AIA Houston

EnLAce: Domino Night with LiA Maestros
2026-08-26 18:00 - 19:30 (America/Chicago) | Architecture Center Houston, 902 Commerce St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
This year’s Enlace introduces a new and engaging format: a rotating domino game night designed to spark genuine conversations and connections in a relaxed, interactive environment. Through time-based gameplay and table rotations, participants will have the opportunity to engage with several LiA Maestros throughout the evening, creating a unique, fun, and memorable mentoring experience.
EnLAce is open to all professionals looking for career development and growth.
No dominoes experience required. We will begin the evening with a brief tutorial to make it easy and enjoyable for everyone to participate.
Luis Ayala, AIA, Luis Ayala Studio
Sofia Fonseca de Nino, AIA
Michael Gonzales, AIA, protolab
Yvette Herrera Duran, Assoc. AIA, Stantec
Daniel Ortiz, AIA, RDLR
Bayardo Selva, AIA, Cre8
Cindy Villareal, AIA, O’Connell Robertson
Generously sponsored by Perkins&Will.

Luis Ayala, AIA, Owner, Luis Ayala Studio
Luis is a Paraguayan architect that migrated to Houston in 2007. He has focused mostly on the design of education facilities for higher education institutions and K-12 schools. His expertise includes campus design, master planning, programming, and facility design.
Luis has many other skills that complement his abilities as a designer and architect. Sustainability is one of Luis’s stronger interests, and many of his projects have received design awards recognizing his innovation in green design. Luis is also an avid architectural photographer, recognized in 2017 by the Texas Society of Architects with the Award for Excellence in the Promotion of Architecture Trough the Media.
Luis fluently speaks Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and English. In 2016, Luis was distinguished by YAF Houston as a part Emerging Voices Exhibition and later the same year by AIA National as an Emerging Professional. Recently, in 2020 the AIA Houston awarded him with the Ben Brewer Award for Young Architects.
Michael Gonzales, AIA, Owner, protolab
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

Yvette Herrera Duran, Assoc. AIA, Stantec
Yvette Herrera Duran is an architectural designer based in Houston Texas. Her experience expands from many years in high-end residential design to now corporate commercial architecture at Page.
Born and raised in Guatemala, she moved to Miami to pursue her Undergraduate Studies in Interior Design at Florida International University. After working for a few years at a high-end residential architecture firm, where architecture and interiors were strongly interconnected, she pursued her master’s in architecture at Rice University.
From an early age she was trained in flamenco dancing, which she has continued practicing. During her years in Miami, she trained in ballroom dance and later, while getting her masters, she complimented her knowledge in the arts with theatre classes. All these various art languages influence how she experiences spaces and the development of her detailed oriented designs. She currently works in various design typologies from academic to healthcare to multifamily communities.
Daniel Ortiz, AIA, President and Managing Principal, RDLR Architects
Daniel Ortiz, AIA, was born in Ecuador and serves as President and Managing Principal of RDLR Architects, a Houston firm dedicated to community-driven design. Under his leadership, RDLR creates architecture that strengthens neighborhoods through public, nonprofit, transit, education, and housing projects. He also serves as Board President of Avenue CDC and Chairman of TIRZ 21, advancing equitable community development in Houston’s Near Northside.
Bayardo Selva, AIA, Cre8
Bayardo has turn his childhood building blocks play time into an Architectural career that expands over 20 years. His experienced has allowed him to engage a wide variety of project types and scales. He actively participates in the community through different organizations promoting architecture, protecting the environment, mentoring the youth and celebrating diversity including AIA Houston Young Architects Forum (Chair, 2014), AIA Board of Directors 2015-2018 and 2023-present (AIAH Board President, 2026), Houston Hispanic Architects and Engineers Board Member 2016-2019, Houston MOD Board Member 2019-Present, Houston Fit Running Club 2012-Present, and founding member of the AIA Houston Latinos in Architecture.
He considers himself a student of the profession and enjoys perfecting his craft!

