January 20, 2026 | AIA Austin Newsletter | | | |
Advocacy Roundtable: Protecting the Profession Amid Political Unpredictability
January 26, 12:00-1:30pm; AIA Austin, 801 West 12th Street, 78701; $5 AIA Members, $20 non-Members; 1.5 LU (pending)
The first AIA Austin Advocacy Roundtable of the year will explore recent regulatory decisions and government actions that significantly impair the ability of architects to fully serve their clients and communities and to protect the health, safety, and welfare of building occupants.In light of the ongoing uncertainty, this Roundtable brings together professionals directly impacted by local, state, and federal actions who will share the background of one issue and the professional and personal impact it has had. Participants will discuss strategies individual professionals, practices, and AIA can take to proactively protect the profession in light of the new modus operandi of the current forces in government.
LEARN MORE AND RSVP>>
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Honor Awards Deadline Next Month
Nominations for the 2026 AIA Austin Honor Awards are open through February 13!
Learn more here>>
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New members, thank you for joining AIA Austin. Through our Ambassador Program, we can connect you with an existing AIA member to introduce you to the local Austin chapter, share resources on how to get involved, and be a friendly contact. Please visit our JEDI webpage for more information! | | | | |
AIA Austin Member Stephi Motal, AIA, is the TxA 2026 President-Elect!
The Texas Society of Architects introduces its 2026 president-elect, Stephi Motal, AIA. At TxA, she has served on the board as Austin Chapter Director and Chair of the Government Affairs Steering Committee, which led Stephi to testify at several hearings at the Texas Capitol during the 2025 legislative session. Stephi is looking forward to continuing to advocate for architects across the state as TxA’s president during the 90th Legislative Session in 2027.
READ MORE>>
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Call for Writers: Guide to Austin Architecture
The Guide to Austin Architecture is seeking architects with writing/editing experience to add to our roster of contributors to help continue our work.
Please email ingrid@aiaaustin.org if interested!
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Donna D. Carter Scholar Program Deadline Approaching!
January 26 deadline
Applications are still being accepted for the Donna D. Carter AIA Austin Women in Architecture (WiA) and Design Austin (DA) Scholar Program until January 26 at 11:59pm. The mission of the Donna D Carter Scholar Program is to support diversity in the future of the architecture profession within the Austin community. The funds will be made available to two minority women or minority non-binary students in the undergraduate or graduate professional architecture program at the University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture.
LEARN MORE AND APPLY>>
| | | | Want to get more involved at AIA Austin this year? Check out our 2026 Committee Guide to learn more about our 20+ Committees. The 2026 Committee Chairs are in place and ready to get started! | | |
TONIGHT: 2026 LGBTQIA+ Alliance Kickoff Meeting
January 20, 6:00pm; The Cavalier, 2400 Webberville Rd, 78702
Join us for the 2026 Kick-off meeting! This is our first formal meeting of the year, so we will take a look at the calendar to plan the first couple events.
All are welcome - just show up!
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TONIGHT: 2026 Allied Member Roundtable Kickoff Meeting
January 20, 5:30pm; FBS Appliance Showroom, 7816 Burnet Rd., 78757
Join us for our first event of the year! There will be a signature cocktail along with snacks and other fun! This event is open to all AIA Members and other industry professionals.
There is no charge to attend, but attendance is capped. LEARN MORE AND RSVP>>
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Small Firms Roundtable presents 10 Years of Small Firm Lessons with Side Angle Side
January 22, 12:00-1:00pm; AIA Austin/Center for Architecture, 801 West 12th Street, 78701; lunch provided; 1 LU (pending); $5 AIA/Allied members, $20 non-members
Running a small firm means you’re constantly switching hats--designer, business owner, marketer, project manager, and all-around problem solver. In this lunchtime talk, Side Angle Side shares real-world lessons from ten years of running a small architecture and interior design practice in Austin.
Space is limited. Learn More & RSVP>>
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NOMA Central Texas: 3rd Annual Empower Design Symposium
February 21, 9:00am-4:00pm; RVK Architecture, San Antonio; $25 professionals, $5 students
The upcoming Symposium will showcase engaging short-format presentations (15-20 minutes) around topics on Architecture, Design, Advocacy, and Justice. The purpose of the Empower Design Symposium is to educate members on issues that impact our local communities and highlight the ways that people are addressing these issues.
Learn more and register here>>
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Ethics Live hosted by University of Texas at Austin Texas Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE)
February 5, 12:30pm; William C. Powers, Jr. Student Activity Center, 2201 Speedway, 78712; Early Bird $35 through 1/14; $50 GA
UT Austin TSPE is hosting an upcoming professional development seminar which will provide the required ethics PDH for engineers and architects over lunch on the UT campus.
Learn more and register here>>
| | Committee and Programs Calendar | | AIA Austin has an online calendar! Please note that meetings may be in-person, on Zoom, or hybrid. See individual notices for information. | | THANK YOU TO OUR 1938 CIRCLE MEMBERS | | Want to learn more about our 1938 Circle Program? Reach out to Erika Wendel at erika@aiaaustin.org. | | | | |
