AIA Canada Society — Inhabitants’ Wellbeing in Trauma-Informed Environments

When: Wednesday 2 September 2026 @ 12:00 (Eastern US time)
Where: ONLINE

CES: Estimated 1.0 LU/HSW for AIA Members

Speaker

Vedran Škopac, M.Arch, MRAIC, AAA, AIBC, HKA; Adj. Principal Architect, Reimagine Architects

Claudia Yehia-Alaeddin, AAA, ALEP, MRAIC, B.Arch, LEED AP BD+C; Principal Architect, Reimagine Architects

Description

How can architecture foster healing, resilience, and belonging?

AIA Canada Society is pleased to welcome Vedran Škopac and Claudia Yehia-Alaeddin of Reimagine Architects for an insightful webinar exploring the role architecture can play in supporting the wellbeing of individuals and communities affected by trauma.

As awareness grows around the impacts of trauma on individuals and communities, architects are increasingly challenged to create environments that support wellbeing beyond basic function.

Drawing from the built work of Reimagine Architects, Vedran and Claudia will explore how trauma-informed design principles can be integrated into educational, residential, community, and mixed-use projects.

Through case studies, participants will examine how design strategies related to spatial organization, daylight, materiality, acoustics, biophilia, cultural responsiveness, and community engagement can influence mental, emotional, and social wellbeing.

The webinar will present practical approaches for creating environments that enhance safety, dignity, connection, and agency, while supporting healthier and more resilient communities.

Free to attend.

AIA International - Beyond Buildings: Reclaiming Architects' Place in Built Environment Space

When: Saturday 29 August 2026 @ 09:00 (Eastern US time), 18:30 (India IST)
Where: Online

Speaker 

Coimbatore Narayana Raghavendran, Managing Director, C. R. Narayana Rao (Consultants); Padma Shri Awardee

Description

We invite everyone to join this special webinar presented by AIA International, in association with RIBA and the UAP Special Committee on Foreign Based Architects (FBA)!

This webinar explores how architects can reclaim their central role in shaping the built environment, featuring insights from veteran Indian architect C.N. Raghavendran's decades-long career spanning IT, office, industrial, healthcare, hospitality, institutional, public, and sports infrastructure projects across India, the UAE, Mauritius, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and beyond. His work includes notable landmarks such as the Anna Centenary Library (Chennai), Tidel Park (Chennai), the Amazon Campus (Hyderabad), and the award-winning Ebene Cyber Tower (Mauritius).

AIA International x AIA Illinois - Beyond Borders: Navigating the Future of Global Architectural Practice

When: Thursday 27 August 2026 @ 18:30 (Eastern US time), 17:30 (Chicago time)
Where: AIA Chicago Office, 35 East Wacker, Ste. 250, Chicago, IL/ ONLINE

CES: Estimated 1.5 LU/ HSW for AIA Members.

Speakers

Mark Sexton, FAIA, LEED AP, Founder & Co-Managing Partner, Krueck Sexton Partners

Douglas Voigt, AIA, AICP, Urban Design and Planning Partner, SOM

James Zheng, AIA, LEED AP, CEO and President, Goettsch Partners

Bob Zhang, Commercial Director, NorthGlass

Megan Harte, AIA, AIA Illinois President

Segene Park, AIA, AIA International President

Moderator: Silas Chiow, AIA, Adjunct Director, AIA International; Past President, AIA Shanghai

Description

We are excited to be partnering with AIA Illinois on Beyond Borders: Navigating the Future of Global Architectural Practice - a curated leadership exchange exploring how contemporary architectural practices are responding to the rapidly changing conditions of global practice.

As cities, communities, and economies become increasingly interconnected, architects are facing complex challenges that extend beyond geographic boundaries. Global practice today requires more than the transfer of design expertise from one region to another. It requires an understanding of local identity, cultural values, environmental conditions, regulatory frameworks, technological transformation, and the evolving expectations of clients and communities.

This AIA International × AIA Illinois Leadership Exchange brings together architectural leaders from practices at different scales and geographic perspectives to discuss how contemporary firms are navigating the opportunities and challenges of working across borders.