Cindy Villareal, AIA, Houston Office Director, O’Connell Robertson
Cindy Villarreal is a seasoned leader in architectural planning and project acquisition, with a strong focus on higher education and healthcare initiatives across Texas. As the Houston Office Director, Cindy is instrumental in expanding business development efforts throughout the Houston region while driving strategic growth statewide.
With decades of experience in the design of higher education and Science and Technology facilities, Cindy has led projects ranging from allied health and nursing schools to dental institutions and advanced diagnostics and neuroscience laboratories. Her expertise lies in managing multidisciplinary design teams and fostering collaboration to ensure projects are delivered successfully.
Cindy is a passionate advocate for sustainable and resilient design. She champions human-centric environments that prioritize occupant well-being and support thriving communities. Her leadership continues to shape spaces that are not only functional and efficient but also inspiring and inclusive.

Sandcastle T-Shirt Distribution Event
2026-09-02 17:30 - 19:30 | Cookchill, 2305 Portsmouth St., Houston, TX, 77098, United States
Team and sponsor groups must send at least one representative to pick up t-shirts, vehicle beach pass and event participant wristbands.
RSVP required to attend.
Complimentary food and drink for attendees.

ARE Study Group - All Sections
2026-09-08 17:30 - 19:00 | TX
EVENT RESCHEDULED DUE TO POTENTIALLY INCLEMENT WEATHER.
NEW DATE: September 8 @ 5:30 PM
Location: Architecture Center Houston, 902 Commerce
Join us for the New ARE Study Group session to build your momentum in studying for the ARE. Held in a new mentorship-style format, the session will offer an opportunity to focus on all sections of A.R.E. Bring your questions, your notes, your laptops, and your favorite personal study materials to compare with colleagues!
Additionally, we will discuss study materials and subscriptions available on the market, answer attendee questions, and offer a strategy for approaching and scheduling your exams.
This session will be held at Architecture Center Houston. Light bites and drinks will be provided.
See you there soon!

Women in Architecture’s Professional Development Fund Q&A
2026-09-09 12:30 - 13:00 | https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82247850007?pwd=[REDACTED]
Join us for a virtual Q&A session about Women in Architecture’s Professional Development Fund application process. We’ll cover the ins and outs of applications for the Licensure Scholarship and Professional Development Grant, then open the floor to questions.
The application will open September 1st.

Zoom login link:
AIA Houston is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: WiA PD Fund Q&A
Time: Sep 9, 2026 12:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82247850007?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 822 4785 0007
Passcode: [REDACTED]

MGMC - Committee Kick-Off and Social
2026-09-09 17:30 - 19:00 | TX
Become a part of the Michael G. Meyers High School Design Competition Committee. Join us to learn more about the committee and kick off the 2027 competition. We will gather on Wednesday, September 9, at Saint Arnold Brewing Company (2000 Lyons Ave, 77020) from 5:30- 7 p.m.
The annual high school scholarship competition is an event sponsored by Architecture Center Houston Foundation, AIA Houston, and local architecture firms and affiliates. This is an idea competition that emphasizes creative problem-solving and graphic presentation. MGMC is looking for professionals from the architecture community to help plan this year’s competition and work with students from January to May. The committee meets once a month and hosts four events over five months.
In the past, students have been asked to design a variety of dynamic and challenging projects, including a neighborhood recreation space and a public viewing area for major sporting events, including the FIFA World, an education center focusing on sustainable efforts and practices, a skyscraper in the heart of downtown Houston, a multi-purpose building for Houston’s Third Ward, a museum, and others. The committee selects the project, writes the program, raises funds for student scholarships, organizes the Clays for College fundraiser, and hosts four events to help students learn basic architectural design skills and understand the competition requirements.
2026 MGMC Scholarship Winners can be viewed here.
Planning and fundraising will start in September, and the program kicks off in January 2027 with student events and wraps up with an awards ceremony in late Spring.
If you are unable to attend, but are interested in joining, contact committee chair Adriana Haces.

