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NOVEMBER 2026
With fall upon us, what a dream commission this would be! We are eternally grateful this time of year honoring our heroic Veterans and for the chance to slow down and celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday with those most important to us. We are also extremely grateful for the 2026 AIA KY Board Members who have devoted their time and talents to strengthen our professional organization.
Thank you to our members who took the time to vote for the officers who will lead AIA Kentucky in 2026. The results of that ballot were ratified during our annual membership meeting on October 23 and are listed below for your reference. We hope you’ll give these individuals your full support as we begin to transition to a new membership year and know that you are welcome to reach out to them whenever you have a suggestion or concern. AIA Kentucky is here to serve, and we look forward to hearing from you!
This Friday, November 6, the AIA KY Board will spend a full day at our Strategic Planning Retreat in Frankfort setting goals for the coming year, in hopes that it will be as eventful and successful as 2026 has been. We can't wait to see what the next few months, and the upcoming year have in store!
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2026 AIA KY Annual Publication Released
The 2026 AIA KY "Practice and Progress " publication has been completed, which includes the AIA KY Directory, Year-in-Review and Design & Service Award Winners.
Hard copies have been mailed out to all members and the digital version can be found here or on our website. Additional copies are available by reaching out to reserve.
Be sure to check out all of the exciting accomplishments, including honoring the various design and service award winners for their commitment to the profession!
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Free 1.0 AIA LU | HSW Webinar from JQOL
Our awesome 2026 AIA KY Convention Presenting Sponsor, JQOL, is providing all AIA KY members a free webinar worth 1.0 AIA LU | HSW at 12:00 PM EST on Wednesday, December 2 titleds 'Meeting Buildings Where They Are: How to be Successful in Adaptive Reuse"
This will be a great way to get those learning units before the end of the year, so get registered here.
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2026 Annual Meeting & 2027 Officers
The 2026 AIA Kentucky Annual Meeting was held virtually on Friday, October 23. The annual meeting included ratification of the election results, reports on the state of the chapter, and discussion about key initiatives for 2027. View the meeting slides.
2026 President: Tina Ash, Assoc. AIA
2026 Vice President: Eric Zabilka, AIA
2026 Treasurer: Dana Zausch, AIA
2026 Secretary: Jay Studer, AIA
Immediate Past President: Chris Bowling, AIA
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The following individuals were also appointed to represent KY in the AIA next year:
Craig Chamberlain, AIA, Northern Kentucky Section Director, 1-Year (2027)
BreAnne Long, Assoc. AIA, State/Territory Associates Representative (STAR), 2027-28
Jessica Farmer, AIA, Young Architects Representative, 2026-27
Megan Stone, AIA, State Director to Serve on AIA Strategic Council, 2026-28
We hope that you will join us for the journey and give your full support to each of these members as they represent, serve and lead our organization in the year ahead!
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2026 Fall ARE Grant Recipients
It is our pleasure as an organization to award grants for Fall of 2026 to the following recipients:
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Katie Brammer, Studer Residential Designs
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Jonathan Chesser, Brandstetter Carroll Inc
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Garrett Haug, Studio A
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Michaela Kulas, JRA Architects
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BreAnne Long, WorK Architecture
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Arein Natour, Champlin Studios
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Emery Smith, Murray State University
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Andrew Walker, Joseph & Joseph Architects
| | We are excited to support each of these candidates and plan to offer the grants again in the spring. All Kentucky residents – both AIA members and non-members – actively taking the ARE will be encouraged to apply, so please stay tuned! | | | | |
2026 Design & Service Award Winners
AIA Kentucky was honored to recognize the year's award recipients for Design Excellence and Service to the Profession at an Awards Banquet in Louisville immediately following the 2026 AIA KY Convention.
If you were not able to attend, please view the 2026 Annual Publication and the award winner videos below.
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2026 EP Conference Lottery Winner
Brittany Ray, Assoc. AIA, with GRW Inc., was one of three recipients of AIA KY's 2026 Emerging Professionals Conference Lottery Winners that reimburses them for an AIA Conference of their choice. Hear her experience:
"One of the best surprises of being part of AIA Kentucky’s Emerging Professionals community this year was having
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my name drawn in the convention lottery! That opportunity led me to Louisville for the AIA Kentucky Convention, and I am so thankful I got to be part of it.
