AIA SC News Update: July 6, 2026

In Memoriam

Reverend Dr. Simon P. Bouie, 1940-2026

Columbia, South Carolina native and civil rights pioneer Reverend Dr. Simon P Bouie has passed away at age 86.

Dr. Bouie was a student at Booker T Washington High School and Allen University in the late 1950s and early 1960s, when Jim Crow laws and segregation were in place to keep whites and Blacks separated. In March 1960, Bouie and another student at Allen, Talmage Neal, challenged segregation at the whites only lunch counter at Eckerd's Drugstore at 1530 Main Street in Columbia, now the site of the SC Center for Architecture, headquarters for the AIA South Carolina and the SC Architectural Foundation.

Bouie was arrested and jailed for his part in the sit-in, actions that eventually led to the landmark United States Supreme Court decision in Bouie v. City of Columbia (1964) that set the precedent for sit-in cases across the country.

Save the Date: Thursday August 6

First Thursday on Main Street

2026 Design Awards Exhibition

People's Choice Awards

You are invited to a First Thursday on Main Street Celebration! On Thursday, August 6, 2026, the American Institute of Architects South Carolina Chapter and the SC Architectural Foundation will collaborate to host a 2026 Design Awards exhibition, People’s Choice Awards announcement, and public reception at the SC Center for Architecture.

As part of First Thursday on Main Street, the SC Center for Architecture will be open to the public from 5:00 to 9:00 PM. Project boards featuring the 2026 AIA SC Design award recipients will be on display. At 7:30 PM, winners of the 2nd Annual People’s Choice Awards will be announced. Light refreshments will be served.

The AIA SC Annual Design Awards, awarded through a juried process, represent the best projects from South Carolina architects and design firms. Design awards were announced on April 30 with a ceremony and celebration at Cannon Green in Charleston, SC.

The People’s Choice awards were open to the public for online voting from April 13- May 3, 2026. All entries submitted to the design awards were eligible.

Are you planning to attend this event?

LOCATION

SC Center for Architecture, 1530 Main St. Suite C, Columbia SC 29201

DATE AND TIME

08/06/26 5:00pm - 08/06/26 9:00pm US/Eastern

First Thursday on Main Reception, 2026 Design Awards Exhibition, 7:30 PM: People's Choice Awards Announcements

Just a Heads Up: I'll Be There!

Thanks to Hill Construction and First Community Bank for their support of the 2026 Design Awards program. To sponsor the August 6 People's Choice Awards event, please contact Stephanie Ward, Director of Development at AIA SC.

The SCA Awards Issue:

Featuring the 2026 Award-Winning Projects

AIA South Carolina is pleased to announce the online publication of the 2026 SCA Awards Issue.

The 2026 SCA Awards Issue features the 2026 Design and Chapter award-winning projects, recognizing the best from South Carolina architects and South Carolina firms. A total of 22 awards were bestowed, representing 17 South Carolina firms and 22 projects from across the Carolinas.

Congratulations to all of the award recipients and to all those who submitted their projects for consideration. We hope you enjoy the 2026 SCA Awards Issue!

Access the SCA Awards Issue Here

A Star-Spangled Discount!

Support AIA South Carolina By Ordering Contract Documents Directly

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Contract Documents are the most widely used standard form contracts in the U.S. building and construction industry.

DID YOU KNOW? Buying contract documents directly through AIA South Carolina supports the chapter and continuing education programs in our state.

In celebration of America’s 250th year of independence, AIA South Carolina is offering a $250 discount on all document orders totaling $500+. This promotion is active through July 31, 2026 and orders must be placed through the AIA SC chapter.

(regular pricing)

Paper - Single Agreements: $119.97

Paper - 50-pack Agreements: $599.97

Digital - DoD Agreements: $179.99

Digital - DoD Forms: $59.99

View the AIA SC Contract Documents Page 

Explore South Carolina

With the Heritage By Design Small Cities Series

What do Summerville, Ninety Six, McClellanville, York, Walterboro, Hartsville, Edgefield, Chester, Cheraw, and Abbeville all have in common? They are South Carolina locations featured in the SC Architectural Foundation blog Heritage By Design, Small Cities Series!

