FROM THE PRESIDENT

Hard to believe winter is already over and spring has begun! I still feel like New Year’s was only a couple of weeks ago. The AIA Board of Directors met in January in Eureka Springs for our annual retreat where we talked about how the past year went and planned our new year, including our annual budget. We also held our annual dinner and ceremony to install the new Executive Committee officers for the upcoming year.

I will hold the office of president this year, Chris East is the vice president, Nate Deason is the treasurer, James Meyer is the secretary and Kiara Gilmore will be our secretary-elect. Thank you to the Executive Committee and everyone else on the board for taking the time to serve your AIA Arkansas Chapter. It is a lot of work but can be very rewarding, and a bit of fun, too! Thank you also to Brent Stevenson and Jackie Strickland of Brent Stevenson Associates for all of your hard work, too. Brent and Jackie manage the day-to-day operations of AIA Arkansas, and we would be lost without them.

In late February, some of the AIA Arkansas Executive Committee members, section chairs and directors embarked on Washington, D.C., to attend the annual Leadership Summit. This is a conference with two main objectives. The first is to learn about what AIA National has in store for all of us members this upcoming year and attend strategy sessions and keynote speaker addresses. The second objective is Hill Day, which is a day where AIA members visit Congress to discuss important issues with our congressional leaders. More than 500 architects from all over the United States visited Capitol Hill to attend Hill Day and meet with our senators and representatives to promote our targeted issues.

There were various issues we discussed with them, but three of the more important issues were housing, taxes and resiliency. With housing, we discussed the nationwide housing crisis and how the federal government can help architects and communities by funding programs which create more affordable housing through block grants and tax credits. Our congressmen were receptive and in agreement that more needs to be done to solve the housing problem and make housing more affordable. We discussed different tax incentives, such as the 199A pass-through deduction that allows a 20% deduction on qualified business income for pass-through entities like partnerships and S Corporations, of which many architecture firms are structured. This tax program will help smaller businesses compete with larger corporations.

Lastly, we discussed community resiliency policies that help communities prepare for natural disasters before they occur. Waiting until after the tragedy happens can cost taxpayers more money in federal aid dollars than if we make our communities more resilient to natural disasters prior to their occurrence. All in all, we learned a lot, and hopefully our senators and representatives did as well.

Because the state Legislature is in session, there are various bills we are tracking, and the AIA Legislative Committee is busy deciding which issues we should be addressing and which possibly need AIA involvement. Legislature years are pretty hectic for the Legislative Committee, but it can be very rewarding and interesting work. Contact Brent Stevenson or me if you would like to participate on the Legislative Committee in the future.

If not that committee, there are many other committees that need more volunteers. Feel free to contact us if you would like to learn more about what committees there are and how you can get involved. I have found serving on these committees to be quite rewarding. Some of the committees are the Young Architects Forum, the Membership Committee, the Emerging Professionals Committee and the Diversity Committee, among others.

I will close by thanking you all for being AIA Arkansas members. I may be a bit biased, but I think it is the finest chapter in the nation. Our annual convention is absolutely one of the best state conventions in the country and we are all very lucky to have it. This year's convention will be Oct. 15-17 at Hot Springs, and its never too early to start planning to attend. James Meyer is this year’s convention chair, so I wish him the best of luck as he endeavors to take on such a challenge. I know he will do a great job.

Thank you all for selecting me to serve as your president. I am honored and will do my very best to make you all proud.

Todd Welch, AIA

AIA Arkansas President

Brackett-Krennerich Architects, Jonesboro

Every year, AIA Arkansas recognizes members, individuals, and organizations that exemplify the pursuit of the Chapter’s mission.

The categories of nominations are:

• Fay Jones Gold Medal Award
• Dick Savage Memorial Award
• Emerging Professional Award
• Award of Merit
• Diversity Award
• Michael Lejong Leadership Award

For information about each category or to view a list of past recipients, visit AIAAR Chapter Awards.

Nomination Procedures: All current members of AIA Arkansas are invited to submit nominations for the 2025 Chapter Awards. There is no limit to how many years an eligible nominee may be submitted for an award; however, a recipient may receive a specific award only once.

• Submission deadline is Friday, May 2, 2025
• Awards will be conferred at the annual Design Awards Celebration scheduled for Friday, October 17, 2025 in Hot Springs.

Nominator Responsibilities: Nominations should clearly demonstrate how the nominee's sustained efforts, exceptional achievements, and significant contributions over an extended period, meet the purpose and criteria of the specific award and elucidate the nominee's impact on the community and/or the profession of architecture. 

