E-NEWS

WHAT'S HAPPENING: EAST KENTUCKY AND BEYOND

September 2025

UPCOMING DATES

Sept. 18-19: AIA KY/IN Conference // Lexington, KY

Oct. 2: Barkitecture // Lexington, KY

Oct. 11: AIA EKY + ASLA Kentucky Project Tour + Soccer Game

Oct. 16: Meetup // Powerhouse KY Women in Architecture, Engineering & Construction

Oct. 21: AIA EKY 3rd Tuesday Pinball at The Burl (369 Thompson Rd) Social Hour 6-7pm

Oct. TBD: Building Tour // Wild Turkey // Information forthcoming

Nov. 3-5: AIA Women's Leadership Summit // Atlanta, GA

Nov. 6: Meetup // Powerhouse KY Women in Architecture, Engineering & Construction

Dec. 4: Meetup // Powerhouse KY Women in Architecture, Engineering & Construction

Dec. 11: AIA KY Holiday Party

Dec 18: - AIA Kentucky Holiday Party at the Kentucky Castle: Save the Date!

2025 AIA Kentucky | AIA Indiana Convention **Happening Now**

BARKITECTURE - OCTOBER 2nd

Less than 2 weeks away!

Thursday Night Live

October 2nd, 2025

Event starts at 4pm, awards at 6:30pm.

Silent Auction Links to be sent out soon!!

Architectural firms have partnered with local engineering, construction, and landscape architecture firms to create one-of-a-kind builds.

These will be on display and up for grabs in a silent auction during the event.

AIA EKY + ASLA KENTUCKY MEMBER EVENT

OCTOBER 11TH // Tour: 5pm // Game: 7pm

AIA EKY 2025 Building Tour

COMING SOON

AIA EAST KENTUCKY COLORING BOOK

AIA East Kentucky is creating a special community coloring book to celebrate local architecture, landmarks, and creativity — and we’d love for you to be part of it!

Submission Rules:

One entry per person. Each participant may submit one original coloring page.

Page size:

Must be designed to fit on 8.5” x 11” paper (portrait orientation preferred).

File format:

Submit as a high-resolution PDF or black-and-white JPEG/PNG.

Design style:

Must be a line drawing suitable for coloring. Avoid shading or heavy fills — clean outlines work best.

Content:

Focus on Local Kentucky architecture, design, or themes. Keep designs family-friendly.

Deadline: All submissions are due by OCTOBER 26.

Where to submit: Email your page to jwhite@jrarchitects.com with the subject line:

“AIA EKY Coloring Book Submission – [Your Name]” include the name of the location if applicable.

Additional Notes:

Selected pages will be included in the printed AIA East Kentucky Coloring Book.

The finished book will be distributed at upcoming AIA EKY events and outreach programs. By submitting, you grant AIA EKY permission to reproduce and distribute your artwork within the coloring book and related promotions. If there are any questions, please reach out to Justin White at jwhite@jrarchitects.com

POWERHOUSE KY WOMEN - AEC

Save the dates for a Live Meet up for Powerhouse KY Women in Architecture, Engineering and Construction. Scan the QR Code to sign up!

Dates:

October 16th

November 6th

December 4th

Time:

5:30pm - 6:30pm

Location:

Boonedogs

5902 Old Richmond Road

Lexington, KY

Please join AIA East Kentucky members every 3rd Tuesday (starting in September) for Free Pinball at The Burl Arcade across the street from Lexington, Kentucky's distillery district.

This is an informal setting where members can mingle and see who the next Pinball Wizzard might be!

The Burl Arcade
369 Thompson Rd
Lexington, KY 40508

Every 3rd Tuesday
6pm-7pm

ACE UPDATE: Mentor Program of the Bluegrass

ACE of the Bluegrass gives high school students a real-world look into careers in architecture, construction, and engineering by connecting them with local professionals who serve as in-class mentors and guest speakers. From site visits and hands-on activities to designing a full mock project in Revit, students experience what it’s really like to work in our industry throughout a full school year—not just learn about it. It’s an inspiring way to open doors and shape the next generation of AEC talent right here in Central Kentucky.

ACE is always looking for professionals in architecture, engineering, and construction to share their knowledge and experience. If you're interested in learning more or contributing to the future of our industry as a mentor or guest speaker, contact Adam Gillett, Lead Mentor, at adam@integrityarch.com.

NOMA | MENTOR MONDAY INVITATION

A huge thanks for everyone that attended the BIA / AIA EKY Event on September 4th at Mirror Twin Brewing.

