AIA Houston

Rice University Walking Tour
2025-04-26 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Chicago) | Lovett Hall, 6100 Main, Houston, TX, 77005, United States
A treasure trove of great architecture, the timeless campus features designs by Cram, Goodhue, & Ferguson; John Staub; William Ward Watkin; Michael Graves; Kieran Timberlake; Ricardo Bofill; Cesar Pelli; Lake/Flato Architects; and many other local and internationally renowned architects. Also on the tour are large scale art works by James Turrell and Michael Heizer. From Lovett Hall to Brochstein Pavilion, this tour will look at some of the more unique, hidden, important and historical features of Rice University’s Campus. In addition to the architecture we will explore the context surrounding each building, the quads, courts and axes, how these elements work together to shape collegiate space.
Tour meets on the front lawn of Lovett Hall, building 1 on the Rice University map, 6100 Main. Recommended parking in Rice University Visitor Lovett Parking Lovett Lot (LS or LN) or Founder’s Court (FC) Visitor’s Lot. Credit card is required to access parking.
AIA Credit: 2.0 LU
Course Number: RUWT122022
AIA MEMBERS PLEASE NOTE:
Per AIA National CE Standards, any learning program approved for AIA Learning Units may award CE credit for the approved program for up to (3) years from the date of approval so long as the CES Provider is in good standing. AIA Members may repeat the same course, but no additional credit will be granted or recorded.

Eggersmann USA - Chef's Night Out
2025-04-24 18:30 - 20:30 | eggersmann USA, 5120 Woodway Ste 250, Houston, TX, 77056, United States
Chef’s Night Out is the grand re-opening of the Grand Re-Opening of eggersmann. This is an opportunity to celebrate one of AIA Houston’s affiliate members. The event is presented by Modern Luxury Interiors.
Time: 6:30 – 8:30PM

RSVP HERE

Participating Restaurants:

Drake’s
Coppa

Flora

Norigami

Participating Designers:

Linda Eyles

Letecia Ellis Haywood

Alexandra Killion

Missy Stewart

Student Portfolio Review
2025-04-24 17:00 - 19:30 | Architecture Center Houston, 902 Commerce St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Join the Interior Architecture Committee for their student portfolio review.

Schedule
5:00 pm – Arrivals and setup
5:30 pm – Keynote/Panel
6:30 pm – Portfolio Reviews
7:30 pm – Wrap up
8:30 pm – Adjourn

Speakers and Portfolio Reviewers

Megan Ebert, RID, IIDA, NCIDQ
Principal, Kendall/Heaton Associates
Megan Ebert is the Director of Kendall/Heaton Associates’ Interiors practice, which offers a complete range of architectural design services from programming, space planning, material and furniture selection, and design development to budget development, construction documentation and administration. The Interiors group is a valuable resource for the base building architecture practice, as well as, a collaborator on specific projects.
In her 16 years of experience, Megan has successfully managed corporate, government, hospitality, manufacturing and distribution facility, and building renovation projects in Texas, Virginia, and Maryland. She has assisted owners with their building re-positioning projects, developing concepts to attract and retain tenants in their existing office buildings. Whether programming for a corporate headquarters or solving a complex construction issue, Megan’s attention to detail and team approach to problem solving has been an asset to her clients.
Megan is a graduate of Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Interior Architecture degree, a Registered Interior Designer in the State of Texas, and holds a NCIDQ certificate.
She has served in various leadership positions in IIDA and is a Past President of the Texas Oklahoma Chapter and Leaders Breakfast Co-Chair. Megan continues to dedicate her time to the development of young professionals in the Houston City Center’s Emerging Leaders Program. On a national level, Megan leads a committee for CIDQ developing the Interior Design Professional Exam.

Jim O’Neill
Principal, OnWorks Design
What do you do as an encore after 40 years of building successful and award-winning Design and Architecture firms? Build an even better one of course!
Jim is our Principal Thinker, a title he earned by not only designing amazing architecture spaces for clients but by focusing on their root business problems and solving them. It does not matter if the problem relates to optimizing office space, rethinking business flow, solving manufacturing problems, or addressing sales issues. Jim uses the same out-of-the-box thinking and design principles he learned as an architect to solve any business problems affecting customers.

Jeff Horning, RID
Associate Principal, Rottet Studio
Jeff Horning is an Associate Principal at Rottet Studio with more than 30 years of interior architecture and design experience spread over a variety of commercial and hospitality projects. Jeff has served as a Project Architect for numerous complex, multi-phase projects spanning multiple project types. His experience ranges from property analysis, programming, design development, brand reinforcement and construction administration to FF&E and infrastructure coordination. Prior to securing his second degree, extensive experience with exhibit design and fabrication enabled Jeff to amass a considerable construction methodology skill set. Jeff also serves in a QA/QC capacity for the Rottet Studio Houston office. His adept capacity to resolve design challenges while maintaining a focus on overall project concepts and goals enable him to maintain a distinct connection with client and project team.

Roseann Pisklak, IIDA, CHID, EDAC, LEED AP
Principal, Lead Interior Designer, Page
Roseann is the firmwide Interior Design Practice Leader at Page. Working with healthcare and academic institutions, her decades of diverse experience has taught her that everyone has a purpose within the missions and communities they serve. Whether it be improving lives, sculpting the next generation of leaders, or discovering scientific breakthroughs, she is ready to help you create healthy, meaningful environments that allow you to focus on what matters most—people.