MEMBER NEWS

Magazine Names Walls

To Fifty Over 50 List

In its annual Fifty Over 50 list of “time-tested achievers” in its February issue, Arkansas Money & Politics saluted its 2025 honorees, including Wesley Walls, AIA, principal at Polk Stanley Wilcox. “His innovative approach to design is both collaborative and exploratory, with a relentless commitment to both placemaking and relationship building,” the magazine said.

With more than 30 years of experience, his award-winning portfolio of work has primarily focused on large institutional commissions, such as Camp Commons at Camp Aldersgate (the state’s first LEED Gold building and an AIA Gulf States Region Design Award recipient), the UAMS College of Public Health (national ASHE VISTA Award), the Psychiatric Research Institute at UAMS, the Student Services Center at UALR, the Housing Administration building at the University of Arkansas and Hendrix College’s Miller Creative Quad.

Congratulations, Wesley!

Cromwell Names Whitman

Director of Marketing

Cromwell Architects Engineers announces the promotion of Bridgett Whitman to director of marketing. In this role, she will lead the marketing team and oversee brand strategy, proposal development, media relations, awards pursuits and external communications. “Bridgett has continuously taken on new marketing responsibilities with innovation and creativity that have directly contributed to Cromwell’s success,” said Jeff Overton, director of business development. “Her leadership and strategic approach will further strengthen our marketing efforts.”

Bridgett holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and a Master of Business Administration from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kan. She brings eight years of professional experience in advertising and marketing, with a focus on AEC, to her new role. Alongside her business acumen she is passionate about community development and is dedicated to fostering positive change. As a key member of Cromwell’s Marketing and Business Development team, Bridgett will continue to play a vital role in advancing the firm’s marketing initiatives. Her promotion reflects her expertise and commitment to Cromwell’s continued growth and success. The firm looks forward to her ongoing contributions as the business expands.

CALL FOR ALLIED PRESENTATION PROPOSALS FOR THE 2025 STATE CONVENTION

AIA Arkansas is now accepting proposals from our Allied members for presentations at the 2025 AIA Arkansas State Convention in Hot Springs, AR. Only current AIA Arkansas Allied Members are eligible to submit presentations. Companies that are not current members will not be reviewed by the convention committee. Visit www.aiaar.org to submit your presentation by the deadline.

Each year, Preserve Arkansas’s Mid Mod Arkansas tour highlights significant Mid-Century Modern architecture in cities throughout the state to raise awareness and encourage appreciation for these buildings.



Join Preserve Arkansas in Arkansas’s Grand Prairie region on Saturday, April 5, 2025, for a tour of private homes and churches at Stuttgart, Slovak, and Lonoke. Tickets include lunch sponsored by the Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie and the Grand Prairie Historical Society.

What: Hosted tour of significant mid-century properties, beginning with an introduction at the Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie, 921 E. 4th Street, Stuttgart.

Where: Tour attendees will provide their own transportation to each stop along the tour. Guests should meet at the Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie and caravan.

Tickets: Tickets are $40 per person and include property tours and lunch.

AIA K-12 Initiatives:

How to Participate

It’s never too early to start thinking like an architect. AIA's K-12 initiatives follow a blueprint with three key goals in mind: Inspire youth to learn about the power of design. Nourish curiosity to engage in solving grand challenges with design thinking. Connect students with architects and design professionals. The newly formed AIA | K-12 Enthusiasts Group via AIA National offers suggestions on how to participate and/or get involved with Architecture Week, April 13-19: https://www.aia.org/architecture-week.

AFFILIATE MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL

Affiliate Membership in AIA Arkansas is available to non-architects, registered to practice their professions where such requirements exist, with established professional reputations. Professional affiliates may include engineers, planners, landscape architects, interior designers, sculptors, muralists and other artists, professionals in government, education, industry, research, and journalism, and other professionals whose work is related to the practice of architecture.

U.S. Forest Service Awards

Grant to MacKeith, Waller

Peter MacKeith, left, and Matt Waller

The U.S. Forest Service recently awarded a $300,000 grant to faculty in the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design and Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas to identify, research, develop and promote the use of innovative wood construction products and build business opportunities for Arkansas’ forest economy. This federal grant will be matched by the recipients. Under the auspices of the grant, Matt Waller, dean emeritus and supply chain management professor in the Walton College, along with Peter MacKeith, dean and professor in the Fay Jones School, will work with associated project members to establish the Arkansas Wood Products Innovations Cooperative. The initiative will focus on applied design research, industry collaboration and economic development.

