is seeking donations for the next class of recipients. Support women in architecture and donate today.

The Architects Foundation today announced recipients for the AIA Large Firm Roundtable (LFRT) ARE Scholarship.

The Architects Foundation’s AIA LFRT ARE Scholarship helps fulfill the LFRT’s goal to double the number of licensed Black architects by 2030. The scholarship defrays the costs associated with the Architect Registration Examination (ARE), provides a one-year subscription to ArchiPrep and covers one year of Associate AIA or NOMA member dues.

“The future of our profession is bright. These scholarship winners will continue to build upon efforts to push our profession to be equitable, inclusive, and diverse,” said Jonathan Moody, AIA, chair of the review committee and co-chair of the LFRT Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) committee.

“I look through the list and see 34 steps on our continued journey of progress. The result will be better outcomes for all those we serve.”

The 2022 LFRT ARE Scholarship winners are:

• Asmau Ikhuoria
• Carleigh Pope
• Chadelle Clark
• Charnice Burns
• Chisom Okwulehie
• Christa Frisco
• Christian Coles
• Courtney Prentiss
• DaMario Walker-Brown
• Domonique Jiles
• Ernest Banks
• Feyisope Quadri
• Franklyn Jason Campbell
• Girmay Berhie
• Greg Miller
• Gwendoline Ndikumagenge
• Jacob Powell
• Jasmin Jenkins
• Joenette Cobb
• Joy Cunningham
• Karyn Reddick
• Kristin Mason
• Kuleya Bruce
• Malachi Pursley
• Malcolm Jones
• Mark Brooks
• Marsha McDonald
• Me’osha Solsberry
• Moriah Sims
• Nicholas White
• Norissa Alexander
• Shanese Brown
• Teri Watson
• Tianna Williams
• Tyler Porter

Complete details on the LFRT ARE scholarship program are available on the Architects Foundation website.

The Architects Foundation has announced the recipients of its Diversity Advancement Scholarship, including the scholarship sponsored by Fireclay Tile. Oni Thornell of Brooklyn, NY will receive $4,000 per year towards tuition for up to five years to attend Syracuse University.

“Fireclay Tile is thrilled to partner with the Architects Foundation to support talented, inquisitive, and compassionate future architects like Oni Thornell” said Lindsey Bourcier, Fireclay Tile Brand Manager.

“Oni’s dedication to making meaningful change, her desire to lean into sustainable practices, and most importantly, her advocacy for equal access to the rights inherent in architecture resonated strongly with our team at Fireclay and aligns with our ethos of continuous improvement in building an inclusive world.”

Embracing diverse viewpoints and cultures in architecture is an asset to the profession, and the Diversity Advancement Scholarship offers students with a passion for studying the discipline of architecture an opportunity to successfully complete their studies no matter their color or where they come from.

The Diversity Advancement Scholarship was created in 1970 with an initial grant from the Ford Foundation, after civil rights leader Whitney Young Jr. challenged architects in 1968 to create a more responsible and equitable field. The Architects Foundation has been managing the program since 2009 and has expanded the program size thanks to the support of sponsors like Fireclay Tile.

The Architects Foundation today announced the recipients for four of its tuition scholarship programs that support future leaders of the profession in equity, diversity, and sustainability.

The Architects Foundation is continuing to support the future of the architecture profession by recognizing and supporting scholars through an ever-expanding scholarship and grant program offering. Programs listed below represent the latest recipients of the Architects Foundation’s scholarship and grant programs.

2022 Diversity Advancement Scholarship
The Architects Foundation is continuing to support diversity in the architecture profession by awarding its Diversity Advancement Scholarship to 7 students entering architecture school.  Each of the students will receive $4,000 per year towards tuition for the next five years totaling $20,000 each. This year’s recipients are:

• Bryan Terry Jr – Milwaukee, WI
• Cassius Palacio – Chicago, IL – RS&H Scholar
• Conrad Ontimara– Slidell, LA — Robert Ivy Scholar
• Kamea Johnson – Detroit, MI
• Nia Fletcher – Seattle, WA
• Oni Thornell – Brooklyn, NY – Fireclay Tile Scholar
• Raven Mills – Willingboro, NJ – Sherwin-Williams Scholar

2022 Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship
The Architects Foundation is awarding the 2022 Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship to Jada Cannon. Cannon, a student at Cornell University, will receive a $10,000 scholarship intended to support the education of women in architecture. They will also be mentored by an architect at Payette for the scholarship year. This award honors late architect Sho-Ping Chin, FAIA, a long-time principal at Payette and a healthcare practice leader who was instrumental in defining and elevating the national discourse for women in design.