University of Houston RAD Center Building Tour
2025-04-24 16:00 - 17:30 | university of houston
Join the Emerging Professionals Committee for the tour of the new University of Houston RAD (Retail, Auxiliary, and Dining) Center.
Date: April 24
Time: 4PM
Architect: Perkins&Will
About the project

The Retail, Auxiliary, and Dining (RAD) Center is a new campus heart for the University of Houston, replacing an underground dining facility that was severely damaged during Hurricane Harvey.

The first mass timber project on campus, the RAD Center complements a striking wooden structure with inspiration drawn from the surrounding campus woodlands. Vertical façade rhythms, multi-story spatial overlaps, and upper story glass reflect the tree canopy and showcase the interior activity, blurring the threshold between inside and out. The result is a vertical beacon: an invite to “dine in the woods”.

Positioned as a “third place” outside of the home or classroom, the RAD Center infills an existing gap in the campus experience and master plan—creating a space where students are invited to gather, linger, eat, study, and be well.
Location — https://uh.edu/maps/#/find/RAD

Facades+
2025-04-24 08:00 - 19:00 | Four Seasons Houston, 1300 Lamar St., Houston, TX, 77010, United States
Facades+ returns with an all-new program featuring the latest developments in building enclosure design and technology
Everything from high-performance facades, to new iconic projects across the city and region, and strategies for increasing climate resilience and energy performance.
Earn 6 AIA HSW Credits
AIA Houston members can enjoy a 100% discount on the registration fee.
Please register here and choose “AEC Professionsal” under “Registration Type.”
Input the code AIAHOUS in the Discount Code section.
For more information, vist www.facadesplus.com/houston/

Soar to High Heights: Brava
2025-04-23 17:00 - 18:30 | Brava, 414 Milam St, Houston, TX, 77002
A city’s towers can define its place in the world, producing a skyline that reveals a city’s identity almost instantly. But today, the community rarely has access to those towers and the bird’s eye views they provide. Observation decks have closed or limited tenant access only due to increasing security concerns.
ArCH’s Soar to High Heights tour series invites the community to explore our local skyscrapers’ history, architecture, and access to the top. We will explore iconic and recently completed skyscrapers in Houston’s skyline.
Featured Location
Brava
2022, Munoz + Albin
Located on the former Houston Chronicle site, Brava is a 46-story luxury apartment tower making it the tallest multifamily high-rise in downtown Houston. It features panoramic views of the Central Business District, Market Square Park, Sesquicentennial Park, and Buffalo Bayou.
The tower is situated on the site at a 45-degree angle, which allows for uninterrupted views and maximizes natural light to all residents. The entrance is angled towards Market Square Park, creating a nice relationship between the residents in the park. The building’s massing takes the shape of a ‘glass sail,’ a nod to Houston being a port city, twisting and giving the illusion of being unusually slender. The building amenities include a collaborative workspace, lounge areas, a demonstration kitchen, an aqua lounge, fitness room, and swimming pool.
The common space interiors, designed by MaRS, pay homage to the former Houston Chronicle building, by subtly incorporating the physical presence of a newspaper, from the consistent use of black and white materials. Houston-based artist Robynn Sanders, with Maverick Murals Art and Design completed MaRS’s vision in incorporating concrete columns into the building’s lobby, which tell a story of Houston’s milestone events as recorded across the Houston Chronicle headlines from the 1920s into the 2000s.
Join us for a tour of The Brava with developer Hines and design architect Munoz + Albin.
Design Team
Developer: Hines, Cresset Wealth Advisors, and Levy Family Partners
Design Architect: Munoz + Albin
Architect of Record: House+Partners and Kirksey Architecture
Interiors: MaRS
AIA Credit: 1.5 LUs

Texas Medical Center Walking Tour
2025-04-12 09:00 - 11:00 | John P. McGovern Commons Building, 6550 Bertner Ave, Houston, TX, 77030
The Texas Medical Center is the largest medical center in the world. Equivalent to the 8th largest business district in the United States, TMC has over 50 million square feet of patient care, education, and research space. 160,000+ individuals visit the Texas Medical Center each day with more than 6 million patients treated annually. The 1000+ acres is approximately the size of Chicago inside the “Loop” with over 160 buildings on the main campus alone. Join our ArCH docents on this introductory architectural tour of Houston’s own modern marvel of medicine. Sites on our tour will include Baylor College of Medicine, the new Texas Children’s Hospital Maternity Center, MD Anderson Cancer Center and Methodist Research Center.
Meet in the ground floor lobby of the John P McGovern Commons Building, 6550 Bertner Ave, 77030. Texas Medical Center Entrance 4 and $13 parking available in the TMC Commons parking garage.
AIA Credit: 2.0 LU
Course Number: TMCWT1
AIA MEMBERS PLEASE NOTE:
Per AIA National CE Standards, any learning program approved for AIA Learning Units may award CE credit for the approved program for up to (3) years from the date of approval so long as the CES Provider is in good standing. AIA Members may repeat the same course, but no additional credit will be granted or recorded.

2025 Trivia Night
2025-04-09 18:00 - 20:30 | TX
Test your wits and knowledge against your colleagues while making a meaningful contribution to the architectural profession. Join us as an individual or come as a team! Over the course of the event an experienced trivia hosts will orchestrate trivia teams through 6 rounds of Trivia. Trivia rounds will include random themed rounds, including CE questions. Prizes and the coveted trophy will be awarded to the top team. Additional prizes will be awarded to participants throughout the event.

