Events + Opportunities
Welcome to our monthly roundup of upcoming events and opportunities presented by AIA Seattle committees, partner organizations, AIA National, and more.
Here you’ll find upcoming educational events, involvement opportunities, and programs tailored to our Washington design community.
October 2026
YAF + WiD Happy Hour Series: Interactions
Thursday, October 8 | 5:30-7:30pm at Walk Your Plans
Join the Young Architects Forum (YAF) and Women in Design (WiD) for the October edition of their annual Happy Hour series.
Call for Proposals: AIA Leadership Summit
Submit by Friday, October 9
Share your expertise, innovative ideas, and best practices to help strengthen chapter success. AIA National is seeking dynamic, forward-looking sessions that equip chapter leaders with practical tools, reinforce core principles, and inspire action. Summit will take place February 10-13 in Washington D.C.
Pickleball to Support the AIANWW Scholarship
Saturday, October 10 | 5:30-8pm at the Bellingham Armory
Join AIA Northwest Washington to connect with colleagues, enjoy some friendly competition, and support the next generation of design professionals through the AIANWW Section Scholarship Fund.
Women in Design (WiD) Coffee Hour
Tuesday, October 13 | 7:30am at Freya Bakery & Cafe Downtown
The Women in Design Coffee Hour is a chance to cultivate relationships and provide informal mentorship.
Committee Meeting and Talk: Committee on Homelessness
Tuesday, October 13 | 12-1pm
Join COHO’s virtual October meeting as they welcome two special guests: Laura Malkasian Huggins, an architect with Alexandra Immel Residential Design, and Dave Gamrath, a longtime volunteer with Sound Foundations.
Code Session 4: Basics Matter
Tuesday + Wednesday, October 13 + 14 | 12-2pm PT both days, online
Basics Matter is a two-day virtual training that will provide a basic overview of code essentials. It will discuss the foundation of a working code knowledge. This session is for design professionals that are early in their career and/or seeking to deepen understanding of code basics.
4 LU/HSW
Unlock Healthcare Savings: AIA Seattle + MBA Health Trust
Monday, October 19 | 12-12:30pm PT online
Join us for a short, online information session to learn how AIA Seattle Firm Network Members and Corporate Allied Partners get lower rates for their healthcare plans.
YAF Licensing Workshop – October
Wednesday, October 21 | 5-7pm at LMN Architects
The committee will be reviewing exam content and practice questions for Programming and Analysis, Project Planning and Design, and Project Development and Documentation.
WAsafe Building Safety Evaluations (ATC 20/45 Plus)
Wednesday, October 28 | 8:30am-4:30pm at CenterPlace Regional Event Center in Spokane
This class will cover the basics of post-disaster building safety evaluations following hazards, such as earthquakes, windstorms, landslides, and fires, with an emphasis on risks specific to Washington State. Training is based on the internationally recognized ATC-20 (post-earthquake) and ATC-45 (post-windstorms and floods) programs.
AIA NWW: Discover the Art, Identity, and Purpose of the Housing of Healing
Thursday, October 29 | 5pm at Western Washington University’s House of Healing
Join AIA Northwest Washington for a tour of Western Washington University’s recently completed House of Healing! This tour invites you to experience a space intentionally created to honor, support, and celebrate Indigenous students and communities. 1 LU/HSW pending approval
Mass Timber Committee: Bush Middle School Construction Tour
Thursday, October 29 | 2-3pm at Bush Middle School
Join AIA Seattle’s Mass Timber Committee, Mithun, DCI Engineers, and Venture Construction fora guided tour of Bush Middle School, a new three-story building in Seattle that is currently under construction.
AHC Fall Conference: Healing, Resilience, and Innovation in Healthcare Design
Friday, October 30 | 8am-4pm at Irving Street Studio in Portland
Join the Architecture for Health Committee (AHC) for the annual AHC Fall Conference! This year’s fall conference explores emerging approaches to healthcare design that support healing, resilience, and long-term performance.
6 LU/HSW
2026-27 SMR Architects-AIAWA Student Scholarship
Applications open now through late November
This scholarship supports Washington state students pursuing architecture who come from marginalized and underrepresented communities. Eligible applicants include high schoolers enrolling in a technical or community college architecture program, community college students transferring into UW or WSU’s architecture program, or first-year architecture majors at UW or WSU.
AIA National Awards – 2027 Applications Open
Deadlines this fall
Applications are now open for the 2027 AIA Gold Medal, Architecture Firm Award, Whitney M. Young Jr. Award, and more. See the 2026 award recipients, recognized at AIA26.
Small Firm Exchange: Call for Award-Winning Projects
The AIA Small Firm Exchange (SFx) is soliciting award-winning projects by AIA members of small firms (firms having 10 or fewer architectural staff) to spotlight in their social media platforms. The award can be from any awards program, not just AIA programs. Featured images may include professional photography, high-quality renderings, and scanned hand sketches.
November 2026
Women’s Leadership Summit 2026 – Registration Open
Sunday-Tuesday, November 1-3 in Kansas City
Registration is now open for Women’s Leadership Summit (WLS)—the architecture profession’s premier leadership event designed to accelerate women into positions of influence, visibility, and impact.
AIA Seattle’s Honor Awards for Washington Architecture – Live Event
Monday, November 9 | 5:30-9pm at Town Hall Seattle
The Honor Awards for Washington Architecture is AIA Seattle’s annual marquee program, drawing hundreds of attendees to a lecture-style event of unique rigor and breadth. This nationally-recognized program provides an important opportunity for the design community to share and celebrate its achievements, both among practitioners and with the community.
COHO: Tour of Plymouth Redmond PSH (Permanent Supportive Housing) Project
Wednesday, November 11 | 2-3pm
AIA Seattle’s Committee on Homelessness (COHO) is excited to offer a tour of a Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Project. This project tour will highlight key design elements that support individuals transitioning out of homelessness, with a focus on creating spaces that promote healing, inspire delight, and foster a sense of belonging. 1 LU/HSW
Safety Assessment Program (SAP) Evaluator Training with AIA National
November 18-19 | Online
Intended for licensed architects, engineers, or certified building inspectors, this training certifies attendees as Building Evaluators in the nationally recognized Safety Assessment Program (SAP). See November course info.
AIAWA Seeking Small Firm Exchange Rep
Applications open now through the end of the year
The AIA Small Firm Exchange (SFx) advances the interests of architects practicing in small firms by advocating their value, curating relevant resources, and informing AIA of issues unique to small firm practice.
In the Community
Facades+ Seattle
December 3 | Grand Hyatt Seattle | Up to 6 LU/HSW
Presented by The Architects Newspaper, this program features the latest developments in building enclosure design and technology.
Individual Tax Changes and Understanding Business Cash Flow
December 8 | 12-1pm PT online
Presented by SDA Pacific Northwest. Tax changes can be difficult to follow—and business cash flow can be just as difficult to interpret. What has changed for individuals and families? What does cash flow mean for the business you support? This session brings both topics together in a practical, accessible presentation from Alan Dance, CPA, CGMA.
Regenerative Design Masterclass
On-Demand | up to 15 LU/HSW
Presented by GBES, discover how regenerative design surpasses traditional sustainability practices, enabling you to develop resilient, self-sustaining projects in harmony with the natural world. This course is perfect for architects, designers, and sustainability professionals looking to lead the way in innovative, impactful design.
LEED Green Associate (GA) Training
On-Demand | 15 LU/HSW + LEED CE
A virtual training program for those seeking to become a LEED Green Associate. AIA Seattle members qualify for $100 discount, please email Claire Needs for the discount code.