2022 a/e ProNet David W. Lakamp AIA Scholarship
The Architects Foundation is awarding the 2022 a/e ProNet David W. Lakamp AIA Scholarship to Jennifer Stieben (University of Kentucky) and Sabrina Lem (University of Illinois at Chicago). Each will receive $5,000 to be used towards tuition for demonstrating a strong interest in practice and risk management. The scholarship honors David W. Lakamp, who was a founder of a/e ProNet and a trusted advisor to the profession of architecture.

2022 Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship
The Architects Foundation is awarding the 2022 Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship to Cheyenne Yamada. Yamada, a student at the University of Pennsylvania, will receive a $5,000 scholarship towards tuition for demonstrating an exemplary work focus of design that includes sustainability, resilience, wellness, and beauty. The scholarship honors practicing architect Yann Weymouth, FAIA, who will also mentor Yamada.

Learn more about AF scholarships >
Support AF scholars >

Updated September 14, 2022

Letter from the president

In a time of war, climate change, pandemics, famine, and other global catastrophes, it is only natural that many of us worry about our ability to solve massive problems. Personally, I approach the enormity of distressing circumstances by first taking a step back and examining what’s in my control and then acting within my sphere of influence. We take a similar approach at the Architects Foundation.

As America continues to grapple with racism today and in its collective past, the foundation plays an important role in revealing America’s parallel histories. Enslaved people built many of our nation’s historical homes and sites. Through exhibits like I Was Here, the foundation is shining a light on important yet hidden parts of our nation’s story.

Meanwhile, our mission to support all students—particularly students of color—has grown more important than ever. And you come through for them time and again.

Over the last 50 years, foundation scholarship programs have empowered the professional lives of nearly 2,500 students. Last year alone, donations to our Diversity Advancement Scholarship increased by more than $100,000. We also established the AIA Large Firm Round Table Architect Registration Exam scholarship, which enabled more than 30 Black architects to access ARE testing in 2022.

Looking ahead, supporting minority students will remain a top priority, as will the AIA Large Firm Round Table’s goal of doubling the number of licensed Black architects by the year 2030.

We also plan to leverage The Octagon—former AIA headquarters and home of President James Madison—as a special place to promote conversations about justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.  In effect, we are reclaiming The Octagon as a safe, respectful, equitable, inspirational, and thought-provoking space.

Without question, this has been a tumultuous year on many fronts. But your generous support allowed the foundation to achieve many important goals in 2021. Please enjoy this look back at our accomplishments and remember: By working together and taking one constructive, positive action at a time, we can repair our homes, our neighborhoods, our cities, and ultimately our nation.

Sincerely,

R. Steven Lewis, FAIA

2021–2022 Architects Foundation President

Year in review

Scholarships

The Architects Foundation proudly invests in the future of architecture through scholarships that empower our profession’s next generation.

In 2021, we awarded 32 new scholarships across eight programs, totaling $334,041. With the understanding that diversity drives innovation in design, we are committed to funding education for students of disparate backgrounds, experiences, and points of view. By promoting a wider range of voices within the architecture industry, we will strengthen our built environment and the ways in which we engage with, and understand, one another through shared space.

We look forward to seeing how these young practitioners leverage their diverse perspectives and lived experiences to develop as architects and change-makers.

Among the scholarships awarded in 2021:

Diversity Advancement Scholarship

Architecture professionals should reflect the diverse communities they serve. Since 1970, this multiyear scholarship has supported ethnically diverse students who are entering, enrolling in, or transferring to an NAAB-accredited undergraduate architecture program. Students may renew scholarships every year until degree completion for up to five years ($20,000 total award).

The scholarship also strengthens recipients’ career trajectory by giving them access to its extensive network of alumni, mentors, and scholars. In 2021, donors contributed approximately $250,000 to this scholarship fund—an increase of more than $100,000 from the year before—enabling us to award 10 scholarships. And, with a $150,000 gift, Sherwin-Williams set up an endowed Diversity Advancement Scholarship.

