AIA Chicago

05/19/2026

The CRAN Symposium afterparty showed us a taste of Chicago, one neighborhood at a time 🍽️✨

Live cooking with Michelin-starred Chef of , with special thanks to BSH Experience & Design Center, featuring Bosch, Thermador, and Gaggenau — for hosting an unforgettable evening.

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05/15/2026

The 2026 Custom Residential Architects Network (CRAN) Symposium at The MART brought together an inspiring community of architects, designers, and industry leaders for a day centered around the future of residential design.

From preservation and performance to wellness and visual storytelling, this year’s symposium presentations explored the evolving language of residential architecture through thoughtful conversations on heritage, building science, biophilic design, photography, and practice.

Thank you to everyone who attended, presented, sponsored, and contributed to such a dynamic and collaborative event.

Thanks to the BSH Experience & Design Group, featuring Bosch, Thermador, and Gaggenau — for hosting the afterparty, catered by The Alston.

Special thanks to our CRAN Symposium Host Committee:
Julie Hacker, FAIA, Co-Chair; Stuart Cohen & Julie Hacker Architects
Bob Zuber, AIA, Co-Chair; Morgante Wilson Architects ()
Alicia Blakely, AIA, SERENE Architecture + Design (.architecture)
Stuart Cohen, FAIA, Stuart Cohen & Julie Hacker Architects
Tim Hawkins, AIA, Luxury Residence Group by Power Construction ()
Coley Holland, Affil. AIA Chicago, Barrett’s Technology Solutions ()
Ron Mescall, Affil. AIA Chicago, Pella ()
Susan Patenaude, AIA, WPA Chicago
()
Seth Romig, AIA, Seth Romig Architect ()
Mike Shively, AIA, En Masse Architecture and Design ()

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05/08/2026

AIA Chicago's Awards represent the pinnacle of architectural excellence in our city, serving as a vital platform to celebrate the innovation, craft, and social impact of the built environment.

Submitting your firm’s work is more than a bid for a trophy; it is an investment in your team’s legacy and a contribution to the broader architectural discourse. Winning—and being named as a finalist—elevates your firm’s profile, attracting top-tier talent and visionary clients who value proven excellence.

Beyond the prestige, these awards illuminate the power of architecture to solve complex urban challenges and inspire the public, reinforcing the essential role your firm plays in shaping the future of Chicago’s skyline and communities.

2026 Awards Timeline:
Wednesday, May 27, 12:00 PM: AIA Chicago Award Submission Q&A Office Hour
Friday, May 29, 5:00 PM: Lifetime Achievement Award Phase 1: Nominations Close
Friday, June 12, 5:00 PM: Awards Submissions Close
Early August: Finalists Announced
Thursday, October 1: Designight 2026 - stay tuned for more on this!

AIA Chicago's Architecture Awards represent the pinnacle of architectural excellence in our city, serving as a vital platform to celebrate the innovation, craft, and social impact of the built environment.

05/01/2026

🏡 House, Health, and Heritage.

This year, AIA Chicago's Custom Residential Architects Network (CRAN) Symposium exploring how the "home" is evolving within our urban and cultural landscape. Whether you’re a solo practitioner, part of a large firm, or an emerging designer, this event is designed to help you bridge the gap between historic preservation and future-forward performance.

📅 Thursday, May 14, 2026
📍 WorkLife Meetings at THE MART
Register before May 8: https://aiachicago.org/cransymposium-2026/

What’s on the agenda?

1️⃣ Saved from the Wrecking Ball: Preserving our Residential Heritage: Gunny Harboe, FAIA
2️⃣ Building Science for Residential Home Performance: Transitioning to IECC 2024: Robert Schildgen
3️⃣ Photography: The Art and Craft of Seeing: Steve Hall, Thomas Harris, and Tony Soluri
4️⃣ Biophilic Design for Residential Living: A Human Centered Approach to Health and Wellbeing: Sharlene Young, AIA
5️⃣ Architalks: What We Do and How We Do It: April Hughes, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, Laura Lee McAllister, Ross Renjilian, and William Scholtens

🧑‍🍳 Your Culinary Passport: Neighborhoods of Chicago Tasting - Enjoy live cooking from Michelin-starred Chef Jenner Tomaska of The Alston, special thanks to BSH Experience and Design Center!

