The AIANY Women in Architecture Committee celebrated their Holiday Party and announced the winners of the 11th Annual WIA Recognition Award on January 27. The reception was held at the Fisher & Paykel Experience Center. Co-chairs Vivian Lee, FAIA, and Rosalind Tsang, AIA, recapped 2021 WIA events and introduced a video released from the Design and Practice Exchange: Navigating the (Post) Pandemic Terrain by Melissa Chua of Lean by Design.

Our esteemed Recognition Award Jury included Latoya Kamdang, AIA, Associate Principal & Director of Operations, Moody Nolan; Hilary Sample, FAIA, Principal & Co-Founder, MOS Architects; and Dana Tang, AIA,  Partner, Gluckman Tang. The award honors a recently licensed architect in NYC who demonstrates strong leadership skills and a commitment to the growth and advancement of the profession.  Juror Latoya Kamdang, AIA noted how the deliberation process was particularly challenging due to the high caliber of applicants. Ultimately, the Jury awarded two notable candidates, Anne Xiangyu Chen, AIA and Arielle Siegel Lapp, AIA.  Anne has a diversity of leadership experience that is impressive. She has established herself as a leader within her local community by advocating for more tree planting and has engaged community leaders and developers in the process. Arielle is an impressive candidate and has demonstrated initiative in using statistical analysis and research to better understand possible disparities in the profession of architecture.  Her commitment to seeking and publishing data around issues is helpful for understanding how we can expand DEI in our profession.  The award includes a $1,000 stipend toward travel and expenses to attend the 2022 AIA Conference on Architecture.  The women architects licensed in NYC in 2021 were invited to the front to be honored, and each shared valuable advice for pursuing licensure.

Raffle prizes were revealed to the lucky winners. Prizes included “How Women Rise” by Sally Helgesen, a Dinner and Mentor Session with Andrea Steele, AIA, from Andrea Steele Architecture, and the highly sought-after AIANY WIA Tote Bag.

The evening concluded with networking, good conversation, and a sense of community returning after a long time spent physically apart. A special thank you to Fisher & Paykel for providing delicious hors d’oeuvres and refreshments and being gracious and welcoming hosts, as always.