Scholar spotlight: Shannar O’Connor

“The past five years of architecture school have been the most transformative years of my life. I had many hardships, but also a plethora of rewarding experiences. From the beginning, the odds were never in my favor, being that I am a Black woman from a single-parent immigrant family. However, my hard work, determination, and aid from scholarships, such as the Architects Foundation Diversity Advancement Scholarship, The Villagers Preservation Scholarship, and the Colin MacDonald Betsch Memorial Award, helped me accomplish one of my major life goals—graduating Summa Cum Laude with a B.Arch degree from my dream university (the University of Miami).”

Large Firm Roundtable (LFRT) Architect Registration Examination (ARE) Scholarship

In partnership with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), the Architects Foundation launched its inaugural LFRT Architect Registration Examination scholarship in 2021. This initiative aims to help fulfill LFRT’s goal of doubling the number of licensed Black architects by 2030.

A joint survey conducted by NCARB and the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) called Baseline on Belonging found that minority professionals experience more barriers as they pursue licensure. The report also found that Black and Latino candidates disproportionately face issues of ARE affordability, with most applicants spending more than $500 on study materials.

The scholarship covers the cost of the ARE and provides $500 in study materials, a one-year subscription to AIA’s exam prep resource (ArchiPrep®), one year of membership dues to either AIA or NOMA, and one year of NCARB Record fees. The scholarship opened for applications in 2021 and was awarded to 30 Black architects in 2022.

Donor spotlight: Jonathan Moody, AIA

“We wanted to remove as many barriers as possible for young people seeking this award,” said Jonathan Moody, AIA, NOMA, co-chair of the LFRT Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) committee. “And being the first year of granting these scholarships, we’re not sure how many applications to expect, but if you run the numbers, the need exceeds current resources. That being said, I believe the LFRT is committed to providing continued financial support and work with the Architects Foundation and others to support aspiring Black architects.”

McAslan Scholars

The merit-based Architects Foundation/McAslan Fellowship funds academic travel opportunities for undergraduate seniors and graduate students. It also provides mentor relationships for them with international architects.

In 2021, fellows Melissa Smith and Mike Lidwin focused on the problems confronting Scottish care homes during COVID-19: One half of COVID-19 deaths in the UK were tied to care homes. The two published a report on the homes’ design and how they could be adapted to better withstand pandemic conditions.

The pair also started work on another project on Turquoise Mountain in Jordan. This community-focused, heritage-led urban regeneration initiative focuses on Umm Qais, one of Jordan’s most important archeological sites. The fellows are developing the best response to support the built heritage, sustainably increase tourism, and radically transform locals’ lives through the employment and education benefits of a revitalized Umm Qais.

Scholar Spotlight: Melissa Smith

“Now that I’ve secured my Master’s in Architecture from the University of Kansas, I’ll be working with LRK in New Orleans to design WELL-certified buildings and communities, and I look forward to putting my Health & Wellness and Historic Preservation certificates to work. I hope to use my studies in Jordan and elsewhere around the world to design more sustainably and beautifully. Who’s to say where I may be in a year, or five years, or ten? But I’m excited to see where this next path takes me as I continue to embrace change and take advantage of opportunities, even if it means letting go of certain things I once held dear.”

Campaigns

The Architects Foundation leads several philanthropic campaigns to support a core element of our mission: Attract, inspire, and invest in the next generation of architects.

Working with partners and sponsors who share in our mission, our campaigns raised more than $450,000 in donations and pledges throughout 2021. Highlights of these campaigns follow.

Fireclay Tile campaign for Black women studying architecture

According to a 2020 report in Archinect, only 0.4% of licensed architects in the United States are Black women. Fireclay Tile partnered with the Architects Foundation during Black History month (February 2021) to sponsor a Diversity Advancement Scholarship specifically for Black women pursuing architecture careers. Impressively, the campaign reached its initial goal of $25,000 in its first three days. With a total of 173 supporters, Fireclay Tile eventually doubled its goal to $50,000. The AF/Fireclay partnership was honored with the Best in Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion-Partnership or Collaboration, Silver Medal Class in the Inaugural Anthem Awards, presented by the The Webby Awards and judged by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS).

Partner Spotlight: Eric Edelson, CEO, Fireclay Tile

“This is a tremendous partnership, and we are honored to support the work of the Architects Foundation to help educate and inspire more amazing talent.”

Robert Ivy Tribute Fund

In 2021, the Architects Foundation created the Robert Ivy Tribute Fund to honor Robert’s service to AIA—including his 11-year tenure as CEO.

