AIA Charlotte

A Section of the North Carolina Chapter of the American Institute of Architects

11/03/2026

Make an Impact. Get Involved. Volunteer with AIA Charlotte!

Want to make a difference in Charlotte’s architecture community? We’re looking for passionate volunteers to get involved with AIA Charlotte’s committees!

Whether you’re interested in mentorship, education, sustainability, design, or planning exciting programs, there’s an opportunity to share your talents, connect with fellow professionals, and help shape the future of our profession.

💡 Your time, ideas, and expertise make a difference!

Ready to get involved? Complete our Committee Volunteer Interest Form and let us know where you’d like to contribute!

🔗 Sign up today: https://ow.ly/BLvO51015iT

Let’s continue building a stronger architecture community together!

11/02/2026

✨🥂 Save the Date: AIA Charlotte’s 2026 Holiday Party! 🥂✨

It’s time to celebrate the season and the incredible people who make our AIA Charlotte community thrive! Join us for an evening of connection, celebration, and holiday cheer as we recognize and thank our dedicated committee chairs, members, and sponsors for their leadership, support, and contributions throughout the year.

📅 Thursday, November 19, 2026
⏰ 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 The Long Room | 1111 Central Ave.

Let’s toast to another great year of collaboration, community, and architecture in Charlotte! We look forward to celebrating with you!

REGISTER HERE: https://ow.ly/K2Nw51015ex

10/29/2026

Join AIA Charlotte for the 4th Annual Mentorship Meetup: Speed Dating Networking Event on November 12!

Designed for architecture students, emerging professionals, and experienced architects, this engaging evening offers a unique opportunity to connect, exchange ideas, and build meaningful professional relationships through fast-paced, one-on-one conversations.

✨ Gain career insights and advice
✨ Expand your professional network
✨ Share your experience and inspire the next generation
✨ Keep the conversations going at our post-event mixer!

📅 November 12, 2026
⏰ 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 NoDa Brewing – North End in the Pavilion

Two drink tickets are included with registration!

Don't miss this opportunity to strengthen Charlotte's architecture community through mentorship, collaboration, and connection.

🔗 Register today: https://ow.ly/MN86510158O

10/28/2026

Join us for our November Membership Meeting! 🍂

Celebrate our Annual Meeting with us and enjoy a special presentation featuring the Charlotte Museum of Nature! 🌿🦋

Connect with fellow members, learn something new, and discover more about the natural world around us. We look forward to seeing you there!

📅 Date: November 12, 2026
⏰ Time: 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
📍 Location: CO-LAB

REIGSTER HERE: https://ow.ly/8NMo510151k

10/27/2026

🌟 AIA Charlotte Announces 2027 Board of Directors Slate 🌟

The AIA Charlotte Nominating Committee is pleased to present the proposed slate of officers and directors for the 2027 Board of Directors. These members bring a wide range of experience from across our region's practices, firm sizes, and career stages, and each has shown a strong commitment to advancing the profession and serving our membership.

2027 Executive Committee
President - Ryan Barkes, LS3P
President elect - Marcus Thomas, KEi Architects
Treasurer - Kristen Locke, Beehyvve
Secretary - Stephanie Lewis, Little Diversified Architectural Consulting
Past President - Natasha Edwards, Little Diversified Architectural Consulting

2027 Directors
Outreach Director - Divina Jones, Jenkins•Peer Architects
Outreach Director - Josh Padgett, Perkins&Will
Knowledge Director - Jennifer Todd, Clark Nexsen
Workforce Director - Allison Schaefer Crews, Progressive Companies
Programs Director - Tarik Hameed, Morris Berg Architects
Advocacy Director - Michael Dunning, MEND Design Collaborative
Communications Director - Alayna Klinke, Little Diversified Architectural Consulting
Associate Director - Alera Hager, KEi Architects
UNC Charlotte Liaison - Liz McCormick, UNC Charlotte Liaison

10/26/2026

Join us for the latest AAH event - a Presentation on the CaroMont Cancer Center!

Topics that will be discussed in the presentation + panel discussion are:
Master planning complexity positioning the facility within the existing campus.
Project delivery excellence management of expectations, schedule, and budget
Patient-Centered Design - patient experience, well-being, choice. Supportive Care. Increased access.
Operational Efficiency streamlining services, treatment efficacy.
Planning for the future - incorporating adaptability / flexibility, new technologies and treatment types.