Michael G. Meyers Design & Scholarship Competition (MGMC) is an annual event sponsored by Architecture Center Houston Foundation and AIA Houston. This is an idea competition for high school students that emphasizes creative problem-solving. Students participate in a series of events, led by architects, such as learning basic architectural drawing skills and how to understand clients’ needs. Winning students receive scholarships to a university or college of their choice.
The program has awarded over $280,000 in scholarships over the years. Many past participants have returned to support the program after graduating from college with architecture degrees.

Latinos in Architecture: MaS
2026-09-15 19:00 - 20:30 | Architecture Center Houston, 902 Commerce St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
The Latinos in Architecture (LiA) collegiate Mentorship and Scholarship program (MaS), through AIA Houston and Architecture Center Houston, intends to bridge the gap between students and professionals in the Latino architecture community. The MaS program matches college students pursuing a career path in architecture with a mentor who has an established career in the field. The program is for Latino students who are striving to influence the future of the built environment and the architecture profession. MaS will kick off on September 15, 2026, and conclude in May 2027.

PROGRAM ELIGIBILITYfor the mentorship:

Students have the option to participate only in the mentorship program and not pursue the scholarship. But students are welcome to participate in any MaS-related events.
Students pursuing a degree in architecture at the University of Houston, Rice University, or Prairie View A&M University.
The program is open to both US citizens and foreign students.

for the scholarship:

Students with at least one more academic year to apply scholarship funds directly to tuition.
Students with full scholarships are not eligible.

SCHOLARSHIP REQUIREMENTSThe 2026-2027 program starts in September 2026 and ends in May 2027.

Regularly check in with an assigned mentor (at least 4 times). These meetings can be in-person, virtual, or via phone call.
​Participate in the kick-off event where they will meet the mentors. Kick-off will take place September 15 at 7pm.
Participate in the portfolio review organized by the LiA Committee.
Attend three LiA, AIAH, TSA or HNOMA-sponsored events. Not including student chapters or student-led events. Students are required to take a selfie at each event.
Attend their university or college career fair.
Submit a PDF on a project or portfolio at the end of the Fall semester.
Submit a 5-minute video on a project or portfolio at the end of the Spring semester. The video should not be a recording of a class crit and should not exceed 5 minutes.

AWARDS
Students must participate in the listed activities to be considered for the scholarship. These activities are meant to support and complement the student’s academic career.
Scholarships will be awarded based on student participation in the program and their end-of-semester submission, which will be reviewed by a jury.

Optimizing the Building Enclosure Envelope CE Event
2026-09-16 16:30 - 18:30 | Architecture Center Houston, 902 Commerce St., Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Building Enclosure Council of Houston Presents:
Optimizing the Building Enclosure Envelope
Generative Design Strategies for Early-Stage Architectural Performance
Presenter: Joe Fong, LEED AP
Discover how Autodesk Forma and Generative Design are transforming the architectural workflow from early concept to team collaboration. In this session, you’ll learn how to rapidly generate performance-based building massings tailored to site constraints, perform comprehensive site analyses early in the design phase, and streamline team coordination. Step into a unified, shared workspace where design options can be evaluated, compared, and refined in real time.
AIA CE Credit: 1.0 LU
Schedule:

4:30pm – Check-in
5:00pm – Presentation

Additional Information:

Beer & Wine Available
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.

THANK YOU TO OUR UNDERWRITER SPONSOR!

Galveston Sandcastle Festival
2026-09-19 10:00 - 2026-09-20 21:00 | East Beach, 1923 Boddeker Rd, Galveston, TX, 77550, United States
Click here to be redirected to the Galveston Sandcastle Festival site.