The fund recognizes Robert Ivy’s vision for the foundation as the philanthropic arm of AIA. Coming at a critical juncture in the foundation’s history, the fund represents an investment in ensuring continued growth during AIA’s leadership transition and will serve as a lasting legacy for a true pioneer in our field. We’re proud to share that the foundation has already raised more than $350,000 in donations and pledges.

Partner spotlight: Chris Anderson, CEO, AIA Contract Documents, powered by Catina

“Gifts are a fine way to say ‘thank you’ but Robert is deserving of so much more as a legacy for his leadership. I was happy to spearhead the fundraising in Robert’s honor to acknowledge his vision for the Architects Foundation to secure its ability to continue to attract, inspire and invest in the next generation design community for years to come.”

The Octagon

Long a symbol of power and influence in Washington, D.C., The Octagon serves “as a beacon in the nation’s capital for the Architects Foundation’s mission to promote a just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive profession,” according to the foundation’s President, R. Steven Lewis, FAIA.

The Octagon remained closed to in-person visitors during much of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, by summer’s end, The Octagon began accepting appointments for small, private group tours and events, accommodating 200 visitors and earning modest revenue by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, virtual tours and activities, such as the CODAworx exhibit, attracted 12,700 unique online visitors.

Leadership took advantage of the facility’s closure to:

• Make repairs, focus on rebranding, and redevelop a membership program for 2022 launch complete with an annual building and program fund
• Hire strategic communications consultants, the InnovateHers
• Hire Amanda Ferrario, a historical preservation expert with more than 11 years of museum experience
• Launch I Was Here, a private history installation that documents and honors the enslaved African Americans who built and worked at The Octagon. Through this exhibit and related efforts, the foundation hopes to reveal the role enslaved craftspeople played in creating the architecture canon nationwide.

Support the Foundation

Our success depends on your support. Donate to the Architects Fund today to help us grow our scholarship and museum programs. Your gift is a direct investment in the next generation of architects and design professionals whose future work will make our world a better place.

WASHINGTON – The Architects Foundation today announced the launch of its latest exhibit at The Octagon. SAY IT LOUD, curated by Pascale Sablan, FAIA, will be on view through December 2022.

SAY IT LOUD is an exhibit featuring projects by women and diverse design professionals, as well as interviews about their experiences in the architecture and design professions. This exhibit shares, protects and celebrates the journey of the underrepresented to inspire the next generation.  SAY IT LOUD at The Octagon in Washington, DC, will include a special component featuring Black architects from The American Institute of Architects’ College of Fellows.

SAY IT LOUD is curated by Pascale Sablan, FAIA, the 2021 AIA Whitney Young Award recipient. SAY IT LOUD is sponsored by the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), the AIA College of Fellows, and the Architects Foundation.

The Octagon is open Thursday-Saturday from 11am-4pm. Museum admission is $10/adult, $5/children and teens under 18, and free for children under 5.

Free guided tours will be offered at 11am and 3pm (roughly 45 mins) and are included with museum admission. Self-guided tour information is available on-site.

For more information, please visit https://architectsfoundation.org/our-programs/.

WASHINGTON – The Architects Foundation and Fireclay Tile announced today that their 2021 partnership for the Diversity Advancement Scholarship for Black Women has been named Best in Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion – Partnership or Collaboration, Silver Medal Class in the Inaugural Anthem Awards.

Anthem Winners are selected by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. Members include Daniel Dae Kim (actor, producer, and activist);  Ashley Judd (Author, Actor, and Social Justice Humanitarian); Mitchell Baker (CEO and chairwoman, Mozilla); Lisa Sherman (president and CEO, Ad Council), Sarah Kate Ellis (president and CEO, GLAAD); Renata Erlikhman (chief investment officer, OW Management); Shayla Tait (director of philanthropy, The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation); Russlynn Ali (CEO and co-founder, XQ Institute); Marc Ecko (chief commercial officer and board member, XQ Institute); Heidi Arthur (chief campaign development officer, Ad Council); and Alexis M. Herman (chair and chief executive officer, New Ventures, and former U.S. secretary of labor).

In order to support the progress of aspiring Black women architects and narrow the racial disparities in our industry, Fireclay Tile partnered with the Architects Foundation in February 2021 for Black history month to sponsor a Diversity Advancement Scholarship specifically for Black women pursuing architecture.