Event Schedule
1:00 - 1:15 Arrival and check-in
1:15 2:20 Presentation on the CaroMont Cancer Center in Gastonia
2:20 - 2:45 Panel discussion + Q/A
2:45 3:00 Tour overview presentation
3:00 4:30 Building tour & Networking

REGISTER HERE: https://ow.ly/hvEc51014Y1

10/14/2026

🌟 TITLE SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT 🌟

A special thank-you to Foundation Risk Partners, our Title Sponsor for the 8th Annual WIA Rise & Design Breakfast: She Draws the Future.

Foundation Risk Partners is a national insurance brokerage and consulting firm built on collaboration, excellence, and client-focused relationships. Through its network of insurance agencies and specialty practices, the firm provides insurance, risk management, and employee benefits solutions to help clients understand their exposures and protect what matters most.

Their generous support helps bring our architecture, engineering, and construction community together for a meaningful conversation about passion, purpose, and impact. We’re grateful for their role in making this year’s event possible as we celebrate leaders whose commitment to community extends beyond their professional roles.

Thank you, Foundation Risk Partners, for supporting WIA and helping us bring She Draws the Future to life!

🎟️ Join us for the 8th Annual WIA Rise & Design Breakfast. Register through the link in bio.

10/08/2026

✨ What could a more inclusive Charlotte look like?

Join us for a collaborative design charrette exploring how creative spaces can bring people together and foster belonging for LGBTQIA+ community members and anyone seeking community.

Bring your ideas, your sketching materials, and your imagination. Together, we'll envision more welcoming spaces across the city.

Our collective ideas will come together in a public exhibition in mid-November.

Let's imagine what's possible. ❤️

10/07/2026

🌟 MEET OUR MODERATOR 🌟

We’re excited to welcome Lori Saitz, founder of Zen Rabbit and creator of the Core4 Cast™ methodology, to the 8th Annual WIA Rise & Design Breakfast: She Draws the Future.

Lori helps C-suite leaders and teams build more connected, high-trust workplace cultures. Through private internal podcasts and facilitated Gratitude Dinners, she creates opportunities for leaders and employees to communicate more directly, strengthen relationships, and build organizational alignment.

She is also the host of Fine is a 4-Letter Word, a podcast exploring what it takes to lead with empathy, vulnerability, gratitude, and courage—particularly when everything is not “fine.” Her work centers on the idea that human connection helps drive stronger culture, innovation, retention, and impact.

Based in Charlotte, Lori brings a people-centered perspective to this year’s conversation on purpose, leadership, and the ways individuals can create meaningful impact beyond their professional titles.

🎟️ Registration and sponsorship opportunities are still available. https://ow.ly/LJGP50ZRUOI

09/30/2026

🌟 PANEL SPOTLIGHT 🌟

We’re excited to welcome Rebecca Fefner, Deputy City Manager for the City of Charlotte to the 8th Annual WIA Rise & Design Breakfast: She Draws the Future.

Rebecca leads the City’s Operations portfolio and oversees the Mobility+ initiative, advancing investments in mobility infrastructure while aligning that work with housing, small business, workforce development, and sustainability goals. With more than 15 years of local-government experience—including the past 13 years with the City of Charlotte—she has held leadership roles across Housing & Neighborhood Services, Strategy & Budget, and Innovation & Technology, with a focus on innovation, collaboration, and community engagement.

Previously, Rebecca served as Director of Housing & Neighborhood Services, overseeing affordable-housing efforts including the Housing Trust Fund, Emergency Repair, Rehabilitation, Homelessness Initiatives, and Down Payment Assistance Programs. Her work with the City has also included leading the Center for Data & Analytics and supporting the launches of Smart Charlotte and Access Charlotte, the City’s public Wi-Fi initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic. Before public service, she worked as a project manager in commercial construction. Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in historic preservation and a Master of Public Administration from UNC Charlotte, and has called Charlotte home for more than 25 years.

Join us as Rebecca shares her perspective on the public leadership and community-focused work helping shape Charlotte’s future.

🎟️ Registration open! https://ow.ly/VaQy50ZRUOs

Address

Charlotte, NC

Telephone

+17043692302

Website

http://www.aiacharlotte.org/

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