TV Host to Emcee the 2026 AIA KY Awards

Charismatic Australian host, Mike Chapman, of the hit show, America ByDESIGN, will be the master of cermonies for our 2026 Design and Service Awards!

Register now to attend the 2026 AIA KY Design & Service Awards celebrating KY architecture.

America ByDESIGN™ is a celebration of creativity, diversity, and the endless possibilities of human ingenuity.

Watch the latest episodes here.

AIA KY Convention + Awards Celebration

2026 AIA KY Convention - "Bluegrass Built", presented by JQOL, and Design & Service Awards Celebration will be held on 9/22/26 at the AIA KY Award-Winning Speed Art Museum in Louisville.

Reserve your spot today and see the all day schedule - including up to 8 AIA LU (6 HSW) in keynotes, sessions, sketch and building tours!

AIA KY Conference Lottery Recipient

Priscilla Goodwin, AIA, of Work Architecture, was one of three AIA KY Conference Lottery Recipients for 2026, receiving a travel stipend from AIA Kentucky to attend any AIA conference of their choice.

Read what Priscilla had to say about her experience at the AIA'26 Conference on Architecture & Design in San Diego and stay tuned for updates from the other winners!

AIA Kentucky Partners with UK CoD

As stated in our mission, "advancing and strengthening the profession of architecture" is a core goal. On August 20th, all first year students in the UK School of Architecture will receive an AIA Kentucky Sponsored Toolkit filled with essential supplies, helping reduce financial barriers and strengthen connections to Kentucky’s architectural community from day one. Together, we’re investing in a more accessible and equitable future for the profession!

Membership Benefits

Member Benefit Spotlight

As an AIA member, you have access to MetLife Dental Insurance designed to fit your needs and budget. If you have children, this protection can also help cover the costs of their regular and specialty dental care. Check Your AIA Dental Cost.



Getting Licensed? Check out AIA ArchiPrep: it's a one-stop shop for support and opportunities like free membership, scholarships, and study groups.

LegaLine: This service provides affordable access to A/E attorneys for contracts, liability, and practice questions for AIA members

Opportunities:



• Free LEE Building Products is offering a free Masonry Boot Camp in Louisville on 9/17/26
• Free 1.0 AIA LU|HSW Course on AIAU - POLYVANTIS "Sustainable Polycarbonate"

Membership News

• Lafayette High School (Lexington) a National Runner-Up in Architectural Design: placed second in Architectural Design at the 2026 National Technology Student Association (TSA) Conference outside of Washington, DC. Many of these students are supported by AIA KY members through the A.C.E. Mentor Program of the Bluegrass.
• de Leon & Primmer Architecture Workshop are featured in the July issue of Architectural Record for their Rivercrest Residence in Prospect, KY.
• Esperanza Latino Center, in collaboration with Hub+Weber, has received an AIA Small Project Community Grant to support a more welcoming, accessible center for the Northern Kentucky community it serves.
• Kentucky Board of Architects member, Jill Lewis Smith, AIA, was elected as a regional director on the NCARB Board of Directors. See the press release from NCARB. Additionally, a second member of the Kentucky Board of Architects, Olivia Davis (Public Member/Treasurer), was also elected to be the Public Director of NCARB's Board. We are excited to have Kentucky representing at the national level!
• Thoroughbred Architects and Engineers has become a behind-the-scenes force in many of Central Kentucky's most prominent developments and is featured in Business Lexington.
• 50 Years, 400 Projects a Year: Denham-Blythe's Design-Build Blueprint is featured in Business Lexington as they celebrate their 50th anniversary!

Looking for old "Kentucky Architect" Magazines

If anyone has old copies of the "Kentucky Architect" magazine that was published in the 1960s and 70s, please contact Steve Wiser at wiserfaia@outlook.com.

Exciting News? TAG US in Your Social Media Posts or Email Us!

Please help increase awareness of our profession by tagging AIA Kentucky in your firm's posts on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn or send an email. Let's collaborate!

Newly Licensed & New Members

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:

• Meredith Benz, GBBN, Louisville
• Eva Baghdan, Omni Architects, Lexington

Welcome New and Returning Members

(Joined or Reinstated since July 2026)

• Paige Butterfield, Assoc. AIA, Louisville
• Sara Kerpestein, Assoc. AIA, Louisville
• Mia Lowe, Assoc. AIA, Lexington
• Iuliia Nesterova, AIA, Louisville

Allied Benefactor of the Month Spotlight:

Builders Exchange of Kentucky

The Builders Exchange of Kentucky, a full-service construction trade association with approximately 900 members across Kentucky, has supplied competitive bids to the Architectural Community since 1927.. Read more..

Calendar of Events

AIA Kentucky and local chapter events are consolidated on a single calendar accessible via the AIA Kentucky Website. We'll post information about conferences, chapter events and other "happenings" of interest to the architectural community.

NCARB & Early Professional News

NCARB’s Board of Directors recently moved to adopt updates to the Competency Standard for Architects. The updated document includes detailed criteria to provide greater clarity around the expected level of competency necessary for initially licensed architects. As NCARB volunteers explore potential new methods of assessing competency through the Pathways to Practice initiative, this level of detail will ensure that candidates’ competency is evaluated consistently across all pathways to initial licensure. 

The YAF (Young Architects Forum) Open Mic Night: will be on 8/13/26 from 6:00-7:30pm via Zoom focused on the topic of "Finding Your Fit: Aligning Values, Work and Purpose. Register here.

National Architecture Billings Index

June 2026 ABI: Billings remain weak at architecture firms.

AIA National News

AIA Responds to ACHP Vote to Revise Section 106: AIA is opposed to the decision by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation to move forward with revisions to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. Read more here.

2026 AIA Women's Leadership Summit: November 1-3, 2026 in Kansas City, MO - founded by AIA, is the industry’s premier event dedicated to accelerating women into leadership positions in architecture, design, and the allied building industries.Review the website for registration timeline.

AI: the AI Firm Toolkit launched at AIA26, with more resources on the way to help firms navigate AI and stay ahead of its fast-moving impact on practice. Thank you to the AIA Task Force for their work on AI resources and education. 

AIA Small Firm Exchange Insider: the mission of the AIA Small Fims Exchange (SFx) is to advance the mutual interests of architects practicing in small firms. Read the June SFx Insider titled, "Research for the Small Firm: What Should It Look Like?" Learn more about the SFx community here.

Firm Lifecycle Guides: practical guidance for firms at every stage, from starting a practice to planning for transition. Click here to learn more.

More AIA Products & Resources:

• AIA Career Center - Search open jobs, post your resume and set up job alerts.
• AIA Contract Documents - Choose from 180+ industry standard contracts and forms
• Business Intelligence - Navigate current business conditions, make smarter decisions, and prep for the future with AIA's business intelligence.
• The AIA Trust - Resources to protect your practice and plan for your future.
• AIAU - 300+ instructors bring the industry's best learning to you.
• Knowledge Communities - CE opportunities, discussion forums and research libraries on specific areas of practice that interest you. See all KC events.

Allied Membership is recognized by all three local components, with a portion of dues supporting local programs. Learn More

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