Fireclay Tile’s campaign was wildly successful, reaching the initial $25,000 goal (1 scholarship) by February 3rd. Fireclay ended up doubling the goal to $50,000 and reached that as well from a total of 173 supporters. Highlights include feature by Digital Media Solutions and an IG feature by Bobby Berk.

“It is our distinct honor to recognize the work that brands, organizations, and individuals are all making to create an impact in their community,” said Jessica Lauretti, Managing Director, The Anthem Awards. “We launched this platform to show the world that all corners of our culture, from sports and entertainment to business leaders and celebrities, are all standing up to say, it is time for systemic change and that social good is what we value as a society.”

“This is a tremendous partnership, and we are honored to support the work of the Architects Foundation to help educate and inspire more amazing talent,” said Fireclay Tile CEO Eric Edelson.

Winners for the inaugural Anthem Awards will be celebrated at the first annual Anthem Voices conference followed by a star-studded virtual Awards Show on Monday, February 28, 2022.  Fans will be able to hear from social impact leaders during the day and then watch the show, featuring special moments, and hallmark speeches from all you and your fellow winners at anthemawards.com.

The Anthem Awards was launched in response to the prevalence social good has taken within the national conversation and cultural zeitgeist in recent years. The inaugural competition received nearly 2,500 entries from 36 countries worldwide. By amplifying the voices that spark global change, the Anthem Awards are defining a new benchmark for impactful work that inspires others to take action in their communities. A portion of program revenue will fund a new grant program supporting emerging individuals and organizations working to advance the causes recognized in the inaugural Anthem Awards.

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Find The Anthem Awards Online:

Website: anthemawards.com
Facebook:  facebook.com/anthemawards
Twitter:@anthemawards
Instagram: @anthemawards
LinkedIn: The Anthem Awards
YouTube: wbby.co/anthem-youtube

About The Anthem Awards:

The Anthem Awards, the Webby Awards newest initiative, was developed to recognize the breadth of social good work (online and offline) around the globe by honoring the organizations, brands, and people creating long-lasting impact; including, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion; Education, Art, & Culture; Health; Human & Civil Rights; Humanitarian Action & Services; Responsible Technology;  and Sustainability, Environment, & Climate. By amplifying the voices that spark global change, the Anthem Awards are defining a new benchmark for impactful work that inspires others to take action in their communities. Founded in partnership with the Ad Council, Born This Way Foundation, Feeding America, Glaad, Mozilla, NAACP, NRDC, WWF, and XQ. Visit anthemawards.com

About The Webby Awards:

Hailed as the “Internet’s highest honor” by The New York Times, The Webby Awards is the leading international awards organization honoring excellence on the Internet, including Websites; Video; Advertising, Media & PR; Apps, Mobile, and Voice; Social; Podcasts; and Games. Established in 1996, The Webby Awards received more than 13,500 entries from all 50 states and 70 countries worldwide this year. The Webby Awards are presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS). Sponsors and Partners of The Webby Awards include Verizon, WP Engine, YouGov, Brandlive, Canva, NAACP, KPMG,  Fast Company, Wall Street Journal, MediaPost, Podcast Movement, and AIGA. Visit webbyawards.com

The Architects Foundation welcomes four new members to our board of directors. Laura Flusche; Sharon Haar, FAIA; Kenneth Lewis, AIA; and Michael Marshall, FAIA begin their three-year terms as board members in January 2022.

AF additionally extends gratitude to our outgoing board members: Thomas Luebke, FAIA and Carole Wedge, FAIA.

Laura Flusche

Laura Flusche serves as Executive Director of the Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA). She joined MODA in 2010 as Associate Director and became Executive Director in 2013. As Executive Director, she leads all of the museum’s strategic initiatives and oversees the creation and implementation of exhibitions and programs that demonstrate the power of design to effect positive change in the world.

Prior to joining MODA, Laura lived for fifteen years in Rome, Italy, where she served as Assistant Academic Dean for an American academic program and was part of the Palatine East Excavation team, supervising excavations and contributing to the publication of archaeological findings.

In 2016, Laura received the Business Design and Arts Leadership Distinguished Alumni Award from the Savannah College of Art and Design where she earned a master’s degree in Arts Administration. In 2014, she was selected to attend the Getty Leadership Institute’s Executive Program for Museum Professionals.

Laura holds a Ph.D. in Ancient Roman and Etruscan Art and Archaeology and fiercely maintains that design is archaeology backwards. She also holds an M.A. in Italian Renaissance Art.