The program will feature leadership perspectives from AIA International and AIA Illinois, followed by a moderated panel discussion with representatives from large global practices, medium-sized international firms, and emerging practices. Through an open exchange of ideas, participants will examine how architects balance global expertise with local relevance and how firms can create meaningful architecture that responds to unique cultural, environmental, and social contexts.

This event is brought to you with the kind support of AIA International sponsor, NorthGlass.

AIA Japan — 2026 Summer Forum Panel Discussion: Urban Housing in Transition

When: Thursday 6 August 2026 @ 05:30 (Eastern US time)/ 18:30 (Japan time)
Where: Hybrid: ONLINE / In-Person: Gensler Tokyo, METLIFE Aoyama Bldg 5F, 2-11-16 Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0062

CES: Estimated 2.0 LU/HSW for AIA Members

Speaker

Borden Tseng, AIA Taipei

Paul Bae, J Partners and Architects, AIA South Korea

Tom Bader, AIA Japan 2026 President

Alex Chuang, AIA Taipei

Description

Join us for short presentations by 2 young noteworthy visiting architects from Taipei and South Korea. Both have successful thriving practices in urban housing exploring new typologies and design approaches for urban living. Both employ current innovative and sustainable solutions combining a harmonious blend of traditional elements with modern technologies, creating multi-family residences that are environmentally conscious, culturally resonant, and adaptive to evolving societal needs.

It will be followed by a Japanese perspective and a moderated discussion comparing and contrasting the different approaches of neighboring nations.

Free to attend.

More information >>>

AIA Japan — Lighting To Live By: Elevating Experience Through the Intangible

When: Thursday 30 July 2026 @ 05:30 (Eastern US time)/ 18:30 (Japan time)
Where: ONLINE / In-Person: TSUN TSUN Lounge, Shin Aoyama Building, West Lobby 2F, Tokyo

CES: Estimated 1.0 LU for AIA Members

Speaker

Cecilia Ramos, Sr. Director, Lutron

Description

The most memorable spaces are defined not by materials alone, but by the atmospheres they create. This talk explores how light — as an unseen yet powerful design material — shapes emotion, perception, and human connection, drawing from architecture, fashion, and art.

Speaker Bio

Cecilia Ramos’ expertise is in lighting, technology, and architectural design and at Lutron, Cecilia is responsible for leading the company’s work in Architecture & Design. Her work encompasses client development, creative direction, marketing, experiential design, and strategy. She holds degrees in architecture from MIT and Princeton and has traveled the world as a lighting designer for luxury brands including Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, and Dior Parfums. A frequent international speaker and co-author of the book Architectural Lighting: Designing with Light and Space (Princeton Architectural Press, 2011) she finds creative energy though hiking the world’s stunning landscapes, painting, and designing jewelry.

AIA Middle East - From Experience to Portfolio: Leveraging Your Experiences for Job or Academic Opportunities

When: Thursday 23 July 2026 @ 10:00 (Eastern US Time)/ 18:00 (Dubai time)
Where: Online

Speaker

Qitong Liu, LEED AP, Assoc. AIA

Description

Join AIA Middle East and speaker Qitong Liu - an architectural and computational designer, with professional experience at SmithGroup and Carrier Johnson+Culture - to discuss how to scale your portfolio and how to present your work in a world full of ruthless competition.

Special attention will be given to how different types of experiences can be rearranged for different audiences, from academic reviewers to hiring managers.

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify potential portfolio projects
2. Recognize key differences between academic and professional portfolios.
3. Apply narrative strategies to communicate the project intents
4. Introduce practical layout skills, organization strategies and other visual design principles.

AIA Southeast Asia - Understanding Neurodiversity: Supporting Sensory Needs in The Workplace

When: Friday 10 July 2026 @ 03:30 (Eastern US time)/ 15.30 (Malaysia time)
Where: Haworth International Malaysia Showroom, Suite #12-01, 12th Floor, Menara Keck Seng, 203 Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia/ ONLINE

Speaker

Alessandro Cesana, Director of Ideation International, Haworth; AP & EMEA

Description

An interactive session exploring neurodiversity in the workplace and its influence on how people work, process stimuli, and experience office environments. The session introduces insights from Haworth’s latest neurodiversity research and examines how different sensory needs and cognitive styles can inform more inclusive workplace design. Combining a concise presentation with a hands-on workshop, participants will use personas to understand diverse perspectives and work in teams to develop practical workplace solutions that support well-being, creativity, and innovation.

