Press Releases

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 2026—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