Laura serves on the Midtown Alliance Board of Directors and is a member of the steering committee for Atlanta’s Arts Marketing Roundtable. She is also a member of the College Art Association’s Museum Committee and the Council for Innovation at Mt. Vernon Presbyterian School in Sandy Springs, GA.

Sharon Haar, FAIA

Sharon Haar is a Professor of Architecture at The University of Michigan’s Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning. Her current research investigates the role of entrepreneurship, design innovation, and global networking in the transformation of architectural practices devoted to social activism and humanitarian relief. Haar’s publications include: The City as Campus: Urbanism and Higher Education in Chicago and Schools for Cities: Urban Strategies. Her articles and book reviews appear in journals including the Journal of Architectural Education, the Journal of Planning Education and Research, the Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, Architect’s Newspaper, and Architectural Design. Her recent book chapters appear in: The Urban Ecologies Reader, Embodied Utopias, Shanghai Transforming and On Location: Heritage Cities and Sites. She has presented her research in conferences and lectures across the United States, Latin America, Asia, and Europe.

Haar is the recipient of numerous grants from institutions including the Graham Foundation, Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, Fannie Mae Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, and American Architecture Foundation. She is also the former Reviews Editor for the Journal of Architectural Education, and sits on the board of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA).

Haar has taught at Parsons School of Design in New York and at the University of Illinois at Chicago where she was professor of architecture and the Associate Dean for Research at the College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts. She received her Bachelor of Art from Wesleyan University and her Master of Architecture from Princeton University.

Kenneth Lewis, AIA

In his 35+ years building in New York and beyond, Ken has realized projects that inspire, enhance the public realm, and cement the city as a place where the most daring, complex ideas can be built. Ken’s work includes One World Trade Center—the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere—and its neighbor, 7 World Trade Center, both built under extraordinary circumstances. Ken led SOM’s work at 35 Hudson Yards, an undulating residential tower and home to the first Equinox Hotel. More recently, Ken led construction of Manhattan West, a seven-million-square-foot mixed-use master planned development built above active railroad tracks, encompassing four new towers and reuse of an existing loft building. Today, Ken is leading the most significant renovation and reuse project in New York’s history, the complete transformation and ground-up renovation of the landmark Waldorf Astoria.

Ken is the President of AIA New York, charged with leading the organization with optimism and pride through one of the AEC industry’s most challenging periods in recent history. He also serves on the Urban Green Council Board of Directors, the Center for Architecture Board of Trustees, and the Architectural Review Board of Irvington, New York.

Michael Marshall, FAIA

Michael Marshall is the design director and principal of Michael Marshall Design (MMD).  He manages the firm’s architectural projects with a keen sensitivity to context and environment, and leads each project in design excellence.  In a career that spans more than three decades, Marshall has completed commissions on a wide range of building types including commercial, corporate, cultural and urban design, as well as mixed-use developments. His skills have facilitated numerous successful partnerships with developers, architects, governmental agencies, and private companies. Marshall has designed a number of iconic projects throughout the District of Columbia and beyond, including The Howard Theatre, The University of the District of Columbia’s Student Center, Chuck Brown Memorial, a number of the city’s public and charter schools, and the urban destinations City Vista and Reunion Square. More recently, MMD completed design of the National Market in MGM National Harbor, the award-winning Entertainment and Sports Arena in Congress Heights, the Michelle Obama Southeast Center of Bread for the City, and the DC United’s home, Audi Field. He is currently on the design team for a new memorial honoring Frederick Douglass, father of the American Civil Rights movement.

In 2018, Marshall’s work was accepted into the architectural design archives of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.  Marshall has been recognized as a 2016 “Power 100 Playmaker” and 2014 “Minority Business Leader of the Year” by the Washington Business Journal. He was also honored with a 2014 Dandi Award for Diversity and Inclusion. His work has been recognized by the American Institute of Architects (DC and National Chapters), ENR MidAtlantic, Urban Land Institute, National Organization of Minority Architects, The National Housing and Rehabilitation Association, International Design Awards (IDA), and the American Society of Architectural Illustrators, among others.