PLEASE NOTE: Spaces at the Haworth showroom are strictly limited to 15 maximum.

Speaker Bio

Alessandro leads the Ideation team at Haworth across EMEA and AP, a creative, multicultural, and distributed team that serves as the workplace advisory and research arm of the business. With over 13 years of experience in the architecture and design industry, Alessandro is a skilled design strategist and innovative thinker, known for his ability to address client needs through a solutions-oriented approach.

Haworth Ideation has spent the past few years researching how the workplace is evolving, particularly as hybrid work continues to reshape the physical office and the overall employee experience. Its latest research initiative focuses on neurodiversity, exploring how both neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals perceive and are supported by the built environment, and how workplace design can better accommodate a broader range of cognitive, sensory, and social needs.

AIA International - Annual General Meeting 2026

When: Wednesday 8 July 2026 @ 08:00 (Eastern US Time)/ 13:00 (London time)/ 20:00 (Beijing time)
Where: ONLINE

Event Description

AIA Members are invited to join us for the annual business meeting of AIA International. The AGM will be run as a Zoom meeting to increase interactivity and enable greater attendance around the world.

The meeting will be conducted for the purpose of electing a new First Vice President and a new Secretary; for receiving the annual reports of the Board and the Treasurer; and for the transaction of such other business as may be appropriate.

Speakers

AIA International Board

AIA International - Bangalore: A Dual Feature on Sustainable & Transformative Architecture

When: Saturday 4 July 2026 @ 00:30 (Eastern US time)/ 10:00 (India time)
Where: D-Collative Associates Pvt. Ltd., 452, First Floor, 8th Cross, 5th Main, HIG (Dollars Colony), RMV 2nd Stage, New BEL Road, Bangalore 560094, India/ ONLINE

Speakers

Sharath Ravindran, Director / Architect, D-Collative Associates Pvt. Ltd.

Yogeshwar Kulkarni, Executive Director, NZD Studio

Description

We invite you to join us in person or online for a hybrid presentation hosted by AIA International members in India!

This event is open to all - anyone can join online! Whether you are an architect, student, designer, or built environment enthusiast, you are welcome to attend.

We are bringing together two incredible design leaders in Bengaluru for a dual feature on sustainable, forward-thinking architecture.

Featured Presentations

1. The Regenerative Shift: Transforming the Built Environment -

   Sharath Ravindran, Director / Architect, D-Collative Associates Pvt. Ltd.

2. Select Works 2016–2026 -

   Yogeshwar Kulkarni, Executive Director, NZD Studio.

We look forward to an impactful morning of architectural dialogue.

How to Join:

In-Person at D-Collative Associates Pvt. Ltd., New BEL Road, Bengaluru. No registration required.

📌 Google Maps Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Rncpr2Rz421xwdfbA?g_st=iw.

Online (Google Meet): https://meet.google.com/tfr-tksi-tyv.

AIA Japan — Less Light: Practical Darkness

When: Thursday 2 July 2026 @ 05:30 (Eastern US time)/ 18:30 (Japan time)
Where: ONLINE / In-Person: Cosentino Showroom, Tokyo

CES: Estimated 1.0 LU for AIA Members

Speaker

Charles G. Stone, II, FIALD, Fisher Marantz Stone

Description

How has 25 years of evolving technology and environmental awareness transformed the way we design with light at night? In this illustrated lecture, renowned lighting designer Charles Stone traces the arc from high-load exterior illumination to today’s dark-sky-conscious practice — driven by the rise of LED, growing scientific understanding of light’s effects on flora, fauna, and human health, and a global movement to reclaim the night sky.