“Forestry is a $6 billion industry in this state,” Waller said. “If we can encourage businesses to create, expand and utilize specialized wood products, it will improve the economy, environment and affordable housing opportunities in the state.” The objectives of the grant funding include establishing the Arkansas Wood Products Innovations Cooperative to drive applied design research, industry collaboration and economic development. Research will be focused on three key areas: development of new wood products; integration of additive and advanced manufacturing (e.g., robotics, 3D printing); and design and construction of affordable housing prototypes using Arkansas-sourced wood. “Arkansas is already a leader in the national forest economy and very much now an epicenter for the emerging mass timber movement,” MacKeith said. “There is parallel opportunity in the development of innovative wood products for the construction of buildings of all types and the promotion of Arkansas as the place for new manufacturing enterprises.”

Several potential products have already been identified. Much of the material research and development of the cooperative will occur in the Fay Jones School’s Anthony Timberlands Center for Design and Materials Innovation, which is due to open fully in August 2025. In addition, this cooperative plans to engage industry and community stakeholders through surveys, working groups and an annual regional/national conference; create a five- to 10-year strategic plan to guide market expansion and workforce development; and document and share progress through websites, reports and publications.

Design Center Projects Win

National, International Awards

Projects by the U of A Community Design Center have won awards in several competitions. The recognized projects explore diverse housing, food security and expansive site plans. Five projects garnered awards in five national and international award programs, with 12 recognitions in all. The projects and respective competitions are:

• Adult Family Home Prototype (Future House Awards, AN Best of Design Awards [honorable mention])
• A Framework Plan for Cherokee Village (The American Architecture Awards)
• Foodscapes: Urban Agricultural Plan for the Fayetteville Public Library (A+Awards [finalist], The American Architecture Awards, Green Good Design Awards, AN Best of Design Awards [honorable mention])
• GrowLofts (Green Good Design Awards, A+Awards, The American Architecture Awards, AN Best of Design Awards)
• Rural Pocket Neighborhood: Affordable Housing in Sheridan, Arkansas (The American Architecture Awards)

The U of A Community Design Center, directed by Steve Luoni since 2003, is an outreach center of the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design. Luoni is also Distinguished Professor and the Steven L. Anderson Chair in Architecture and Urban Studies at the university.

Also, the UACDC was recognized by Architizer's A+List: The 220 Best Architecture and Design Firms Worldwide in 2024.

"We are pleased that our design work in food systems, housing and community planning continue to receive widespread recognition," Luoni said. "Our hope is that it gives our project sponsors and stakeholders the incentive to move the projects forward."  

Adult family home prototype.

School, ISG Co-Host

Mass Timber Conference

The Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design, in partnership with the architecture and design firm ISG, hosted the 2025 Arkansas Mass Timber Conference on Feb. 7-9 on the UA campus. As a national hub for mass timber design, construction and manufacturing, Arkansas became the ideal location for this conference that brought together more than 130 industry design professionals, academic researchers and manufacturers of mass timber systems and components.

Through this conference, the Fay Jones School and ISG educated and prepared attendees to utilize mass timber by highlighting the ways that mass timber is an emerging material with significant potential in the building industry. As populations grow and infrastructure demands increase, sustainable development will increasingly rely on this rapidly renewable resource. Beyond its environmental benefits, mass timber offers a unique aesthetic appeal and, in some circumstances, an opportunity to accelerate construction timelines.

"Our mission is to advance the mass timber movement in Arkansas and regionally to drive the future of sustainable building by exploring the use of local resources and manufacturing capacities, industry insights and trends, university research and innovative timber technologies," ISG Residential + Mixed-Use Business Unit Leader Ryan King said. "This conference proved to be a valuable opportunity to learn from experts, share ideas and prepare for the future of sustainable building practices."

Participants at the 2025 Arkansas Mass Timber Conference, held Feb. 7-9 on the UA campus, tour the construction site for Anthony Timberlands Center for Design and Materials Innovation

Acme Brick Tile & Stone

Alessi Keyes Construction

Antique Brick & Block

Cadence Insurance

CDI Contractors

Coryell Roofing

Day Consultants & Solutions, Inc.

Fleetwood Windows & Doors

Garland Company

GR Smith Civil Engineering

HSA Engineering Consulting Services

Hunt Design Group

INTERTEK-PSI

JE Allen Co

Kinco Constructors

Kingspan Insulated Metal Panels

L&M Office Furniture

LS Reps

Malmstrom-White

Marvin Windows & Doors

Mays Maune McWard

McClelland Consulting Engineers

Minick Materials

MISSCO Interior Concepts

Nabholz

Rock Solid Commercial Roofing

Rulon International

Sesco Lighting, Inc.

Sierra Pacific Windows

Southwest Terrazo Association

Walco Building Products