Every two weeks beginning in January, Craig Park, blog author and chair of the SC Architectural Foundation, has been highlighting the distinctive architectural histories of South Carolina small cities, from coastal villages, upstate towns, and places in-between. The articles explore how civic landmarks and early residential and commercial architecture come together to form the richly textured, Southern sense of place unique to small cities.

Each article is about a 1 - 1.5 minute read. Take a quick virtual stroll through centuries of South Carolina history with remarkably preserved churches, residences, mill-era landmarks, and oak-lined streets. Learn which towns have been dubbed “the Front Porch of the Lowcountry,” and “the Birthplace of Sweet Tea.” While you are exploring the heritage of the area, you might be interested in planning a walking or driving tour to experience these sights in person.

Interested in contributing to the HBD blog? Contact Us!

Visit the Heritage By Design Blog

The Countdown is on!

Get Your Aspire 2026 Award Entries in Before the July 17 Deadline

Aspire returns to Asheville September 13–15 for three immersive days of multidisciplinary learning and connection. Attendees will also have the opportunity to earn 30+ CE credits across sessions focused on leadership, resilience, and impactful design.

Don’t let your best work go unseen. Get your work recognized at Aspire.

Take the first step toward recognition by submitting your project before July 17th.

The Aspire Design Awards celebrate the architects behind the ideas, spaces, and communities that shape the Southeast.

Submitting your project is an opportunity to:

✔ Share your proudest work with the profession

✔ Be recognized by a nationally respected jury

✔ Elevate your firm’s reputation and visibility

✔ Celebrate architecture’s impact on communities and culture

Whether your project introduced a bold design concept, preserved a historic space, or helped transform a neighborhood, it deserves to be recognized as part of this conversation.

Submit your project before the July 17 Deadline!

COTE SC Updates

Save the Date for a Southeast AIA COTE Chapters Buncombe County riverbank cleanup, scheduled for Sunday September 13, 2026. Time and location TBD.

Please find the June 2026 USGBC Advocacy and Policy report below.

USGBC Advocacy and Policy June report

ICYMI: AIA News Roundup

AIA Podcasts: Between the Planes and Built for Business

Between the Planes and Built for Business bring together the built environment's most influential voices to explore the ideas, strategies, and stories driving architecture forward. New episodes every month.

Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.

Applications now open for 2027 AIA Gold Medal, Architecture Firm Award, and Whitney M. Young Jr. Award.

At AIA26, AIA celebrated the 2026 award recipients, recognizing excellence in design, sustainability, public impact, and innovation across the profession.

Know an individual or firm deserving of national recognition?

Learn more about this year's winners and submit a nomination for 2027.

Activating the Guides for Equitable Practice: Compensation

Thursday July 16, 4pm ET

Explore how compensation influences equity during the next Guides in Action session. This interactive discussion highlights Chapter 3 of the Guides for Equitable Practice and demonstrates how the Activation Kit can help identify strategies that promote equitable compensation practices. Registration is required.

Quantifying the impact of U.S. architecture and design firms

AIA's new Architects & the Economy report shows that the work of 116,000 licensed architects enables nearly $700 billion in construction value, supports 5.6 million jobs, and generates a significant ripple effect throughout the U.S. economy. It's a powerful reminder that architects don't just design buildings—they help drive economic growth and shape communities nationwide.

Download the report and learn more

Feedback requested on AIA Commitment to Disaster Risk Reduction & Resilience

At AIA26, AIA announced a new commitment framework to help firms and organizations advance resilience through practice, design, and advocacy. The commitment is built around six principles , including hazard awareness, resilience, safety, equity, operational continuity, and regenerative design. AIA wants to hear from members, firms, and partners before the commitment is finalized.

Read the draft and share your feedback

Feedback requested on ICOR Practice Overlap Guidance

The Interorganizational Council on Regulation (ICOR) released its Practice Overlap Guidance, a collaborative effort among regulatory organizations representing architecture, engineering, interior design, landscape architecture, and surveying. The guidance identifies 53 areas of overlapping practice and is intended to help regulatory boards evaluate complaints, inform updates to statutes and policies, and educate stakeholders on the distinctions and commonalities among the design professions. AIA has completed an initial review of the guidance and is now seeking feedback from members. Your input will help inform AIA's perspective as implementation discussions move forward.

Review the guidance and share your feedback