Helping Architects Be Better Architects AIA Utah 2025 Year-End Summary BY WHITNEY WARD, AIA, LEED BD+C, PRESIDENT, AIA UTAH In 2025, AIA Utah advanced its mission of helping architects be better architects by educating, advocating for and engaging with our members across the state. It was a year defined by energy, collaboration and meaningful progress for the profession. A Year of Impactful Engagement AIA Utah partnered with allied organizations to provide 17 collaborative events and independently hosted an additional 35 events, giving members access to 52 total programs at free or reduced cost. These offerings drew 974 member attendances and reflected our commitment to delivering value to our members. Each program was intentionally aligned with our chapter values, which continue to guide our work and shape the profession in Utah. Design Excellence Actively seeking design excellence through education and celebration. From building tours to award celebrations, members experienced firsthand the innovation shaping our state. Highlights included the Central Section Design Awards, the Fairpark Historic Homes Tour, UVU and U of U project tours, and our capstone event — the AIA Utah Conference and Architecture Awards. These programs showcased exemplary work, elevated design dialogue and reinforced Utah’s leadership in thoughtful, high-quality architecture. Our architectural achievements will also be highlighted through our new partnership with America ByDesign, where we will be able to showcase the incredible design work of Utah architects. This on-going partnership will highlight the work by Utah architects for years to come. Stewardship Representing the health, safety and welfare of people and our natural surroundings. Stewardship continued to be a defining focus in 2025. Members explored critical topics including zero-emission housing, high-performance materials, water infrastructure, historic preservation and transit-oriented development. Tours of the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, Park City Water Treatment Facility and Spanish Fork Library Hall connected policy, sustainability and design in a meaningful, hands-on way. We were able to support the Division of Facilities Construction and Management at the State of Utah through a review and recommendation of improvements for the State Design Standards, ensuring state-funded projects use public funding wisely and enhance state operations. We also strengthened partnerships with organizations advancing environmental leadership — from USGBC to Utah Clean Energy — broadening the chapter’s reach and shared impact. Integrity Maintaining honesty and professional ethics in practice. AIA Utah supported members in navigating licensure, professional development, ethics and firm management. Programs such as Architect Licensure in Utah, the Salary Negotiations Workshop, Pathway to Fellowship and our Government Affairs legislative briefings equipped members with clarity and confidence in their careers. We are also starting an architectural integrity task force to explore ways to support qualifications-based selections and fair value for architectural work within the state to support integrity and professional ethics statewide. 4 REFLEXION
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