A22CON: A Journey to the Chicago Convention

Adelina Koleva, AIA, with AIA 2023 president-elect Kimberly Dowdell, AIA, NOMAC, LEED AP, at this year’s AIA Conference on Architecture (A’22). Dowdell made history as AIA National’s first Black woman president. Photo by Genie Khmelnitski.

As the largest annual gathering of AIA members from around the globe, the three-day AIA National Conference on Architecture is perhaps one of the more exciting events in an architect’s calendar. On the surface, it’s like many professional conferences – embedded firmly within the traditional corporate world, part of a mainstream culture of commercial practice. Nonetheless, architecture is generally a creative and forward-thinking profession, and - for those willing to dig deeper - the A’22 Conference had something unique to offer everyone.

This year’s conference was the first I attended as a newly licensed architect. Luckily for me, the event took place not only in my jurisdiction, but in the city where I grew up. I had already planned to travel to Chicago anyway for personal reasons, so I could not pass up the opportunity to attend. Thanks to the recognition by my local AIA UK Chapter that more senior Board members were all unable to attend, I was able to upgrade my conference package to a Gold Pass. Before I knew it, I was on my way to A’22 in Chicago for the weekend of June 22-25.

I cannot help but appreciate Chicago as a host city for the AIA Conference on Architecture. Not only is Chicago a world-class destination, it is also one of the few cities where architecture and architects reign supreme. Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Sullivan, Mies van der Rohe, and Daniel Burnham are among the famous historic architects practicing in the area. Some notable projects include Robie House (Wright), and Farnsworth House (van der Rohe) – both of which I managed to visit on my trip.

Some of Chicago’s more recent architectural highlights include Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) by Chicago-based architectural practice Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM), which was the world’s tallest building from 1973 to 1998. The Aqua Tower by Jeanne Gang, completed in 2009, was the tallest building in the world designed by a woman. It was surpassed recently by the St. Regis (formerly Wanda Vista Tower) in 2020 – also by Jeanne Gang.

Chicago provides much for architects to explore, including world-famous architectural river boat tours. Photo by Adelina Koleva.

Aside from its attractive location, the A’22 Conference holds many additional benefits for the average attendee. First and foremost, it offers much-needed continuing education credits. As newly registered, keeping up with the required credits has been a recent adjustment, one which was made easier with the countless tours, workshops, and lectures available throughout the weekend. Another advantage of attending the conference was the social atmosphere. Following pandemic restrictions, the event gave me a chance to connect in person with design gurus and industry insiders. After a couple years in relative isolation, it felt great to be meeting new people.

One person I managed to meet was none other than Kimberly Dowdell, AIA, NOMAC, LEED AP, the incumbent 2023 AIA President whose win was announced earlier this year. I noticed her first at the Sheraton Grand hotel before finding an opportunity to approach her at the McCormick Centre. Dowdell has made history as the AIA's first Black woman president. As a former President of NOMA, she will also no doubt set an example for greater inclusivity and access within the profession. 

Elsewhere to be seen was the A’22 Conference host, Lee Bey. Bey is a Chicago-based author, lecturer, and photographer. He is recognized locally for his prior role as the Chicago Sun-Times architecture critic, and more widely for work featured in Architectural Record and Architect magazine.

The 2022 AIA Conference on Architecture was based in Chicago’s McCormick Centre. Photo by Adelina Koleva.

Themes of equity and sustainability were trending topics in many events and exhibits at the conference. Women and minorities are emerging as leaders in the profession, taking centre stage to offer fresh inspiration and perspectives on architecture. The NOMA display showcased minority-led projects, including the National September 11 WTC Memorial Museum and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. 

Meanwhile, climate seminars and workshops focused on equipping architects with the necessary knowledge and tools to meet sustainability targets. There is a tremendous industry-wide push to raise awareness about embodied carbon and means for reducing it.

Technology was also a major theme. Sketchup, Autodesk, and Unreal were among the major brands represented at the Expo pavilions. Visitors were invited to test various software packages and products. New proprietary building techniques, such as 3D-printed facades, were also on display. Other technologies shaping practice included the Swatchbox application, which offers a one-stop shop for ordering material samples online. In addition, an increasing number of AI-powered engines are emerging to make it easier to verify building code compliance.

Architecture technology was well-represented at the A’22 conference. Photo by Adelina Koleva.

The Day 1 Conference Keynote featured the new AIA EVP/CEO, Lakisha Ann Woods, CAE in conversation with architect, professor, and editor Julia Gamolina. Woods succeeds EVP/CEO Robert Ivy, FAIA whom I was fortunate enough to meet at an AIA event in Singapore back in 2011. Although she is not an architect, Woods spoke about her new role with optimism. Her talk highlighted the importance of identifying the organization’s priorities by asking questions and listening to the stories of its members.

Julia Gamolina, her interviewer, certainly knows about stories. As founder and editor-in-chief of Madam Architect, she has profiled over 300 women in the profession and is generating significant buzz on Instagram. Gamolina is currently an Associate Principal and business development director at New York-based Ennead Architects. She is also an assistant visiting professor at Pratt Institute.

The Day 2 Conference Keynote was a panel conversation between Vishaan Chakrabarti, FAIA, Renée Cheng, FAIA, and Jeanne Gang, FAIA. Chakrabarti is the founder and creative director of New York-based Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU) known for the N.Y.C. (“Not Your Car”) project which envisions New York City without cars. 

Cheng is currently John and Rosalind Jacobi Family Endowed Dean of the College of Built Environments at the University of Washington and is known for leading the research effort for the AIA Guides for Equitable Practice. 

Chicago-based Jeanne Gang, founding principal of Studio Gang, is an internationally recognized architect and a long-time darling of the Chicago’s architecture scene. I credit her personally – as well as her computationally-generated design for the Aqua Tower – as inspiring me to enter the profession. I was fortunate enough to see her speak previously while a student at the Rice School of Architecture in 2013.

The Day 3 Conference Keynote was the climax of the A’22 Conference. It was a much-anticipated event; the queue formed several hours in advance and seemed to reach the length of the Magnificent Mile itself. Former United States President and Chicago native, Barack Obama, spoke with 2022 AIA President Dan Hart, FAIA.

The final keynote concluded the conference. As the crew began to dismantle the A’22 Expo, I rushed for one final visit to the gift shop (along with many others). Looking back, I can say that my first AIA conference experience was a success. Though I am a rookie in the field, I made a lot of progress engaging with the wider profession and embracing my position as an AIA member. Thank you, AIA UK, for your continued support!

Written by Adelina Koleva, AIA

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