Register by April 1
Additionally, please submit your TEAM REGISTRATION FORM to Aleks Savitski at aleks@aiahouston.org and copy Matt Duggan mduggan@brwarch.com.
EVENT SCHEDULE
6:00 PM – Event arrival and team/individual sign-in
6:30 – 6:45 PM – Introductions and rules
6:45 – 8:30 PM – Trivia + Prizes.
RULES
1. Rules for trivia scoring will be explained at the event.
2. The winning team must have at least one AIA member on it to receive the coveted trophy. Or the trophy will be given to the next team in line.
3. Teams should consist of 4-6 members. Each Team shall have a team captain fill out the Team registration form and submit it before the registration deadline.
SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE HERE
ABOUT TAC
The Texas Society of Architects maintains an active government relations program to promote the interests of its membership. Through the Texas Society of Architects Committee (TAC), an unincorporated political action organization allowed under Section 527 of the IRS Code, TAC raises funds for contributions to candidates running for public office. The profession’s only state PAC supports those who demonstrate leadership, responsiveness, good judgment and a willingness to work with architects advocating for safe, beautiful, sustainable environments.

TertuLiAs
2025-04-08 18:30 - 20:00 | GSMA, 3815 Montrose Blvd #210, Houston, TX, 77006, United States
Join the Latinos in Architecture (LiA) Committee for a series of intimate conversations with leadership from firms of different sizes about workplace culture, efforts to place historically underrepresented individuals in leadership positions, and supporting a diverse pipeline from high school to college and architects pursuing licensure.
The series begins with three Latino managing principals of small-sized firms, including Victoria Goldstein, AIA (VG Studio), Michael Gonzales (Protolab Architects), and Rogelio Hernandez, AIA (English + Associates Architects). These leaders will candidly discuss what motivated them to take the leap and start their firms, their biggest challenges, and the culture they hope to cultivate within their firms.
Hosted and sponsored by GSMA

About the Panelists
Victoria Goldstein, AIA began her practice, VG Studio in Houston on 2014 . VG studio is an Architecture office ranging from park projects to ‘petit residential Architecture’. VG Studio has design and built homes in Houston and Buenos Aires, both small and large. Victoria has ample experience collaborating with engineers, artists and local communities, VG Studio’s designs emerge as truly collaborative experience, taylor-made and integrating state of the art craft with digital fabrication. Selected projects include spectator and art spaces for the Downtown Jamail Skatepark in the Eleanor Tinsley Park, “Tiny House” in Houston, “Montrose Casitas”, “Casa Ron” in Houston as well as the Werner Center Art Gate in Los Angeles. During Victoria’s work at Arup Associates in London she designed the façade for the Coventry University of Engineering and Computing. These projects integrate Architecture, Engineering and Art. . Previous work experience includes United Visual Artists, Zaha Hadid Architects and Arup Associates, all in London, UK.
Victoria taught Architecture thesis in the Architecture Masters at UH 2011-2016. Selected crits and student reviews include, Rice University, Pratt Institute, Architectural Association (London) and Tate Outreach Program (London). She also directed 4 Architectural Association Visiting schools in Houston (University of Houston) and Buenos Aires (Universidad Torcuato Di Tella).
Victoria earned her professional degree in Architecture at Universidad de Buenos Aires, FADU and her masters at the Architectural Association in London
Michael Gonzales is the owner and principal of Protolab Architects. Michael specializes in digital fabrication innovation for civic, cultural and commercial projects. He has extensive experience working with the latest fabrication technologies to develop efficient strategies for optimal construction and project delivery at all scales and complexities. Michael is also an Instructional Associate Professor at the University of Houston Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design where he focuses on the integration of digital design and fabrication. He actively publishes and lectures on emerging techniques in computation and design
Rogelio Hernandez, AIA received a Master of Architecture from Texas Tech University and began his career in Corpus Christi, TX. Since moving to Houston in 2021 he has been active with the AIA Houston Chapter on Small Firm Roundtable committee and TAC committee. He is the Managing Principal of English + Associates Architects, a multi-discipline firm focused on delivering civic, educational, aviation and commercial projects. Rogelio is passionate about school design and impacting human well-being through thoughtful building design.

EP Firm Tour: Dillon Kyle Architects
2025-04-07 18:00 - 19:30 | Dillon Kyle Architects, 1500 W Alabama St, Houston, TX, United States
Please join us on April 7 at 6pm for the EP Firm Tour: Dillon Kyle Architects. Dillon Kyle Architects is the recipient of the 2024 AIA Firm award.

Space is limited and RSVP is required.
About the firm:

Dillon Kyle Architects is an architecture firm specializing in custom residential and commercial work. Our practice honors the crucial role of exploration in the design of a place—how curiosity can culminate in the sublime mingling of livability and beauty.
With both exploration and rigor written into their origin stories, our projects are as responsive to client needs as they are to environmental conditions. A calming sense of purpose balances their warm unfoldability—offering an invitation to settle in, peek around, and allow yourself to be delighted by what you discover.

2025 MGMC Interim Review
2025-04-05 10:00 - 12:00 | Kirksey Architecture, 6909 Portwest Dr, Houston, 77024, United States
The purpose of the interim review is to provide students the opportunity to present their project in process to volunteer architects, to receive constructive feedback, troubleshoot design problems, and answer questions. Students will meet with each architect for 10-15 minutes.
This event will also include a tour of Kirksey Architecture.
Deadline to register is Friday, April 5 by noon.
An annual ideas competition with an emphasis on creative problem solving and graphic presentation, the Michael G. Meyers Design & Scholarship Competition is sponsored by the Architecture Center Houston Foundation, the Houston Chapter of AIA and local architectural firms and affiliates. The Competition Committee hosts a series of events to help the students learn basic architectural design skills and understand the competition requirements. Projects are due in April and the winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at Architecture Center Houston. All Houston area high school students are eligible to participate regardless of class affiliation or age. Students are requested to enter only once per year as either a member of a team or as an individual. Teachers and Counselors are encouraged to promote this scholarship competition.
Upcoming Events:

Projects Due
Each project MUST have a Student Project Form attached to the backside. Forms can be found here.
Friday, May 9. Drop off at Architecture Center Houston by 5:00pm
Awards Ceremony
Thursday, May 15
6:00 pm
Architecture Center Houston, 902 Commerce St, Houston, 77002
Register here.

