When you take a moment to look back on all that occurred in a year, it can really be overwhelming. In AIA Pittsburgh’s 125th year, we accomplished a lot together! From fantastic re-envisioned events with new hands-on opportunities to the glitz and glam of the Beaux Arts Ball, 2024 was a year to reenergize and cement the importance of the Architectural field in the AEC sector in our region.
While we were working to deliver valuable events and services to our community, we also took time to plant seeds for the future. Many committees engaged in new work to reach out in diverse ways to our allied community and especially the general public. There is still much work to be done as we build inroads with our partners and new administrations, create actionable steps for EDI growth, and continue modernizing the field in the greater Pittsburgh region.
In 2025, we will look to increase our engagement across the entire region and work to connect more deeply within the AEC sector. Most importantly, AIA Pittsburgh will double down on its focus on you, our members, and how we represent you and bring value to our field.
As we bid farewell to 2024, we reflect on a year of celebration, innovation, and connection:
Reviving Connections & Initiatives
In 2024, we reintroduced Firm Visits, allowing staff and board members to engage directly with member firms, starting with a Small Firm Gathering, hosted by Fisher ARCHitecture, that provided a space for the voices of small firms and sole practitioners. These visits provided an invaluable opportunity to share AIA updates while hearing from you, our members, about your aspirations and challenges. We hope to continue meeting our members and seeing the places they work in 2025; if you are interested in scheduling a firm visit this year, send a message to bmoser@aiapgh.org.
AIA Pittsburgh was also excited to launched the “Perspectives” video series, inspired by the 125th anniversary of our chapter and the achievements of our community. In this series of interviews, conducted by former AIA Pittsburgh YAF Chair and Board member Jason Andrews, AIA, and edited by Gus Bernal: Film+Photo+Education, we learned about the personal and professional history of long-standing and accomplished members. We released three exciting episodes: Daniel Rothschild, FAIA; Bill Bates, FAIA; and Robert Pfaffmann, FAIA. More episodes are queued up for 2025!
After a brief hiatus, the Leadership Institute, a program of the Pittsburgh Architecture Foundation, returned this year and launched their 2024-2025 class with new champions and revised curriculum. This year, the program was expanded to include the broader AEC Community. Cohort 6 is underway with 21 participants and will continue into 2025.
Evolving Events for Greater Impact
We were excited to announce that Build Pittsburgh, our annual continuing education conference and expo, would be taking place at a new, uniquely cool, and interactive venue, the Pittsburgh Carpenters Training Center. Over 250 AIA Pittsburgh members and representatives from all areas of the AEC community gathered for a full day of continuing education that featured 16 courses, 30 exhibitors, and 4 Lunch & learns. Session topics covered AI and technology in architecture, embodied carbon strategies, great design on a small budget, practice management, bricklaying and wall anchoring, and more. The new Hands-On Learning sessions, made possible by the Pittsburgh Carpenters Training space, were extremely popular and fun.
The thought-provoking keynote address, “Growing Cities with Soul” by urban designer John Rahaim, spoke to maintaining the character of a city through its design. The response to his keynote was so positive that we printed his full talk, edited for clarity, and made his presentation slides available to all. You can view them here.
In honor of AIA Pittsburgh’s 125th Anniversary, our annual Design Pittsburgh Gala was transformed into an extraordinary Beaux Arts Ball held in the newly renovated Carnegie Museum of Art Music Hall and Beaux-Arts music hall foyer. 22 awards were given and a new award was introduced: The BENNO: Lifetime Impact Award. Named after prolific local architect Benno Janssen, this award honors an AIA Pittsburgh member who has had an extraordinary impact on our community over time. AIA Pittsburgh was proud to present the award for the first time to Bill Bates, FAIA, NOMA.
Design Pittsburgh culminated in an extraordinary Beaux-Arts Ball, celebrating 125 years of architecture with new features like the “Design the Future” mural, a silent auction supporting the Pittsburgh Architecture Foundation, an architecture-inspired dress code, and a dance floor complete with a DJ. The event made for a truly memorable celebration.
Pittsburgh Architecture Week continued to shine as a public celebration of design. The third annual Pittsburgh Architecture Week was full of collaboration, community, celebration, and, of course, architecture. Highlights included PechaKucha Night, international collaboration through the Sweden-Pittsburgh Architecture Panel, and the innovative Rapid Design Prototyping Workshop. Thanks to our many partners, this week showcased the vibrancy and creativity of our community.
Committee Accomplishments
As usual, our committees were the engine behind many of this year’s accomplishments, advancing our mission and creating meaningful impacts:
- Advocacy Committee: Collaborated with city officials, including the Mayor’s Office, PLI, and DCP, to advocate for design priorities and supported the opening of the new 412 Boulevard of the Allies Building Department facility.
- Committee on the Environment (COTE): Promoted sustainable design through educational events, inter-organization collaborations, and a panel discussion during Architecture Week focused on health and sustainability in design.
- Design + Research Group: Explored emerging technologies and research through presentations and led a Build Pittsburgh session on navigating AI in architecture.
- Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Community: Expanded educational outreach, hosted workshops, and organized a Build Pittsburgh panel on advancing equity within and beyond the architectural field.
- Fellows Group: Held two Fellows Dinners and developed a pipeline process for future Fellows, fostered mentorship through engagement with YAF, EDI, and NOMA Pittsburgh, and celebrated the elevation of Kent Suhrbier, FAIA, to Fellowship.
- Education Committee: Enhanced Build Pittsburgh with new tracks on technology, sustainability, and professional practice while introducing hands-on learning opportunities.
- Healthcare Committee: Increased participation and improved educational programming, co-hosting events with COTE and expanding monthly discussion topics.
- Outreach Committee: Welcomed UDream program participants to Pittsburgh with a Meet & Greet, connecting them with local professionals and the broader AIA community.
Recognition and Transitions
Several AIA Pittsburgh members were recognized in the AIA Pennsylvania Architectural Excellence Awards. Greg Coni, AIA received the Young Architect Award and for the first time ever, the Architecture Firm of the Year Award was given to a Pittsburgh firm: mossArchitects. At the National level, Parva Markiw, AIA was elected to participate in the AIA Next to Lead cohort.
Finally, 2024 marked a leadership transition. We expressed our gratitude to outgoing Executive Director Michelle Fanzo, whose vision shaped our chapter over the past seven years, and welcomed Endicott “Endy” Reindl to the role, whose leadership promises a bright future for AIA Pittsburgh.
Looking Ahead
As we move into 2025, we carry forward the energy and insights gained from this milestone year. Together, we will continue to champion the value of architecture, foster collaboration, and inspire design excellence.
Thank you for being an integral part of our journey. Here’s to another year of growth, innovation, and community.