The convention was held at the Speed Art Museum, and it was fabulous! The venue itself was beautiful, and getting to hear the architect and structural engineer talk about how they joined the new design with the historic building, along with the design intent behind it, was truly fascinating. I really enjoyed every session I attended, and each one was very informative. I learned a great deal throughout the convention, and I really think AIA Kentucky knocked it out of the park this year."
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Members Participate at K-12 Career Days
AIA KY Young Architect Representative, Jessica Farmer, AIA and member, Brittany Ray, Assoc. AIA, both participated in separate Career Days at their local elementary schools to promote architecture.
Jessica got to share with Jacob Elementary in Louisville and Brittany with Pulaski Elementary in Somerset.
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CKLDP Session 1 - "Leading Together"
The first session of the 2026-27 Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program, "Leading Together," was held at the Marksbury Family Branch Library.
CKLDP is a year-long initiative by AIA KY to train (16) emerging professionals to be the next generation of architectural leaders focused on firm management, entrepreneurship, negotiation, and community leadership.
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AIA KY Holiday Party - Register Now!
We hope to see everyone at our 2026 AIA KY Holiday Party on Thursday, December 10th at Jeptha Creed Distillery in Shelbyville from 6:00 - 8:30pm.
Come early for a distillery tour or earn one HSW by touring the Louvered Outdoor Showroom next door prior to the party. Mark your calendars and register here today!
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Renew Your AIA Membership for 2027
AIA brings together more than 100,000 members around the world—a local and global community built to connect, support, and advance the people shaping architecture.
Renew your membership for 2027 to stay connected to the people, resources, and opportunities that help you thrive throughout your career.
Renew by Dec. 1 to be entered to win a free trip to AIA27 in Philly! Check out all of the other perks lined up!
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2027 Allied Membership Registration
Help us spread the word to all of your industry partners and colleagues that our 2027 Allied Membership in AIA Kentucky is now available and open to register here.
It is available to non-Architects, including all interested allied design professionals, construction industry representatives, and product / service suppliers.
| | This program includes membership with the State AIA Kentucky chapter as well as each of our three local components – Central Kentucky, East Kentucky and Northern Kentucky. If they join now in November, they receive (14) months for the price of (12), with the remainder of 2026 FREE! | | | | |
2027 AIA KY | IN Convention Confirmed
AIA KY and AIA IN are excited to join forces again for our biennial joint convention. After an on-site staff planning session, we are happy to announce it will be held in the Walsh Family School of Architecture at the University of Notre Dame on 8/1/27 - 8/3/27!
Information on the schedule, agenda, accommodations, travel options and sessions will continue to roll out for this exciting opportunity so be sure to mark your calendars!
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Membership Benefits
Member Benefit Spotlight
As an AIA member, you have access to numerous insurance coverages and retirement options designed to fit your needs and budget. Check Your Options at AIA Trust.
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
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Membership News
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Congratulations to Sherman Carter Barnhart Architects CEO, Mike Smith, AIA, on his well-deserved retirement after 35 years with the company!
- Congratulations to Chris Bowling, AIA, on starting a new position as Discipline Manager of Architecture and Interior Design at Lucket & Farley in Louisville!
- We are saddened to learn of the passing of Hal Kovert, AIA, of Kovert Hawkins Architects (now TowerPinkster) of Jeffersonville.
- Congratulations to AIA KY Allied Sponsor and wonderful partner, Lynn Imaging, on celebrating 80 years of incredible service since 1946!
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Jill Smith, AIA of Louisville and Joseph Nolasco, AIA of Lexington were reappointed by Gov. Andy Beshear to the Kentucky Board of Architects through Oct. 19, 2030. Smith is an architect and founder of Civic Consultants Inc. Nolasco is the managng principal and co-founder of Integrity Architecture.
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!
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New Members
Newly Licensed
We are pleased to congratulate the following member, who recently completed the ARE and received their license in the state of Kentucky:
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Zachary McFall, DECO Architects, Somerset
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Nattaya Malmstead, Ross Tarrant Architects (MOREgroup), Lexington
Welcome New and Returning Members
(Joined or Reinstated since October 2026)
- Yazan Kanan, Assoc. AIA
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Smit Patel, Assoc. AIA, Gray AES
- Drew Pederson, AIA
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Allied Benefactor of the Month Spotlight:
KLH Engineers
Founded in 1955 in Fort Thomas, Kentucky, KLH Engineers is a mechanical, electrical, plumbing and technology engineering firm serving the aviation, civic, education, healthcare, hospitality, industrial, lifestyle, retail and workplace markets. Read more..