River Oaks Theatre Tour
2025-04-02 10:00 - 11:00 | River Oaks Theatre, 2009 W Gray Street, Houston, TX, 77019, United States
The River Oaks Theatre is an historic movie theater built in 1939. It was an example of late-1930s Art Deco design. It was the last of the deluxe neighborhood movie theaters built by Interstate Theatre Corporation. After closing its doors more than two years ago, the historic River Oaks Theatre recently reopened with a newly renovated interior, expansive food and drink menu and eclectic lineup of classic films and live performances. The reopening comes after the theater shut its doors in 2021, following failed lease negotiations. But nearly a year after the iconic theater closed, Culinary Khancepts bought the property, giving the beloved venue a new lease on life. Now, after an extensive renovation effort, the theater is rolling out the red carpet.
Join the Historic Resources Committee as we get a behind the scenes look at the restoration of the theater’s classic Art Deco architecture.

April 2, 2025
10am-11am
AIA credit: 1.0 LU

Towers & Trees Walking Tour
2025-03-29 09:00 - 11:00 | One Shell Plaza, 910 Smith Street, Houston, 77027, United States
Towers and Trees explores the magnificent architecture between Hermann Square and Discovery Green as well as the changing dynamics of our downtown. We’ll look at the partially realized civic center plan surrounding Hermann Square, the historic backbone of Main Street, the ambitious 1970 proposal that would become Houston Center, the internationally recognized icons from the skyscraper boom of the 70’s and 80’s, and Discovery Green, the newest catalyst for downtown development in Houston.
Meet outside One Shell Plaza at 910 Smith Street on the corner of Walker and Smith Street across the street from City Hall and the reflecting pool in Hermann Square. Garage and street parking available in the area.
AIA Credit: 2.0 LU
THIS TOUR IS SOLD OUT.
AIA MEMBERS PLEASE NOTE:
Per AIA National CE Standards, any learning program approved for AIA Learning Units may award CE credit for the approved program for up to (3) years from the date of approval so long as the CES Provider is in good standing. AIA Members may repeat the same course, but no additional credit will be granted or recorded.

Gulf Coast Green
2025-03-28 07:30 - 19:00 | TMC3 Collaborative Building / Helix Park, 7255 Helix Park Avenue, Houston, TX, 77030, United States
CONFERENCE THEME:
Symbiotic Resilience: Designing Better Growth
Houston has faced repeated storms that flood the city or cause massive power outages, raising a critical question: Has the city’s infrastructure reached a breaking point in its ability to handle our accelerating regional growth rate coupled with the growing impacts of climate change? As we mark the 19th year of Gulf Coast Green, we invite you to explore how we can Build better and more resilient in anticipation of an increasingly volatile climate and the likelihood of more frequent natural disasters. By embracing design practices that respect nature, we must treat our built environment as an adaptable, flexible, and inclusive asset for all. Whether working on large-scale regional projects or individual homes, every choice we make as designers shape the future according to the four key goals outlined by the AIA Climate Action Plan: achieving Zero Carbon, fostering Equity, promoting Health, and ensuring Resilience. Join fellow professionals as we tackle tough questions and share innovative solutions to help our region thrive in the face of future challenges.
Location: TMC Helix Park, 7255 Helix Park Ave, Houston, TX
Date: March 28, 2025
Keynote Speakers:

Daniel Cohan, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Rice University
Chris Tomlinson, Journalist & Author, Houston Chronicle

7:30am-5:30pm Conference
5:30pm-7:00pm Closing Happy Hour

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL SCHEDULE
Advanced Registration Pricing Conference + Closing Happy Hour –
Interns/Students – $40.00 | AIA Member|AIAH Affiliate Member – $245.00 ($275 day of) | Non Member – $305.00

Discounted Online registration closes Monday, March 24
On-site registration will be available, higher registration rates apply
Interns/Students – $40.00 | AIA Member|AIAH Affiliate Member – $275.00 | Non Member – $340.00
Cancel registration by March 20th to receive a full refund
Registration is transferable

LEGACY SPONSOR

Want to Sponsor?
Click here to learn more about sponsorship opportunities.

ONLINE REGISTRATION CLOSED
ONSITE REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE

UH Art & Architecture Walking Tour
2025-03-22 09:00 - 11:00 | University of Houston – Moores School of Music Building, 333 Cullen Blvd, Houston, TX, 77004, United States
An exploration of art, architecture and campus design on the University of Houston’s main campus. Works by Frank Stella, Jim Love, William King and The Art Guys are found within the context of a campus and buildings designed by notable architects such as Philip Johnson, Alfred C. Finn, Gensler, Lake|Flato, BNIM and Cesar Pelli.
Tour will meet in the courtyard in front of the Moores School of Music by the Winged Woman sculpture. Parking available in adjacent campus visitor’s lot. Parking fees not included in tour registration.
AIA Credit: 2.0 LU
Course Number: UHWT2022
AIA MEMBERS PLEASE NOTE:
Per AIA National CE Standards, any learning program approved for AIA Learning Units may award CE credit for the approved program for up to (3) years from the date of approval so long as the CES Provider is in good standing. AIA Members may repeat the same course, but no additional credit will be granted or recorded.

