NEWS ARCHIVE

The AIA Indiana Emerging Professional (EP) Friendly/Exemplary Firm Recognition is a designation approved by the AIA Indiana Board of Directors in 2024. This accolade aims to provide a clearer, more accessible route for individuals pursuing licensure. The goal of the program is to celebrate firms who offer exceptional support and opportunities for their early professionals. Two designations are possible for a firm to receive: the AIA Indiana EP Friendly Firm or the AIA Indiana EP Exemplary Firm designation. EP Friendly and EP Exemplary Firms will be recognized at the 2026 AIA Indiana Convention, which is scheduled for Friday, November 13, at the Dallara IndyCar Factory in Speedway, Indiana. Also, EP Friendly and EP Exemplary Firms will be featured on the AIA Indiana Website and may use the EP Friendly Logo or EP Exemplary Logo for marketing purposes in the year shown on the logo. The deadline to submit to be a 2026 AIA Indiana EP Friendly/Exemplary Firm is July 31, 2026. CLICK HERE to learn more. 

You’ve heard the plans now see firsthand the hotel that changes the Indianapolis skyline. Please note this event is limited to the first 60 registrants so secure your spot ASAP! The tour is scheduled for Thursday, August 13, 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. The Signia Hotel, set to rise 38 stories within the Hoosier Capitol skyline, is scheduled to open in downtown Indianapolis this fall. This tour will encompass the revitalization of the former Pan Am Plaza site and feature discussions on the project’s design challenges, innovative processes, project scope, community engagement, and the expansion of the Indiana Convention Center. Following the tour, a Happy Hour will take place at Social Cantina, 148 S. Illinois St., Indianapolis, IN 46225. Attendees will earn 1.5 AIA LUs! Thanks to RATIO for making this tour possible. Attendees are required to bring their own PPE for the tour. CLICK HERE to learn more and to register.

AIA Indiana will host the 2026 AIA Indiana Healthcare Design Symposium (November 12) / 2026 AIA Indiana Convention (November 13) presented by Tru-Steel HD® at the Dallara IndyCar Factory in Speedway, Indiana. This unique two-day event provides an opportunity to connect with architecture firm leaders from across the Hoosier State in a relaxed and engaging environment. All sponsorships and exhibitor opportunities are for both days. We offer a variety of sponsor and exhibitor packages and hope you will choose to be part of this exciting event! CLICK HERE to learn more.

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Click here to download COMcheck 4.1.5.5 to your desktop. COMcheck is an energy code compliance software tool that helps architects, builders, designers, and contractors to determine whether new commercial or high-rise residential buildings, additions and alterations meet the requirements of the IECC and ASHRAE Standard 90.1, as well as several state-specific codes. COMcheck also simplifies compliance for building officials, plan checkers, and inspectors by allowing them to quickly determine if a building project meets the code.

This year’s design awards were presented during the 2025 AIA Kentucky/AIA Indiana Convention on Friday, September 19, at the Central Bank Center in downtown Lexington, KY. Through the Design Awards program, AIA Indiana asks a jury of peers to select projects by leading Indiana registered architects that serve as a tribute to design excellence. This year’s jury was from AIA Oklahoma and chaired by Lisa Chronister, FAIA. Other jurors included: Joshua Hill, AIA – Studio Architecture; Sally Talley, AIA – Winterrowd Talley Architects; Shane Aaron, AIA – Narrate Design; and Brian Freese, AIA – Freese Architecture. This year there were 51 entries and 16 winners. All design award recipients were selected by the jury — with two exceptions. The H. Roll McLaughlin 25 Year Award and the Legacy Award were reviewed and selected by the 2025 AIA Indiana FAIA Design Awards Task Force. CLICK HERE to view this year’s winning submissions.