EP University: Constructability Reviews
2026-09-23 11:30 - 13:30 | Powers Brown Architecture, MKT 600 N Shepherd, Building 3, Suite 300, Houston, TX 77007, 600 N Shepherd, Building 3, Ste 300, Houston, TX, 77007
Join us for the fourth session of the EP University Lecture Series: Constructability Reviews.
Constructability is a concept that implies ease of construction, and constructability reviews represent a detailed analysis of the construction documents to confirm the buildability of the proposed systems and details. The purpose of a constructability review is to identify challenges to the actual construction of a project before a project completes design and documentation.

Determining up-front what to look for in creating a reliable, buildable set of drawings for even the most technical aspects of design
Identifying and prioritizing critical risk features of the design that the designer and builder can proactively address in the workflow to avoid design rework
Understand how to establish a process for performing effective reviews of the construction documents at different phases to ensure documentation is correct
Explore the review process for constructability by trade – site, structural, architectural, interiors, and MEP

Presented by Jeanette Shaw of Powers Brown Architecture, this session offers 1LU CE credit.
Lunch is provided.
Location: Powers Brown Architecture, MKT 600 N Shepherd, Building 3, Suite 300, Houston, TX 77007
Advanced registration is required. Deadline: Monday, September 21 at 5PM.

The Architectural History of Houston Street Skating
2026-09-26 09:00 - 11:00 | Tranquility Park, 400 Rusk, Houston, Texas, 77002
Join lifelong skateboarder and architectural historian Ted Barrow on a walking tour of the highlights of Houston’s Modernist and Late-Modernist architecture through a skateboarder’s perspective. The tour will cover key plazas and buildings which became local, state-wide, and eventually global skateboarding destinations from the late 1980’s to today.

About Ted Barrow
Theodore (Ted) Barrow is an art historian, writer, curator, and lecturer whose work bridges academic scholarship and contemporary currents. Born in Bolinas, California, he holds a Ph.D. in art history from the Graduate Center, CUNY, where he explored the Florida paintings of Winslow Homer and John Singer Sargent through an ecocritical lens. Barrow has taught at Barnard College, Baruch College, City College of New York, and the University of San Francisco. Outside of art and academia, he is a distinctive voice in skateboarding culture, known for This Old Ledge, a video series that investigates the cultural and architectural significance of global skate spots.”

This program is in conjunction with The Kinetics of Urban Movement, on view at the Architecture Center Houston from June 18-September 26.

Exhibition Sponsors and Community Partners
Kinetics of Urban Movement is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance

Cherries Wheels
Honey Skate Club
Houston Parks and Recreation Department
Houston Skate Academy
Select
Skate ECOSYSTEMS
Southside Skatepark

Melton Electric Tour
2026-10-14 17:00 - 18:00 | Melton Electric, 2309 Karbach Street, Houston, TX, 77092, United States
Melton Electric: Modernizing Legacy Through Adaptive Reuse and Human-Centric Design
This building tour explores the transformative renovation and expansion of the Melton Electric headquarters, a 1970s-era structure repurposed to meet the demands of a modern, collaborative workforce. Attendees will examine how the design team balanced the preservation of the original building’s legacy with high-performance sustainable strategies. The session highlights the integration of natural daylighting, energy-efficient building systems, and interior modifications designed to enhance occupant wellness. Participants will gain insight into the technical and strategic decisions required to modernize aging infrastructure, ultimately creating a contemporary facility that supports both operational growth and a healthier employee experience.
AIA Credit: 1.0 HSW
Time:

Tour 5pm-6pm
Social to follow @ Karbach Brewing Co.

Home Tour
2026-11-07 12:00 - 2026-11-08 18:00 | TX
The AIA Houston Home Tour is a 2-day, self-guided tour featuring custom homes in the Houston area designed by licensed architects.
Join us to experience some of the best new residential architecture by AIA members in a variety of architectural styles, featuring new construction, renovations, and additions.
Learn more about the tour and preview each home HERE.
Tickets purchased online may be picked up at any one of the featured homes on the days of the tour. Additionally, full-tour tickets and single-home tickets may be purchased at any of the featured homes on the days of the tour.
This is a rain or shine event. All sales are final.