Building Tour of the New Kids Meals Building
2025-03-20 16:00 - 17:30 | Kids Meals, 2102 Hollister, Houston, TX, 77080
Join Emerging Professionals Committee for a hard hat tour of the new Kids Meals building by Kirksey Architecture. The project is a five-acre master plan and a 50,000-sf building that creates improved storage, volunteer, and administration spaces to better serve Kids’ Meals’ mission to end childhood hunger.
Date: March 20, 2025
Time: 4PM
Space is limited and RSVP is required
AIA Credit: 1.5 LU
More about the project.
Kids’ Meals, Inc. is on a mission to end childhood hunger in Houston, Texas. The organization provides free, healthy meals to children across the city. In 2021, Kids’ Meals set out to expand their campus and update their facilities to better serve pre-school-aged children in the Houston community.
Kids’ Meals established “The Building Hope Campaign” to raise funds for the project and hired Kirksey to complete the five-acre campus master plan and design their new building. The new, 50,000-sf updated warehouse includes programming for storage, food preparation, volunteer zones, and administration areas. The new volunteer space creates space for 200 volunteers to prepare lunches across five bays. Easy access to multiple coolers and freezers provides ease of travel for the storage carts from the warehouse to the preparation areas. A driver touchdown area is adjacent to the volunteer space and allows for efficient van loading. A utensil washroom, storage room, and sinks at each bay help with sanitary needs for food preparation. Clerestory windows provide natural light into the warehouse, with four loading docks, three ramped docks, and one ground access dock for vans. All docks have levelers and a charging area for electric equipment needed for pallet transportation.
The administration area consists of two floors with a breakroom on each floor. Vertical circulation of an open stair within the breakroom provides visual connections between the two. Both floors hold a mix of offices and open workstations, and a conference room on each floor has visual connections with windows to the warehouse. The new parking portion provides 115 parking spaces for visitors and 75 parking spaces for employees and van parking.

Ben Brewer Award Submission Webinar
2025-03-17 12:00 - 13:00 | https://architecturehouston.org/event/ben-brewer-award-submission-webinar/
Monday, March 17, 12 pm via Zoom.
Please join the Ben Brewer Award Submission Webinar to answer any questions concerning the submission process for the Ben Brewer Young Architect Award. Last year’s award recipient, Heather Rowell, and AIA Houston executive director Rusty Bienvenue will share tips and strategies for a successful submittal. This year’s submission deadline is March 31st, and we look forward to answering any questions you might have.
Named in honor of Ben Brewer, FAIA, for distinguished service to the profession and his significant influence on young professionals. This award recognizes excellence in ability, exceptional work, and significant contributions in the practice of architecture by architects who are in their first 10 years of practice.
Information about applying can be found HERE.

Museum District Walking Tour
2025-03-15 09:00 - 11:00 | Cullen Sculpture Garden, Montrose Boulevard at Bissonnet Street Houston, Houston, 77006
The Houston Museum District is one of the few areas in the country with such a dense population of museums, public art, contemporary architecture, and landscape design. On this 2-hour walking tour you will experience the quintessential Modernism of Mies van der Rohe, the structuralist view point of Gunnar Birkerts, the simplicity and craft of Isamu Noguchi, and the first free standing American structure designed by Yoshio Taniguchi. Come explore these and other world class examples of design with ArCH tour guides and trace the chronology of significant cultural shifts from the early twentieth century through today.
Tour meets at the entrance of the Cullen Sculpture Garden, which faces Bissonnet St. and is directly across from the MFAH. Street, lot, and garage parking available.
AIA Credit: 2.0 LU

AIA MEMBERS PLEASE NOTE:
Per AIA National CE Standards, any learning program approved for AIA Learning Units may award CE credit for the approved program for up to (3) years from the date of approval so long as the CES Provider is in good standing. AIA Members may repeat the same course, but no additional credit will be granted or recorded.

Equity Series Workshop
2025-03-07 13:30 - 16:30 | Architecture Center Houston, 902 Commerce St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Value by Design: Resilient businesses. Individual security
AIA Credit: 3 LU
Architects aren’t the lowest paid workers in the building industry, but they often earn less than other trades. Given the cost of education, demands of licensure, and fee-related pressures, it’s not surprising that financial stability is challenging for many architects. Additionally, women and minority architects often have to contend with gender and racial bias. Firm leadership and firm ownership can be a path to financial success, yet emerging leaders – especially those outside of traditional frameworks – often encounter unclear paths to career advancement.
In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore pathways to firm leadership and firm ownership. Attendees will diagram career ladders at their firms and define their place on this trajectory. We’ll discuss the qualities and skills required to advance to leadership positions – and how to attain them – including business literacy, entrepreneurship, emotional intelligence, strategic thinking, relationship building, and more. Rising leaders will leave this workshop with a proactive mindset focused on achieving their career goals, and existing firm owners will leave understanding how to guide and support the next generation of women and minority leaders in architecture.

Speaker: Rena M. Klein, FAIA, Senior Partner, CVG
Rena leads CVG’s management consulting team and advises all CVG clients on best practices in finance, operations, and ownership transition. She is a nationally-recognized expert in design firm practice and author of The Architect’s Guide to Small Firm Management (Wiley, 2010). With 20 years of experience as the owner of a small architecture firm, and over 15 years as a management consultant and educator, Rena brings a special understanding of design firms managed by entrepreneurial architects. Rena served as executive editor of AIA’s The Architect’s Handbook of Professional Practice, 15th edition (Wiley 2013) and is past-chair of the National Advisory Group for the AIA Practice Management Knowledge Community. She is based in Corrales, New Mexico.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Interested in Sponsorship?
Please consider becoming a sponsor of the Equity Series Panel Discussion & Workshop. A portion of the proceeds from this event will be donated to Architecture Center Houston’s Women in Architecture Professional Development Fund. This newly established fund supports WiA’s grant and scholarship initiatives, championing the advancement of women in the architecture, design and construction industries of Southeast Texas. Click here for more information.

