by: AIA New York
New Hires and Promotions
The NYC Public Design Commission has announced its new Executive Director Erich Bilal. He is joining from EDC, where he oversaw public engagement, planning, design, and implementation for social infrastructure and community-oriented development projects across the five boroughs.
Perkins Eastman has announced new leadership for its New York studio: Alkis Klimathianos has joined Rachel Birnboim to co-lead the office.
Honors and Awards
The American Academy in Rome has named its 2026–27 Rome Prize and Italian Fellows, selected from a pool of 958 applicants across the US and abroad. Among the awardees is Erica Avrami, PhD, James Marston Fitch Associate Professor of Historic Preservation at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation, who received the Adele Chatfield-Taylor Rome Prize under Historic Preservation and Conservation.
The World Monuments Fund (WMF) has announced that Docomomo US‘ Executive Director, Liz Waytkus, will be honored as the 2026 Watch Award Honoree. She is being recognized for her 16 years guiding the work of Docomomo US and its mission to preserve modern architecture.
Departures and Transitions
After 12 years as Principal and Director of Operations, Steven Forman, AIA, has announced his departure from Diller Scofidio + Renfro.