Looking forward to more events where Architects and Builders can get together to share project stories, trade ideas and get to know each other.

Sponsored by:
Anderson & Rodgers Construction

Thank you to everyone who participated last year! Stay tuned for more events like this!

If you are interested in featuring a project for a building or home tour in 2025 or becoming a sponsor, please contact Alex Short, Assoc. AIA

FIRM & PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

We are continuing the monthly campaign to feature AIA East Kentucky firms in social media spotlight posts.

Please contact Justin White, AIA for your firm to be featured. Please fill out this form here with required information about your firm and send to Justin. Let's get to know more about our membership!

Do you have a project that you'd like to showcase? If so, please fill out the attached form and contact Justin White, AIA for your project to be featured.

MEMBERSHIP UPDATES

Member Benefit Spotlight: Legal Line

AIA Kentucky is still offering member firms with FREE access to legal professionals who can help you with practice-related risk-management questions. Email Kelly Ives for more info.

Individual & Firm News:

One of the valued team members at Gray AES recently suffered a violent attack, resulting in serious injuries and an extended recovery period. YOU can donate to aid in this fellow AIA member’s recovery! GoFundMe
Aaron Nickerson, AIA, is stepping into a new role as head of the Architecture Division at GRW, a Lexington-based multidiscipline design firm that celebrated 60 years of service in 2024. We congratulate Aaron on his new role! More info.
Jordan Haney, PE, has been appointed to the role of President with Thoroughbred. We congratulate Jordan on his new role! More info.
Gray’s NexGen division is pushing concrete innovation with sustainable solutions.

Newly Licensed:

We are pleased to congratulate the following members, who recently completed the A.R.E. and received their license in the state of Kentucky:

No newly licensed Architects this month.

Welcome New and Returning Members

(Joined or Reinstated since May 1, 2025)

Francisco Aguilar Cortez, Assoc. AIA, Berea
Leo Biagi, Assoc. AIA, Lexington
Kerry Brown, Assoc. AIA, Champlin | EOP, Lexington
Daniel Mangeot, Assoc. AIA, Lexington
Sydney Mullins, Assoc. AIA, Brandstetter Carroll, Lexington
Austin Olah, Assoc. AIA, Lexington
Jon Rollins, Assoc. AIA, GRW Inc. Lexington
Monica Suniaga, Assoc. AIA, Lexington

The Kentucky Architectural Foundation

The Kentucky Architectural Foundation (KAF) is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization supporting architectural education and elevating the awareness of architecture throughout the commonwealth. Our mission is to award scholarships and endowments that bolster architectural education and to support architectural causes related to educational programming and public awareness.

Click here for more information.

UK CoD & UK AIAS

KY HS Students Win National Competition

A group of six students from Lafayette HS, in Lexington, won first place in a national architecture competition against thousands of other students, for their design of a Kentucky Cultural Museum! One team member also placed in the CAD competition, and others are now freshman at the UK College of Design. Read more.

Join AIA as Associate New Graduate member!

Free for new architecture school grads, for up to 18 months.

With your new architecture degree, you’re ready to join AIA and be part of our mission to design a more sustainable, equitable world. As a new graduate, your membership is free, for up to 18 months!

Learn more here!

Will You be Remembered?

Looking for a place to archive your notable projects? Thinking about sharing your architectural achievements by recording an oral history or compiling a photographic collection? Thanks to the hard work of Jim Holmberg, Carol Street, Jeffery Johnson AIA, Steve Wiser FAIA, and others, Kentucky Architects have the opportunity to deposit their notable work in one of two amazing locations: The Filson Historical Society or the University of Kentucky Special Collections.

Don’t wait till it is too late. Choose one of these great institutions to work with you to compile your collection that will be available for future scholars' research and enjoyment. You may contact Jana Meyer at The Filson Historical Society or Megan Mummey at the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center .

Visit the AIA KY website to review each institution's specific requirements. We also recommend that you reference the AIA's Best Practice Article, "Will You Be Remembered" for helpful guidance in setting parameters on what to save.

Communities by Design

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. Learn more here.

GOVERNMENT ADVOCACY

AIA East KY & LFUCG Councilmembers

East KY Executive Board members continue to advocate for the AIA on a local level, meeting with councilmembers to introduce architects as voice to be heard on relevant commissions and boards. If you are interested in participating or wish to voice your opinion on a local governmental issue, please contact the AIA East KY Executive Board.

AIA Kentucky PAC

Our Kentucky Society of Architects PAC supports candidates and policies that act in the interest of architecture practices, including local plan review, professional services taxes, and lien laws. Please consider making a donation here.