A minimum of 7 days’ notice is required to receive a full refund if you need to cancel. Reservations can also be transferred. Advanced registration closes Wednesday, March 5, @noon. On-site registration will be available.

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED. ONSITE REGISTRATION AVAILABLE.

Equity Series Panel Discussion
2025-03-06 17:30 - 20:30 | El Dorado Ballroom, 2310 Elgin Street, Houston, TX, United States
The AIA Houston Women in Architecture Committee is pleased to announce the eighth annual Equity Series, Value by Design: Resilient businesses. Individual security.
There has long been a cultural narrative within architecture that sets the value of the architect above the pursuit of lucrative compensation, framing financial ambition as secondary to the ideals of the profession. However, this mindset can leave professionals in the industry struggling to achieve the stability needed to thrive and sustain meaningful careers. The true value of architects cannot be realized without addressing this imbalance and ensuring the financial security necessary to maintain a diverse and equitable profession.
This year’s Equity Series asks how compensation structures can empower individuals at all stages of their professional journey. How can architects build financial security within the practice? What strategies can help architects navigate financial challenges and create opportunities for long-term growth?
Panelists:

Alec Luong, AIA, Principal – Architecture @ Project Luong
Lorie Westrick, AIA, Retired, Former Principal @ RdlR Architects
Qeturah Williams, AIA, NOMA, Principal, Regional Operations Leader @ DLR Group
Cynthia Brown, Director of Marketing & Business Development @ Energy Architecture

Moderator:

Rena Klein, FAIA, Senior Partner @ CVG

AIA Credit: 2.0 LU
Panel Discussion: 5:30pm-7:30pm
Social: 7:30pm-8:30pm

Following the panel discussion, plan to join us in the gallery space for food and drinks

Workshop: Click here for more information.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Interested in Sponsorship?
Please consider becoming a sponsor of the Equity Series Panel Discussion & Workshop. A portion of the proceeds from this event will be donated to Architecture Center Houston’s Women in Architecture Professional Development Fund. This newly established fund supports WiA’s grant and scholarship initiatives, championing the advancement of women in the architecture, design and construction industries of Southeast Texas. Click here for more information.

A minimum of 3 days’ notice is required to receive a full refund if you need to cancel. Reservations can also be transferred. Advanced registration closes Sunday, March 2. On-site registration will be available.
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED. ONSITE REGISTRATION AVAILABLE.

Destination Architect: Registration in Texas -- TBAE and NCARB
2025-02-27 18:00 - 19:30 | TX
Guest presentation by TBAE and NCARB focusing on licensure.
Feb 27 at 6PM at Architecture Center Houston – 902 Commerce
CE hours: 1.5 LU
Join us for the TBAE and NCARB combined presentation covering NCARB, Texas Registration Enforcement.
We’re covering everything you need to know to earn your license, get NCARB certified, and advance your career:
How to complete the Architectural Experience Program® (AXP)®
Study tips and resources to help you prepare for the Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®)
How to meet your jurisdiction’s requirements for licensure
How to earn your NCARB Certificate
Get answers to your questions from an NCARB staff expert, learn best practices along the path to licensure, and get more information about NCARB’s resources designed to support you.
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About the presenters:
Martin Smith, AIA, NCARB, CAE
Assistant Vice President, Policy + International Relations, NCARB
(He/Him/His)

Martin Smith joined NCARB in 2009 when he was hired to develop and expand NCARB’s outreach efforts to universities and the profession. Today, he has an essential role in developing and overseeing the Architectural Experience Program® (AXP®), Architect Licensing Advisors Program, and programs for NCARB Certification.
Smith has ten years of architectural design and construction management experience. He has worked for architectural firms in New York City and New Canaan, CT. His projects vary from single and multi-family residential to commercial and university buildings, focusing on adaptive reuse and historic preservation projects.
Smith holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Syracuse University and is licensed to practice architecture in New York. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects, holds the NCARB Certificate for national reciprocity, and has achieved the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential, signifying a wide range of knowledge essential to managing an association in today’s challenging environment.

Mike Alvarado, NCARB State Licensing Advisor
Registration Manager – Licensing, Renewals, Continuing Education, Outreach
Mike has been the Registration Manager for the Board for over 9 years and has been with TBAE for a total of 13 years. He has comprehensive knowledge of the requirements to obtain and maintain an active registration (renewals, status changes, CE requirements, exam requirements). Mike worked for 25 years with the City of Austin Water Department, Engineering Division. He is been an active NCARB Licensing Advisor for over 9 years.

Nancy Rodriguez, TBAE Enforcement
Investigator –
Nancy joined the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners in August of 2009 as a License & Permit Specialist with the Registration Department then transitioned to Enforcement in 2011 as an Investigator and has held that position since. Nancy is also known as the Business Registration Coordinator as she oversees all business registration matters for the Board including investigating and assisting businesses with their

