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 educational events, involvement opportunities, and programs tailored to our Washington design community.
January 2026
Capitol Connections
Wednesday, January 21 | 9am-1pm
Capitol Connections is AIAWA’s annual lobby day in Olympia, where architects discuss issues important to the profession directly with their legislators. Registration is now closed, but stay tuned for our share out of information from your fellow AIA members who are attending.
AIA Business Academy Informational Session
Thursday, January 22 | 9am PT online
Learn more about this high-impact, four-part intensive program designed to equip firm leaders with the strategy, leadership, and financial skills to scale their practice and drive long-term success. Presented by AIA National, earn up to 22.75 LUs.
We’re hiring! Apply for Programs Coordinator
Apply by Friday, January 23
AIA Seattle + Seattle Design Festival is seeking a Programs Coordinator to support our educational programs and events, our signature design awards, and the Seattle Design Festival. The ideal candidate will be collaborative, detail oriented, and able to efficiently juggle multiple projects and priorities.
Don’t miss discounts on national industry events!
Deadlines on January 30 & February 8
The PDC Summit™ 2026 will take place on March 8-11 in Houston. Hotel and travel discount is January 30.
The AIA26 Conference will be held in San Diego on June 10-13. Members who book their hotel by February 8 get exclusive early access to AIA26 tours. Book here.
February 2026
To browse and register for events that are further out, see our full events calendar.
SAP Training with AIA Connecticut
Wednesday, February 4 | 10am-2pm PT
This virtual training certifies attendees as Building evaluators in the nationally recognized Safety Assessment Program (SAP).
6.5 LU | HSW
Adaptation & Resilience Committee Meeting: Fire Systems
Thursday, February 5 | 12-1:20pm PT online
During their February meeting, AIA Seattle’s Adaptation & Resilience Committee will cover sprinkler system types, standpipes and design considerations, and an overview of fire disasters with guest speaker Amedeo Gallucci, PE Senior Fire Protection Engineer.
1 LU|HSW (pending)
Leadership Pathways with AIA Seattle and Seattle Design Festival
Thursday, February 5 | 5:30-6pm PT online
Through personal storytelling, info-sharing, and Q&A, this virtual program aims to demystify the process of nominating yourself or your peers for board service. Learn about the personal and professional benefits of serving in one of the many board positions that AIA Seattle and Seattle Design Festival offer.
Diversity Roundtable Social Hour at Mithun
Wednesday, February 11 | 5:30pm
Join AIA Seattle’s Diversity Roundtable Committee for their first Social Hour of the year, hosted by Mithun in partnership with NOMA|nw and Seattle International Architecture Forum.
Call for Nominations: AIA Seattle + SDF Board of Directors
Nominate by Friday, February 13
Would you or someone you know make a great AIA Seattle + Seattle Design Festival Board Member? Nominate yourself or a peer today! See the Seattle Design Festival and AIA Seattle Calls for Board Members.
Call for Entries: SAF Model Exhibit
Submit by Friday, February 13
Each year, SAF features physical and digital models, architectural renderings, and other displays that illuminate the design process and engage the public directly with the language of architecture. Featured exhibitors enjoy the opportunity to share their projects with broad audiences and shape public discourse around the future of design. This year’s theme is ‘EMERGENCE.’
Design in Depth: Transit-Oriented Development
Wednesday, February 25 | 5-7:30pm
Join Seattle Architecture Foundation for their first Design in Depth panel of 2026. They’ll be exploring the development of mass transit networks while preserving neighborhood character, green spaces, and affordable housing options.
2026 Spatial Justice Program
Begins Thursday, February 26
Presented by the Center for Transformative Urban Design with AIA Minnesota, the 2026 Spatial Justice Program is an expanded program of three separate cohorts in Minneapolis, Portland and Seattle. In this program, participants will learn the critical theory behind spatial justice from Edward W. Soja to contemporary design practitioners Teddy Cruz and Danna Cuff.
In the Community
Influencing Code & Policy
Wednesday, January 28 | 6-8:30pm
Join the NW EcoBuilding Guild to learn what’s happening and on the horizon for state and local building code and policy for 2026 with speakers Rachel Kollar from Shift Zero and Deepa Sivarajan of Climate Solutions.
Downtown Seattle Regional Center Plan Survey
Submit by Monday, February 2
Make your voice heard about the Downtown Seattle Regional Centers Plan and take this survey to share your thoughts with Seattle OPCD.
Engineered Living Materials for the Built Environment
Lecture on February 11, exhibit runs from February 2-March 6
UW’s College of Built Environments presents an interdisciplinary exhibit and lecture exploring how 3D printing with genetically engineered microbes could hold the key to new innovations in materials and architecture.
Women of Carbon
Thursday, February 12 | 7:30-9:30pm
Join Northwest EcoBuilding Guild and Passive House Northwest for an inspiring evening of film and discussion with local innovative women who are redefining our relationship with carbon.
LEED Green Associate (GA) Training
February 14 | 1-5:30 EST or On-Demand
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.
2026 AIA National Photography Competition
Submit by Wednesday, April 15
Entries now open for AIA St. Louis’s national photography competition, founded to capture the talents of architects, design professionals, and architectural students.
Night Chapel
An installation made from CLT by Michael Bennett / Studio Kër, on-view at the Northwest African American Museum. Read more in The Seattle Times article.
