AIA Northern Virginia’s Committee on the Environment (COTE) recently hosted a Dialogue Series that brought the design community together for an engaging conversation on LEED v5 and the future of sustainable design. Launched in April of 2025, LEED v5 is the latest version of the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system and serves...

This September, the AIA Northern Virginia Board of Directors traded the usual conference room for the historic streets of Old Town Alexandria, gathering for their monthly Board meeting followed by a happy hour hosted by Winstanley Architects & Planners at the firm’s centrally located office on King Street. Winstanley’s office is itself an architectural gem: a converted brick rowhouse tucked...

AIA Northern Virginia’s Canstruction® event brought together creativity, collaboration, problem-solving, and community spirit as six teams transformed an everyday building material—the humble can—into imaginative and memorable works of art, all on display at the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City. More than a design competition, Canstruction® demonstrates how architecture and design can make a tangible difference in our community. Every can...

If earning your architectural license is one of your goals for 2027, AIA Northern Virginia wants to help you get there. Formerly known as the AIA Northern Virginia ARE® Scholarship, our newly renamed Pathway to Licensure Program continues the same mission with a name that better reflects its purpose: supporting Northern Virginia Associate AIA members as they progress toward becoming...

For the fifth consecutive year, the AIA Northern Virginia Women in Architecture (WIA) Committee welcomed members, friends, and families to its annual Summer Social – an event centered on building relationships, strengthening connections, and celebrating the people who make our profession so rewarding. Held in a relaxed outdoor setting at Paradise Springs Winery in Clifton, VA, the WIA Summer Social...

Welcome to the AIA Northern Virginia Newsroom! We love celebrating the people and projects that make our communities thrive. Our press releases share stories from across our Chapter—from local events that bring neighbors together to the talented designers and teams recognized for their outstanding work. Explore our latest announcements to stay connected with the architects, projects, and ideas making a...

Professional awards and scholarships play a vital role in recognizing excellence, supporting emerging talent, and advancing the future of architecture. From honoring innovative design and leadership to providing critical financial support for students and early-career professionals, these opportunities help shape meaningful careers and elevate the profession as a whole. Below is a curated list of architecture awards and scholarship opportunities...

This year’s 2026 AIA Northern Virginia Design Awards Gala recognized twenty-three outstanding projects at the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus in Alexandria, Virginia on June 25, 2026. The Committee received nearly 100 entries across ten categories. Awards were given to architects whose projects best demonstrated the design principles of the 21st century as listed in the AIA Framework for Design Excellence. There were three different award...

On June 25, Virginia Tech’s Washington Alexandria Architecture Center (WAAC) hosted its Architecture Career Reflection Spotlight Panel immediately before the AIA Northern Virginia Design Awards Gala. Both events took place in Virginia Tech’s Innovation Campus Building One and provided a valuable opportunity for students to connect with architecture and design professionals from across the region. Beginning in January, AIA Northern...

This October, the American Society of Architectural Illustrators (ASAI) invites the Northern Virginia architecture community to the 40th Anniversary Architecture in Perspective (AIP 40) International Conference at the American Institute of Architects Global Campus in Washington, D.C. We hope it will be an opportunity for attendees from all backgrounds to deepen their relationship with the creative process underlying architectural visual...