Thank you to our CRAN Symposium Host Committee: Julie Hacker FAIA and Bob Zuber, AIA, co-chairs; Alicia (Chlebek) Blakely AIA, NCARB, Stuart Cohen, FAIA, Tim Hawkins, AIA, Coley Holland, Affil. AIA Chicago, Ron Mescall, Affil. AIA Chicago, Susan Patenaude, AIA, Seth Romig, AIA, and Mike Shively, AIA.

This year’s symposium, House, Health, and Heritage, dives into the technical and emotional layers of practice—from the preservation of historic 19th-century dwellings to the rigorous building science of the upcoming IECC 2024 codes.

04/23/2026

“The greenest building is the one that is already built.” 🏢🌿

Today, we hosted a compelling book talk with Carl Elefante, FAIA, centered on his work Going for Zero. As the architect who famously championed the power of existing structures, Carl challenged us to join the “relevance revolution.”

The discussion moved beyond standard technical practices to explore how stewardship and built heritage serve as a “superpower” for decarbonization. By rediscovering inherently climate-adapted design, we can create more resilient, abundant communities through the repurposing of our urban environment.

04/10/2026

We’re on a billboard! 🥳

If you find yourself driving through the city this month, keep an eye out for a very special addition to the Chicago skyline. We are thrilled to announce that the AIA Chicago Foundation is currently featured on a billboard with a message that sits at the very heart of our work: “Investing in the next generation of architects.”

👀 See the Billboard:
The AIA Chicago Foundation Billboard is on the Kennedy Expressway near North Avenue during April 2026, every day from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, and 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM.

📖 Read more at the LINK IN BIO

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04/10/2026

We’re on a billboard!!! 🥳

If you find yourself driving through the city this month, keep an eye out for a very special addition to the Chicago skyline. We are thrilled to announce that the AIA Chicago Foundation is currently featured on a billboard with a message that sits at the very heart of our work: “Investing in the next generation of architects.”

👀 See the Billboard:
The AIA Chicago Foundation Billboard is on the Kennedy Expressway near North Avenue during April 2026, every day from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, and 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM.

📖 Read more at the LINK IN BIO.

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03/27/2026

Today, we were thrilled to welcome AIA EVP/CEO Carole Wedge, FAIA, to our office. She met with former AIA presidents and AIA Chicago members Kimberly Dowdell, AIA and Peter Exley, FAIA, EVP Eric Klinner, CAE, and AIA Chicago leadership including Board Members and Knowledge Community an Affinity Group leaders.

We’re thrilled for what’s to come!

03/23/2026

AIA took this step to require the administration to comply with historic preservation laws and secure permission from Congress before implementing plans to alter the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, a nationally significant architectural and cultural landmark.

AIA joined a broad coalition of leading preservation and architecture groups to file this lawsuit, including:

-DC Preservation League
-The National Trust for Historic Preservation
-Docomomo US
-The Committee of 100 on the Federal City
-The Society of Architectural Historians (SAH)
- The Cultural Landscape Foundation
- American Society of Landscape Architects

Preservation has long been a core part of our mission. This action is about protecting the process that ensures architects, preservation experts, and the public have a voice when nationally significant architecture is changed.

Read the full announcement: https://sbrew.link/nMgvpDHa

03/06/2026

It was a powerhouse week of architecture, community, and celebration across Chicago! 🏙️ From breaking ground on major civic projects to honoring the leaders shaping our profession, here is a look back at what we’ve been up to:

🏗️ Chicago Fire Groundbreaking
We were honored to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Chicago Fire FC training facility. It was great to celebrate this milestone alongside our partners at Gensler, Related Midwest, and the Chicago Architecture Center.

🍽️ Excellence in Interior Architecture
Our Interior Architecture Knowledge Community hosted an exclusive tour of The Alston. During the event, Heidi Lightner, AIA, officially presented Chef Jenner Tomaska with the Lerch Bates People’s Choice Award for hospitality. A huge congratulations to the team!

☕ Leaders of Influence Breakfast
We gathered for a morning of connection and gratitude at our Leaders of Influence breakfast. It was an inspiring room filled with our Knowledge Community and Affinity Group leaders, Board of Directors and Board of Trustees, Taskforce and Committee members, and our individual award honorees.

🏥 Healthcare & Innovation
To wrap up the week, our Healthcare Knowledge Community teamed up with AIA Northeast Illinois for a deep-dive tour of the Norix Innovation Center.