BEC Houston Lunch & Learn
2025-02-27 11:00 - 13:00 | Architecture Center Houston, 902 Commerce St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Building Enclosure Commissioning (BECx): Ensuring Comfort, Durability, and Health – 1.0 AIA LU/HSW
Presenter – Kayla Maines
Building Enclosure Commissioning (BECx) is a quality-assurance process to ensure that a building, when delivered, meets the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR). Commissioning begins at the start of a project, known as Pre-Design, continues through the design and construction phases of the project, and is even observed a year after occupancy, sometimes longer depending on if seasonal commissioning is desired. The process is more than a single review of the Contract Documents, just system testing, providing check lists, only observing of construction, or only involving HVAC equipment. BECx is a combination of these types of tasks throughout the life of the project and involves the enclosure systems (exterior walls, foundation, and roof) to reduce Owner’s risk. We will review what BECx is and exploring the process by reviewing two case studies where BECx was utilized on projects.
Codes, Commissioning and Testing
Presenter – Jonathan Curtain
How the 2021 IECC Changes Affect Building Design, and How to Use Commissioning to Solve Project Problems
Codes are an ever-evolving challenge and opportunity for designers as they update in response to new products, requirements, and issues. These changes to codes can have major impacts on how buildings are designed and constructed, and are often associated with improving health and safety of building occupants. This presentation seeks to help designers understand recent major code updates that will have an effect on building design, how the commissioning process is essential to meeting these requirements, and how it can be used to solve building challenges.
Schedule:

11:00am – Check-in and lunch
11:30am-1:00pm – Presentations

Additional Information:

Pre registration includes box lunch.
Parking is not included.
A minimum of 3 business days’ notice is required to receive a full refund if you need to cancel your reservation.

Masonry Workshop
2025-02-26 16:00 - 18:00 | Western Specialty Contractors, 8813 Fairbanks North Houston Rd, Houston, TX, 77064, United States
Masonry walls are not all the same! What repair methods are appropriate for the masonry wall system on your building?

Join AIA Houston’s Historic Resource Committee (HRC) for a masonry repair workshop to learn more about masonry wall systems, and appropriate repair methods. Nick Floyd and Glynnis Flaum from SGH will provide a short presentation to discuss the fundamentals of masonry systems (including differences between mass masonry, transitional masonry, and veneer/cavity wall systems common today), performance expectations and repair guidance for each, and some repair example case studies. Following the presentation, Western Specialty Contractors will lead hands-on workshop stations for some common masonry repairs like repointing, patching and dutchman repair, and remedial structural anchors.
Get ready to have fun and get your hands dirty!
AIA Credit: 2 HSW
Presentation Sponsors:
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Additional Information:

Workshop stations will include some cutting/grinding and cementitious materials. Please dress in “construction appropriate” clothes – you may get dirty!
If you can, please bring your own safety glasses, gloves, and dust masks. Western will supply PPE for those who do not have their own.
Parking is available in Western’s surface lot or the adjacent street.
A minimum of 5 days’ notice is required to receive a full refund if you need to cancel your reservation.

AIA/ AGC Joint Committee February 2025 Lunch and Learn
2025-02-26 11:00 - 13:00 | AGC Houston, 3825 Dacoma Street, Houston, TX, 77092, United States
Panel Discussion Topic:
“Construction Delivery Methods”
11:00 – 11:30 Registration and networking
11:30 – 11:45 Lunch served
11:45 – 1:00 Program
Event Description:
Join the AIA/ AGC Joint Committee for a Lunch and Learn where we will discuss pros and cons of common delivery types such as CMAR, Design-Build, and Design-Bid-Build. Led by Jeanette Shaw with Powers Brown Architects, the panel will discuss ideal scenarios surrounding each delivery type and tips for overcoming challenges that may arise. Hear from Matt Duggan with BRW Architects, Daniel Peltier with Joeris General Contractors, and Ryan Shults with Gilbane, who will provide contractor and architect perspectives on the challenges and opportunities with common delivery methods.
Seats are limited. Registration is required.
Key takeaways from this panel will include:

Identify ideal project scenarios for each delivery method
Tips on guiding owners toward selecting the appropriate delivery method
Strategies for overcoming challenges with each type
Guidance for successful outcomes and navigating different relationship dynamics
Ideas on how to best communicate and collaborate with all involved parties

Event Contact
Sharon Box
(713) 843-3705
sharon.b@agchouston.org
Follow this link to RSVP – AIA/ AGC Joint Committee February 2025 Lunch and Learn | AGC Houston

Towers & Trees Walking Tour
2025-02-22 09:00 - 11:00 | One Shell Plaza, 910 Smith Street, Houston, 77027, United States
Towers and Trees explores the magnificent architecture between Hermann Square and Discovery Green as well as the changing dynamics of our downtown. We’ll look at the partially realized civic center plan surrounding Hermann Square, the historic backbone of Main Street, the ambitious 1970 proposal that would become Houston Center, the internationally recognized icons from the skyscraper boom of the 70’s and 80’s, and Discovery Green, the newest catalyst for downtown development in Houston.
Meet outside One Shell Plaza at 910 Smith Street on the corner of Walker and Smith Street across the street from City Hall and the reflecting pool in Hermann Square. Garage and street parking available in the area.
AIA Credit: 2.0 LU
This tour has been canceled due to miserable weather.
AIA MEMBERS PLEASE NOTE:
Per AIA National CE Standards, any learning program approved for AIA Learning Units may award CE credit for the approved program for up to (3) years from the date of approval so long as the CES Provider is in good standing. AIA Members may repeat the same course, but no additional credit will be granted or recorded.

Ben Brewer Award Mixer
2025-02-20 18:00 - 20:00 | TX
Please join AIA Houston at the remarkable Delz Residence on Thursday, February 20, 6:00-8:00 PM for our annual Ben Brewer Award Mixer in honor of Heather Rowell, AIA, the recipient of the 2024 Ben Brewer Young Architect Award.
The Delz Residence is the home of Karin Broker and Mark Witte. Occupying a metal warehouse that was once an auto mechanic’s shop, the home includes Karin’s art studio, the couple’s primary residence, and a guest casita. A 2016 AIA Houston Design Award recipient, the home showcases the unique, artful result of two architectural collaborations between Heather, her design teams, and the owners.
This mixer is hosted by the Emerging Professionals Committee and is open to all members. Don’t miss this opportunity to have some fun and make new acquaintances. Light bites and drinks are complimentary!
Every year our chapter recognizes a local young architect for significant contribution to the profession in honor of Ben Brewer.
RSVP is required as space is limited!