Marshall volunteers his time presenting lectures on architecture and serving on architecture advisory boards. He has served as a juror for the DC Historic Preservation Awards, serves on the Dean’s Council for the Yale School of Architecture and is a member of the landmark Cultural Heritage Stewardship Initiative, a pilot program with the nation’s leading historic preservation groups to plan for cultural resources, buildings and landscapes at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) nationwide. He was selected as the University of Maryland School of Architecture’s Fall 2018 Kea Distinguished Professor, serving as critic and lecturer in the Architecture Program. He has personally mentored more than 150 young architecture students. He received a Masters degree in Architecture from Yale University,  and a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture from The Catholic University of America. He began his studies at the University of the District of Columbia in 1975.

Read more about the Architects Foundation Board of Directors >

New scholarship launches in partnership with AIA Large Firm Roundtable to meet goal of doubling the number of licensed Black architects by 2030.

The Architects Foundation is launching its inaugural LFRT Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®) scholarship this month.

The scholarship will cover the cost of the ARE, provide $500 in study materials, a one-year subscription to AIA’s exam prep resource, ArchiPrep, one year of dues to AIA or the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), and one year of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards’ (NCARB) record fees. In order to be eligibile, applicants must be Associate AIA or a member of NOMA, hold an NCARB Record, and must be eligibile for the ARE. A brief essay is required to apply and letters of recommendation are optional. More than 30 awards are available.

“We wanted to remove as many barriers as possible for young people seeking this award,” said Jonathan Moody, AIA, NOMA, co-chair of the LFRT Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) committee. “And being the first year of granting these scholarships, we’re not sure how many applications to expect, but if you run the numbers, the need exceeds current resources. That being said, I believe the LFRT is committed to providing continued financial support and work with the Architects Foundation and others to support aspiring Black architects.”

According to a joint survey, Baseline on Belonging, by NCARB and NOMA, minority professionals experience more barriers as they pursue licensure. Results indicate that affordability of the ARE exam is disproportionately reported by Black and Latino candidates, and most applicants spend more than $500 on study materials.

“Improving access to the exam is one step the profession can take to help open doors to a more diverse pool of aspiring architects. NCARB is excited to partner with the LFRT on this new scholarship,” said NCARB President Alfred Vidaurri, NCARB, NOMA, FAIA.

Interested candidates for the LFRT ARE scholarship can learn more online. The deadline to apply is Jan. 14, 2022.

About NCARB

The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards’ membership is made up of the architectural licensing boards of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. NCARB, in collaboration with these boards, facilitates the licensure and credentialing of architects to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public.

To achieve these goals, NCARB works with its Member Boards and volunteers to develop and facilitate standards for licensure, including the national examination and experience program. NCARB also recommends regulatory guidelines for licensing boards and helps architects expand their professional reach through the NCARB Certificate. Connect with NCARB on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

The Architects Foundation, the philanthropic partner of The American Institute of Architects (AIA), is now accepting applications for five scholarships awards for architecture students and emerging professionals.

Diversity Advancement Scholarship
This multiyear scholarship supports high school and undergraduate minority students who are entering, enrolled in, or transferring into an undergraduate architecture program recognized by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). Scholarships may be renewed every year for up to five years or until the degree is completed ($20,000 total award toward tuition and fees).

Scholarship sponsors include The American Institute of Architects, Benjamin Moore & Co. Foundation, ConstructConnect, The Curry Stone Foundation, The Custom Residential Architects Network, Fireclay Tile, GGLO, HKS, Lord Aeck Sargent, The Meehan Foundation, RS&H, Safdie Architects, Semihandmade, The Sherwin-Williams Company, ZGF, and Anonymous.

Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship
The Payette Sho-Ping Chin Memorial Academic Scholarship is a $10,000 award toward tuition and fees supporting a woman studying architecture within a NAAB-accredited bachelor or master’s degree program. The awardee will also receive a senior mentor from Payette for the scholarship year.

Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship
The Yann Weymouth Graduate Scholarship supports a graduate student whose work demonstrates an exemplary focus at the design intersection of sustainability, resilience, wellness and beauty. The scholarship recipient receives $5,000 toward tuition and fees and mentorship from Yann Weymouth, FAIA, for the scholarship year.

The a/e ProNet David W. Lakamp Scholarship
The a/e ProNet David W. Lakamp Scholarship is awarded annually to two students who demonstrate a strong interest in practice and risk management in the field of architecture. Each student receives a $5,000 award toward tuition and fees.

