AIA New York Elects 2027 Leadership at 159th Annual Meeting

On Wednesday, June 17, 2026, AIA New York hosted its 159th Annual Meeting, where members gathered to elect 2027 leadership and celebrated the achievements of 2026 and its award recipients. The meeting also served as a moment to reflect on committee programs and initiatives of the last year, with a spotlight on 2026 AIANY President Mark Gardner, AIA, NOMA's presidential theme, Repair: Democracy and Urban Spaces.

NEW LEADERSHIP

Following a brief introduction from AIANY Executive Director Jesse Lazar, Assoc. AIA, the meeting began with a presentation from Gardner on his theme surrounding how we can address our social, ecological, and spatial inequities through design. He noted in particular that his theme is a call to action for architects and allied professionals to serve as design citizens, advocates, connectors, and environmentalists in working towards repair.

Gardner presented on the state of the Chapter and reviewed the year's memorable programs, sharing some statistics of 2025-so far, AIANY has hosted more than 120 programs and delivered over 130 Continuing Education hours, providing members with opportunities to learn, connect, and engage across a wide range of topics. Gardner then returned the podium to Lazar, who presented on the Chapter's financial health and budget.

2026 AIANY Board Secretary Kirsten Sibilia, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP, presented the work of the nominating committee, who created the 2026 Board and Elective Committee Slate, featured below.

AIANY CHAPTER RECOGNITION

The Annual Meeting also served as an opportunity to recognize members of the architecture and design community for their local and regional contributions.

Leadership in Housing Award: Kirk Goodrich, President, Monadnock Development

Public Architect Award: Thomas L. Grassi, FAIA, NCARB, Project Director, HNTB

Service to the Institute: TORCH Mentorship Program

Service to the City: Riders Alliance

Special Citations: Street Vendor Project

2027 BOARD OF DIRECTORS (*Elected at Annual Meeting)

*Hana Kassem, FAIA, NOMA, LEED WELL AP, KPF
President

*Peter Miller, AIA, LEED AP, Palette Architecture
First Vice President/President-Elect

Andrea Steele, AIA, Andrea Steele Architecture (ASA)
Vice President for Design Excellence

*Jessica Sheridan, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Mancini Duffy
Vice President for Professional Development

Gustavo Rodriguez, AIA, FXCollaborative
Vice President for Public Outreach

Kirsten Sibilia, Assoc. AIA, Dattner Architects
Secretary

Julia Murphy, AIA, Skidmore Owings & Merrill
Treasurer

Victoria Benatar, AIA, EXD Architecture
Director

Michael Caton, AIA, Juno
Director

Arthi Krishnamoorthy, AIA, LEED AP, TenBerke Architects
Director

*Astrid Lipka, AIA, Rice+Lipka Architects
Director

*Ankita Nalavade, Assoc. AIA, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Director

*David Polk, AIA, GSA
Director

Lindsay Harkema, AIA, WIP
Director

*Mimi Hoang, FAIA, nARCHITECTS
Director

Alison Landry, AIA, NYC Office of Mayor
Director (Public Outreach)

Gabrielle Esperdy, New Jersey Institute of Technology
Public Director

Jennifer Graham, FIIDA, LEED AP, Perkins & Will
Public Director

Harriet Harriss, Assoc. AIA, ARB, RIBA, PFHEA, FRSA, Ph.D, Pratt Institute
Public Director

*Vaidehi Mody, NYCHA
Public Director

Tami Hausman, PhD, HAUSMAN
Public Director, Oculus Advisor

*Antoine Cansado, Pratt Institute
Student Director

*Mark Gardner, AIA, NOMA, Jaklitsch/Gardner Architects
Immediate Past President

2026 ELECTIVE COMMITTEE SLATE (*Elected at Annual Meeting)

Design Awards Committee

*Sebastian Mendez, AIA
Tankhouse

*Quilian Riano
Pratt Institute

*Elaine Molinar, AIA
Snøhetta

*Jejon Yeung, AIA
Worrell Yeung

Fellows Committee

2025-2027

Rob Rogers, FAIA
Rogers Partners

Gregory Waugh, FAIA
Perkins+Will

2026-2028

Gina Bocra, FAIA
WSP USA

Lloyd Sigal, FAIA
KPF

2027-2029

*Mike Hellinghausen, FAIA, LEED AP
Omniplan

*Suchi Reddy, FAIA
Reddymade

2027-2028 (Fellow not required)

*Marta Sanders, AIA
Architecture Outfit

*Roberta Washington, FAIA, NOMA
Roberta Washington Architects, PC

Joint Finance Committee

2025-2027

Sara Rubenstein, AIA
Pelli Clarke Pelli

Matthew Snethen, AIA
Perkins Eastman

2026-2028

*Kenneth Drucker, FAIA, LEED AP
HOK

*Adam Rolston, AIA
INC Architecture & Design

2027-2029

*Erleen Hatfield, FAIA, PE, F.ASCE
Hatfield Group Engineering

*Tom Polucci, AIA
HOK

Honors Committee

2027-2028

*Kedishia Joseph, Assoc. AIA, NOMA
STV

*Yutaka Takiura, AIA
Pratt Institute

*Zoe Small, AIA
Studio Gang

2026-2027

Allison Lane, RA, AIA, ASID, NOMA, LEED AP, WELL AP, NCARB, NCIDQ
AECOM

Eve Michel, AIA
EMREcon

Katie Swenson, Assoc. AIA
MASS Design Group

Oculus Committee

2027-2029

*Jason Ivaliotis, AIA
ULI New York

*James Sanders, FAIA
James Sanders Studio

*Laura Wainer
The City College of New York

2026-2027

Alexandra Barker, FAIA, LEED AP
Barker Architecture Office | Pratt Institute

Ruth Ro, AIA
Dattner Architects

Christopher Stoddard, AIA
Ennead Architects