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.
September 2026
Call for Young Voices Selection (YVS) Nominations – 2026 Honor Awards
Nominate by Wednesday, September 16 at 5pm PT
Nominate yourself or consider someone in your office to participate in the annual Young Voices Selection Panel. Three young professionals, endorsed by firm/industry leaders and selected by the Honor Awards Committee, will be offered direct participation and representation in the 2026 Honor Awards.
AHC End of Summer Happy Hour – Seattle
Wednesday, September 16 | 4-6pm at Clark Construction
Join AIA Seattle’s Architecture for Health Committee (AHC) as they celebrate the end of summer by coming together for a fun-filled networking event!
Safety Assessment Program (SAP) Evaluator Training with AIA National
September 16-17 + 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 September and November course info.
Urban Design Forum: Committee Meeting + Talk
Wednesday, September 23 | 12pm PT Online
Join UDF for their monthly meeting and talk, “Conceptual Landscape Designs for Sustainable Coastal and Waterfront Development,” with César Salazar, an architect, landscape researcher, and doctoral candidate in Marine Sciences at the Universidad de Antioquia.
CRAN Symposium 2026: San Antonio
September 23-26 in San Antonio
Exploring LEGACY—the lasting influence of place, design, and people who shaped San Antonio’s rich and vibrant residential architecture. Three days of curated seminars, inspiring home tours, special networking events, and an innovative vendor showcase.
AADU Inscape Tour
Saturday, September 26 | 10-11:30am
Join the Asian American Designers Union (AADU) for a guided walking tour by the Wing Luke Museum of Seattle’s former US Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS) building, now known as the Inscape Arts Building. Learn about the stories of early immigration in Seattle and reflect upon the current immigration landscape of today. Attendees will also receive all-day access to the Wing Luke Museum galleries.
2026 Business of Architecture Program
Monday, September 28 | 9am-6pm at the National Nordic Museum
A Whole Systems Approach to Business Planning explores how mission, vision, finance, operations, marketing, and business development work together to create an equitable and sustainable practice. This session is facilitated by industry experts at AVEC.
8 LU
AHC End of Summer Happy Hour – Portland
Tuesday, September 29 | 4-6pm at Andersen Construction
Join AIA Seattle’s Architecture for Health Committee (AHC) as they celebrate the end of summer by coming together for a fun-filled networking event!
Submissions due: 2026 Honor Awards for Washington Architecture
Submit by Wednesday, September 30 at 5pm PT
Learn more about the program and read FAQs, see the 2026 Call for Submissions + Guidelines and submit here. Get inspired by past winners and last year’s submissions.
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.
Space for Lease in the Journal of Commerce (DJC) Building
Located across from the downtown ferry terminal at 83 Columbia Street, Seattle, WA. For more information, contact Zeke Pelleur.
Provide Feedback on Proposed Regulation of Commercial Interior Design
AIAWA Council requests your input on proposed legislation to register commercial interior designers in Washington state (HB 2721). Your feedback will directly inform the board’s determination. Learn more here and take the survey.
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.
Reveal your ideal HVAC solution: an accurate HVAC quiz
Presented by BetterBricks
This simple quiz reveals your building’s best bet to achieve efficient, healthy, and comfortable indoor spaces.
October 2026
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.
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.
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.
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
Plan Ahead
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.
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
Energy Code Training
Wednesday, September 23 | 6:30-8:30pm, hybrid
Join the Northwest EcoBuilding Guild to get up to speed on the 2024 Energy Code. This informative training is designed to help ecobuilding professionals understand the latest requirements and what they mean for your projects.
Cybersecurity in the Age of AI
Tuesday, September 15 | 12-1pm PT online
Presented by SDF Pacific Northwest, this session explores how AI is changing the cybersecurity landscape. Attendees will learn how AI is being used to make phishing attempts, social engineering, and business email compromise more convincing and difficult to detect.
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.
Own your studio in Pioneer Square – The Lofts at 210 Third
Presented by Compass
Own your studio in Pioneer Square. 1,673 sf live/work loft at The Lofts at 210 Third (the 1904 H.N. Richmond Paper Co. Warehouse), featuring 11-ft ceilings, timber beams, deeded parking. Home to an engineering firm for 14 years. See details here.
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.
