As the birds return and the first flowers begin to bloom, there’s a certain energy in the air that signals the arrival of spring. This month, AIA leaders gathered at the AIA Leadership Summit in Washington, DC, to share ideas and collaborate on the future of the profession.
The event kicked off with various retreats, including our “Next to Lead” cohort, where connecting with and learning from peers played a central role. One of the highlights was the opening keynote by Stephen Ayers, FAIA, Interim AIA CEO/EVP, who posed a thought-provoking question: “What exactly is an architect?” His challenge prompted us to reflect on the qualities that define architects—not as superheroes with capes, but as everyday heroes in the built environment.
Dr. Christine Porath, another keynote speaker, emphasized how a team can evolve from merely surviving to thriving, underscoring that psychological safety—built on respect and trust—is the key to fostering effective teamwork. However, the most powerful message came from Baratunde Thurston, who reminded us, “When leaders fail, we the people must lead.”
On the final day of the Summit, over 400 architects and AIA members met with members of Congress to advocate for policies that will shape the future of architecture and the built environment. Key issues discussed included:
📌 Design freedom for federal architecture
📌 Addressing arbitrary fee limitations for federal contracts
📌 Expanding affordable housing programs
📌 Strengthening community resiliency
📌 Pursuing tax incentives for architects (e.g., R&D tax credits)
Looking ahead, we are thrilled to continue this momentum with the 2025 Lecture Series, themed “Mirror Image.” Presented in collaboration with AIA Baltimore, Baltimore Architecture Foundation, and Maryland ASLA, this year’s series will explore aspects of Baltimore’s urban condition that are reflected in other cities across the globe. Topics will include urban waterfront resiliency, spatial justice, and community-driven development efforts.
We’ve lined up three exciting evenings of lectures for our members and the broader community:
March 13, 2025 | 6:00 PM | MICA Brown Center
Resilience in Practice: Designing Coastal Futures from Vision to Implementation
with Despo Thoma, SCAPE
AIA 1.0 LU HSW and 1.0 LA CES HSW approved
March 27, 2025 | 6:00 PM | MICA Brown Center
Mapping Inequality: A Radical Atlas of Ferguson, USA
with Patty Heyda, WashU in St. Louis
AIA 1.0 LU HSW and 1.0 LA CES HSW approved
April 10, 2025 | 6:00 PM | MICA Brown Center
Sister Cities Short Talks: Alternative Means of Urban Development
in partnership with Baltimore Sister Cities, featuring delegates from Amsterdam & Rotterdam
AIA 1.0 LU HSW and 1.0 LA CES HSW approved
We look forward to seeing you at these events and continuing to foster meaningful discussions around design and architecture in Baltimore and beyond.
Madhuri Subramaniam, AIA
2025 AIA Baltimore President
