Illya Azaroff, FAIA, inaugurated as AIA’s 102nd President

Illya Azaroff, FAIA, was inaugurated as the 2026 AIA President on Friday, December 5, in Washington, D.C. He is the 102nd architect to hold the office.

“Changing the world is the loftiest of goals, but it is within our reach because we’re architects, uniquely skilled and positioned to unite people and rally forces as no other profession can,” Azaroff said during a speech at AIA’s new Global Campus for Architecture & Design. 

In addition to his role as an architect, Azaroff is a geographer and educator at the New York City College of Technology (CUNY). He is also the founding principal of +LAB Architect, a firm with offices in New York and Los Angeles. Azaroff is internationally acclaimed for his leadership in disaster mitigation, resilient adaptation, and regenerative design, earning recognition as a 2023 Star of Oceana for his impactful, award-winning work in the Pacific and Caribbean. 

He has served AIA in several key roles, including as the 2021 AIA New York state president, on the Strategic Council (2016-2018), and as founder of DFRR Design for Risk and Reconstruction committee at AIANY (2011-2021). Azaroff holds a Master of Architecture degree from Pratt Institute and bachelor's degrees in Geography and Architecture from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. 

“As many of you know, I’ve responded to disasters all over the world,” he said. “It’s not glamorous, and it can be a daunting process, but I consider it my calling. It’s in my DNA.” 

He encouraged members to take AIAU’s Safety Assessment Program Evaluator Training Course, to be held virtually from December 10-11, and “embrace your power to heal.” 

“Through thoughtful and empathetic design, we help transform a landscape of devastation into a place of hope and renewal, proving that while we can't control the storm, we can help guide people through it,” he said. 

Complete leadership information can be found on AIA’s website.