This year’s outing is scheduled for Monday, August 10, at Morris Park Golf Club in South Bend, IN. Contact AIA Indiana Membership Development Coordinator Kim Shelley, kshelley@aiaindiana.org, if you would like to be a sponsor or volunteer. CLICK HERE to learn more.

This year’s service awards were presented during the 2025 AIA Kentucky/AIA Indiana Convention on Thursday, September 18, at the Kentucky Theater in downtown Lexington, KY. This year’s awards included the AIA Indiana Architecture Outstanding Service Award, the Walter S. Blackburn Award, the Tony Costello Young Architect Award, the Juliet Peddle Award, the Next Gen Award, the Distinguished Firm Award, and finally, AIA Indiana’s highest honor, the Gold Medal. All awards, except for the Gold Medal and the Outstanding Service Award, were selected by the 2025 AIA Indiana Service Awards Jury, which included: Andrea Swartz, AIA, Ball State University Associate Dean of the College of Architecture and Planning and Professor of Architecture (Muncie); State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (Indianapolis); Pat Pasterick, Chair and Executive Coach at Vistage Worldwide, Inc. (Fort Wayne); and Richard S. McCoy, Founding Executive Director, Landmark Columbus Foundation (Columbus). The Gold Medal Award winner is selected by the AIA Indiana Executive Board and past Gold Medal winners. The Outstanding Service Award winner is selected by the AIA Indiana Board of Directors. CLICK HERE to view this year’s award recipients!

The AIA Indiana CKLDP is a year-long program consisting of nine half-day sessions attended by a competitively selected cohort of 16 emerging professionals. (An emerging professional is defined as someone who has graduated from college with an architecture degree and is within 10 years of their initial licensure.) Prospective participants must complete an application process for selection, during which proven career success, community involvement, and firm support are considered. The curriculum focuses on core professional skills such as entrepreneurship and firm management; teamwork and collaboration; contract negotiation and ethics; client and business development; community leadership; industry trends; and planning for your future within the profession. CLICK HERE to learn more.

The AIA Indiana Emerging Professional (EP) Friendly/Exemplary Firm Recognition is a newly established annual designation approved by the AIA Indiana Board of Directors.

This program celebrates firms that provide exceptional support and opportunities for early professionals. It also aims to foster dialogue among firms across the state to encourage the development of policies and practices that promote innovation, professional growth, and progressive workplaces for future members of the design profession.

An early professional (EP) is defined as an architectural staff member who has been working in the profession for 10 years or less and falls into one of the following categories: recent graduate or unlicensed emerging professional.

This recognition provides a clearer, more accessible path for individuals pursuing licensure. Firms may receive one of two designations: AIA Indiana EP Friendly Firm or AIA Indiana EP Exemplary Firm.

2025 AIA Indiana Emerging Professional Friendly Firm Designation Award Winners
• Browning Day
• CSO
• Progress Studio
• Ratio Architects LLC
• Schmidt Associates

2025 AIA Indiana Emerging Professional Exemplary Firm Designation Award Winners
• Alliance Architects
• American Structurepoint Inc.
• arcDESIGN
• Arkos Design
• Arteckna Design
• Barton Coe Vilamaa Architects and Engineers
• Curran Architecture
• Delv Design
• Design Collaborative
• DLZ Indiana, LLC
• Elevatus Architecture
• Garmann Miller
• Grinsfelder Associates Architects, Inc.
• Guidon Design
• Hafer
• Jones Petrie Rafinski
• KRM Architecture
• Lancer Associates, Inc.
• Luminaut
• MD Architects, PC
• MKM Architecture + Design
• Performance Services, Inc.
• RQAW | DCCM
• Salas O’Brien
• Tower Pinkster Titus Associates Inc.

The firms were recognized and presented their award certificates at the 2025 AIA Kentucky-AIA Indiana Convention on Thursday, September 18, at the Kentucky Theater in downtown Lexington, KY. Congratulations to all 2025 AIA Indiana EP Friendly/Exemplary Firm award winners!