The AIA Large Firm Roundtable Scholarship
The Architects Foundation’s Large Firm Roundtable (LFRT) ARE Scholarship helps fulfill the LFRT’s goal to double the number of licensed Black architects by 2030. The scholarship defrays the costs associated with the Architect Registration Examination (ARE), provides a one-year subscription to ArchiPrep and covers one year of Associate AIA or NOMA member dues

The application period for these five scholarships is open through Jan. 14, 2022. More information on the Foundation’s scholarship programs can be found online.

Two former NOMA presidents and two-time scholar among new board and leadership.

Washington, D.C. – The Architects Foundation, the philanthropic partner of The American Institute of Architects, today announced two new members of its Board of Directors. Kimberly Dowdell, AIA, and Vaughn Lewis, Assoc. AIA, will serve on the board from 2021 to 2023.

Kimberly Dowdell, AIA, NOMA, is the immediate past president (2019-2020) of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) and a 2020 AIA Young Architects Award recipient. Dowdell is also the director of business development for HOK’s Chicago office.

Vaughn Lewis, Assoc. AIA, NOMA, is a past recipient of the 2019 Architects Foundation/McAslan Fellowship and the 2015 AIA/AF Diversity Scholarship. Lewis is also a junior designer at MBB Architects in New York.

“Kim and Vaughn join a board of leaders who are eager to support the next generation of architects through national programs and partnerships,” said 2021-2022 Architects Foundation President R. Steven Lewis, FAIA, NOMA. “We are enthusiastic that they will help the Foundation expand and solidify its community.”

A complete list of directors can be reviewed online.

The staff and board of the Architects Foundation, owner of The Octagon, want to share the AIA Board statement on systemic racial injustice. As the philanthropic partner of AIA, we agree that systemic racial injustice in any form, whether it be police brutality, employment discrimination, or any other efforts to marginalize people of color, is appalling and cannot be allowed to continue.

We recognize The Octagon symbolizes wealth generated at the expense of enslaved African Americans. We believe it is important to listen, learn and move forward, together. We acknowledge that as a cultural institution, The Octagon has an important role to play in challenging historic oppression through our collection, interpretative efforts, visiting exhibits, and our unique partnership with the AIA to convey the role architects can play in creating a more just and equal society.

The 2020 Architects Foundation Board of Directors
James Walbridge, AIA, President
R. Steven Lewis, FAIA, Vice President
Carole Wedge, FAIA, Treasurer
Bill Roschen, FAIA, Secretary
Ken Higa, AIA
Dan Kirby, FAIA
Constance Lai, FAIA
Sharon Liebowitz
Thomas Luebke, FAIA
Katherine Malone-France
Kenneth Schwartz, FAIA

We at the Architects Foundation echo the sentiments of the AIA Board regarding systemic racial injustice. We agree that systemic racial injustice in any form, whether it be police brutality, employment discrimination, or any other efforts to marginalize people of color is appalling and cannot be allowed to continue. Now more than ever, we are proud of our role in supporting a diverse next-generation of architects to use their problem-solving skills to advance justice and equality for all people.

The 2020 Architects Foundation Board of Directors
James Walbridge, AIA, President
R. Steven Lewis, FAIA, Vice President
Carole Wedge, FAIA, Treasurer
Bill Roschen, FAIA, Secretary
Ken Higa, AIA
Dan Kirby, FAIA
Constance Lai, FAIA
Sharon Liebowitz
Thomas Luebke, FAIA
Katherine Malone-France
Kenneth Schwartz, FAIA

This year, the Architects Foundation (AF) solidified its position as attracting, inspiring and investing in the next-generation design community. AF now runs eight different scholarship programs (attract/invest), is building out its museum programming at The Octagon through 2021 (attract/inspire), and has built a framework for a strategic planning process. Throughout 2019, the Foundation has interacted with every single AIA team in support of its initiatives.

AF welcomed 37 new scholars in 2019 with the combined help of 31 jurors, and continues to support an additional 26 scholars with multiyear awards. The Foundation congratulates Orli Hakanoglu, Vaughn Lewis and Jalen Price on graduating from their architecture degree programs.

2019 has also been a whirlwind of networking! The Architects Foundation opened The Octagon’s doors to 3,500+ people for exhibits, tours and lectures. See our latest video of The Octagon here.

AF additionally met with 30+ scholars around the country—in Chicago, Dallas, DC, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, and New York.

Finally, the Architects Foundation thanks David Melanҫon for his board service through 2019. Going into 2020, AF welcomes Kendrick Higa, AIA and Daniel Kirby, FAIA to the Foundation’s Board of Directors.