Through a series of case studies from the FMS portfolio, Stone examines what this evolution means for architects and lighting designers working in the built environment today. The lecture closes with a real-world deep dive into the 2026 update of Tucson, Arizona’s Outdoor Lighting Code — a landmark example of municipal dark-sky policy in practice.

Following the lecture, guests are invited to stay for a reception featuring a selection of Spanish tapas and wine, generously provided at Cosentino’s showroom.

MORE INFORMATION >>>

AIA Hong Kong - Emerging Technology: Practical AI Tools for Architects and Designers

When: Friday 26 June 2026 @ 21:30 (Eastern US Time)/ Saturday 26 June 2026 @ 09:30 (Hong Kong time)
Where: Online
CES Credits - Estimated 1 LU/ HSW for AIA Members

Speakers

Jason Chen, Associate and Computational Designer; APAC Region Computational Design Skills Leader, Arup

Ka Kit Chiu, Computational Designer and Architectural Researcher, Mithun

Moderator

Cynthia Ting, AIA; Co-Chair, Programs Committee (Emerging Technology), AIA Hong Kong; Senior Manager, Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park

Description

How can designers move from experimenting with AI to incorporating practical applications for daily use?
This webinar will bring together experts in practice, research, and technology who will demonstrate how emerging AI tools are reshaping the profession. With a focus on practical applications, it will highlight actionable strategies that architects and designers can easily integrate into their work.

LEARN MORE >>>

AIA Japan & NCARB— Licensure Info Session

When: Tuesday 16 June 2026 @ 08:00 (Eastern US time)/ 21:00 (Japan time)
Where: ONLINE

Description

AIA Japan is pleased to announce an upcoming information session in partnership with NCARB, designed for architects and emerging professionals based in Japan who are pursuing — or considering — U.S. licensure.

Whether you are just starting to explore the path to becoming a licensed architect in the United States, or are already working through the AXP or ARE, this session is for you. A representative from NCARB will walk through the licensure process with a focus on practical guidance for internationally-based candidates, including how to log AXP hours outside the US, how to choose a state board, and what the path looks like when you have never lived or worked in America.

AIA Japan — Jun Mitsui Lecture: Architecture in Context

When: Thursday 28 May 2026 @ 05:30 (Eastern US time)/ 18:30 (Japan time)
Where: ONLINE/ Arper Japan Showroom

Speaker

Jun Mitsui, FAIA, JIA

CES Credits: TBC

Description

Jun Mitsui is the founder of Jun Mitsui & Associates, Architects, and a licensed architect in both Japan and the United States. After graduating from the University of Tokyo, he earned his Master of Architecture from Yale University and went on to work with Cesar Pelli & Associates before returning to Tokyo. Over the course of his career, he has led a wide range of award-winning projects in Japan and internationally, with a focus on thoughtful, context-driven design.

A former President of AIA Japan, Mitsui’s elevation to FAIA in 2026 recognizes his significant contributions to architecture and the built environment.

AIA International Mentorship Program 2026 - Design Dialogues: A Meet and Greet Discussion Session

The AIA International Global Mentorship Program invites everyone to join our May Program on May 21. This event is open to all.

When: Thursday 21 May 2026 @ 09:00 (Eastern US time)
Where: Online

Description

The AIA International Global Mentorship Program invites everyone to join our meet and greet mentor session on May 21!

In this session, we will focus on creating the pairings for this year through a virtual meet and greet session. In this session, we will meet in breakout sessions with potential mentors and mentees to shortly share a bit about yourself as well as your goals for this mentorship program. In this way we can facilitate the best pairing for everyone for the 2025 season. 

To join this open session, please register using the link below.

The theme of the 2026 AIA International Mentorship Program is Design by Discovery. 

To design is to experiment. By questioning norms and continuously testing ideas, we unlock new forms, materials, and spatial experiences. This series highlights the power of experimentation—from re-use to radical rethinking—to expand the limits of what architecture and design can be. Participants are invited to share and discover processes that challenge, refine, and ultimately elevate our practice.

The mentorship program includes regular online group events which are open to all, as well as one-to-one mentoring.

If you have any questions, please contact Amanda Bryant at emergingprofessionals@aiainternational.org.