Ismaili Center Houston Tour
2025-02-19 10:00 - 11:00 | Ismaili Center Houston, 2323 Allen Pkwy, Houston, TX, 77019, United States
The Ismaili Center will be the seventh in a series of iconic cultural buildings, His Highness the Aga Khan, has commissioned over the past four decades in the United Kingdom, Canada, Portugal, United Arab Emirates, and Tajikistan. As ambassadorial buildings around the world, they are symbolic of the Ismaili community’s presence, pluralistic outlook, and ethos of volunteering.
Situated on Allen Parkway and Montrose Boulevard, the Ismaili Center will be a venue for educational, cultural, and social events, to encourage understanding and facilitate the sharing of perspectives across peoples of diverse backgrounds, faiths, and traditions. The Center’s design includes an education wing, a black box theater,a cafe, flexible exhibition spaces, conference rooms, and space for quiet contemplation and prayer, as well as serving as the administrative headquarters of the Ismaili community in the USA.
The Center is designed with a compact footprint, leaving roughly 10 acres of the site to be used as gardens.
The Ismaili Council for the USA awarded DLR Group|WRL the role of executive architect and architect of record through an international design competition that included design architect, London-based Farshid Moussavi, and landscape architect Nelson Bird Woltz.
Join us for one of the Wednesday, March 19 tours. Each tour will be approximately one hour long. This tour requires attendees to wear a hard hat, glasses, and gloves. Please indicate, when registering, if you can provide your own or if you need a set.
AIA Credit: 1.0 HSW

Buffalo Bayou Walking Tour
2025-02-15 09:00 - 11:00 | Architecture Center Houston, 902 Commerce St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Explore the city from a vantage point most people don’t see: the waterway that gave Houston life and has been its backbone for 182 years. Architecture Center Houston (ArCH), with the cooperation of Buffalo Bayou Partnership, invite you to a stroll along Buffalo Bayou Parkway for an overview of downtown Houston’s history and architecture from its beginnings in 1836 to the efforts to revitalize the central city today. The tour showcases the innovative bayou reclamation efforts of the City of Houston, Harris County, and Buffalo Bayou Partnership, while topically discussing history and preservation, contemporary architecture, the bayou, and adjacent parkland.
Meets outside of Architecture Center Houston at 902 Commerce Street.
Street and parking are available in the area. Parking fees are not included in registration.
AIA Credit: 2 LUs

Third Ward Bicycle Tour
2025-02-15 09:00 - 11:00 | HCC’s San Jacinto Memorial Green, 1300 Holman, Houston, Texas, 77004, United States
This bicycle tour explores the Historic Third Ward and surrounding areas including Houston Community College, Emancipation Park, Project Row Houses, Dowling Street, the Negro Hospital, later Riverside General Hospital, the Buffalo Soldiers Museum, and Texas Southern University. The tour is a dynamic discussion of the neighborhood’s character, history and future in the center of Houston featuring notable local architects such as John Chase and Caudill Rowlett Scott (CRS).
Reservations are required for this tour as attendance is limited.
Attendees need to bring their own bicycle. We encourage everyone to wear a helmet.
Tour meets in the Houston Community College’s San Jacinto Memorial Green courtyard right across from the intersection of Caroline St. and Holman St.

A Doodle Diary
2025-02-13 17:30 - 19:30 | Architecture Center Houston, 902 Commerce St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Architecture Center Houston is proud to announce their upcoming exhibition A Doodle Diary by John Kirksey opening Thursday, February 13, 5:30-7:30pm, and continuing through April 25.
Doodling is more than idle scribbles—it’s a universal form of creative expression and a window into the mind. Science reveals that doodling enhances memory, sharpens focus, and stimulates problem-solving. It bridges the gap between conscious thought and subconscious creativity, fostering connections that fuel innovation. Doodling engages the logical left and creative right hemispheres, facilitating a “whole-brain” approach to thinking. When a low-stakes task like doodling occupies the conscious mind, the subconscious can process complex problems, often leading to creative insights.
John Kirksey, architect and business owner, doodled his way through 50+ years of phone calls and meetings. Exotic animals, technical-organic hybrids, caricature portraits, and purely comedic themes—the doodles are an intricate blend of John’s vivid imagination and subconscious mind. Karin Broker, Professor Emerita, Printmaking and Drawing at Rice University, says of John, “If you sat in a meeting with him and he doodled away, that meant he was paying attention. No staring out the window, no shifting in his seat, no thinking about something else. John simultaneously focused the two sides of his brain to problem-solve and strategize. These small and funky gems are literally recorded moments of a distinct time.”
We invite you into John Kirksey’s whimsical doodle diary.
Event is free and open to the community.
In-kind fabrication & installation by Innovative Environments.
Additional support provided by Signature Aspen and Teal Construction.

About
John Kirksey grew up in Harlingen, Texas, and attended The University of Texas, graduating in 1970 with a Bachelor of Architecture degree. John, his wife, Kyle, and daughter, Shawn, moved to Houston after graduation, where he accepted a position with the architectural firm of Neuhaus and Taylor (3DI). In June of 1971, one year out of college, John started his own firm, John Kirksey and Associates, today known as Kirksey Architecture—celebrating 54 years in business.