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Calendar of Events
AIA Kentucky and local chapter events are consolidated on a single calendar accessible via the AIA Kentucky Calendar Website. We'll post information about conferences, chapter events and other "happenings" of interest to the architectural community.
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NCARB & Early Professional News
Q3 NAC (National Associates Community) NewsBites: check out this quarter's updates here. AIA KY is represented by Arein Natour, Assoc. AIA. Thank you for your service!
New Associate member benefit: PrepARE access
AIA has partnered with AIA East Bay to make PrepARE benefits available to Associate members nationwide. Eligible Associates receive free practice exams (a $120 value) and discounted access to PrepARE All Access for $360/year. Access FAQs, messaging resources, and more in the toolkit.
Chapters are invited to learn more November 10 at 2pm ET for an overview of the resources and how to share with members. Register
ARE Candidates: Office Hours is PrepARE’s live, drop-in “open door” for all things ARE, a place candidates can ask questions, get guidance, and talk with knowledgeable Advisors at any point in their licensure journey. PrepARE is looking for people who enjoy helping emerging professionals, have recently passed the ARE's, or have particular ARE or licensure expertise. The minimum commitment is about one hour per month, and you’ll be provided orientation, training, and opportunities to co-host before anyone hosts independently. Click here to view the role, commitment, and application details.
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National Architecture Billings Index
September 2026 ABI: the September AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index® (ABI) score of 44.7 signals further weakening from August. Firm backlogs averaged 6.2 months at the end of the third quarter, down from 6.6 months at the end of the first quarter. Regionally, billings remained soft in the Northeast and South and were flat in the West and Midwest. Firms reported that their 2026 revenue is down an average of 3% from 2025 and expect revenue to remain flat in 2027.
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AIA National News
An Update from AIA National President, llya Azaroff, FAIA: here are five key updates from the AIA National Board of Directors Meeting.
AIA urges Congress to protect historic preservation review: AIA joined more than 1,000 organizations and Tribal Nations in the 106 Strong coalition, signing a letter to Congress opposing legislation that would largely dismantle Section 106 regulations. Under the National Historic Preservation Act, federal agencies must consider historic preservation and engage the public when planning, approving, or funding federal projects.
AIA National launched a new AI hub with guidance and resources for members and firms from the AIA AI Task Force
AIA National Strategic Council Update: click here to view the Strategic Council September report. AIA Kentucky is represented on the Strategic Council by Megan Stone, AIA. Thank you for your service!
More AIA Products & Resources:
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AIA Career Center - Search open jobs, post your resume and set up job alerts.
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AIA Contract Documents - Choose from 180+ industry standard contracts and forms
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Business Intelligence - Navigate current business conditions, make smarter decisions, and prep for the future with AIA's business intelligence.
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The AIA Trust - Resources to protect your practice and plan for your future.
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AIAU - 300+ instructors bring the industry's best learning to you.
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Knowledge Communities - CE opportunities, discussion forums and research libraries on specific areas of practice that interest you. See all KC events.
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As we start to look ahead to 2027, our focus remains on voice, value, and visibility for our members! The year ahead represents an opportunity to build on the progress we’ve made while embracing new initiatives that will drive us forward. Together, we will strengthen our foundation, expand our reach, and pursue bold ideas that align with our mission and values.
As we draw closer to the end of a wonderful year, please consider attending your local component's holiday party and joining us for the 2026 AIA KY Holiday Party at Jeptha Creed Distillery. There, we will have fun and fellowship while we showcase the year's highlights, and recognize Kentucky's newly licensed architects.
Extending warm wishes to you and your families for the upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday!
Cheers,
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Kelly E. Ives, AIA, CAE, LEED AP
Executive Vice President
859.223.8201
| | | Thank You to the Allied Members of AIA Kentucky! | | | Allied Membership is recognized by all three local components, with a portion of dues supporting local programs. Learn More | | | | |
