Anna Squier, AIA
Anna Squier, AIA, is a 2026 recipient of the AIA Young Architect Award. Through design, advocacy, and leadership, she is shaping a more equitable and sustainable built environment. Her work, spanning community-focused projects, environmental innovation, and professional leadership, demonstrates the power of architecture to reflect and uplift the people it serves.

Anna Squier, AIA, is an architect and leader whose work centers on creating thoughtful, community-driven environments that balance elegance, pragmatism, and impact. As an associate principal at MA Architecture, she brings a rigorous, iterative design approach to projects of all scales, transforming them into spaces that reflect the culture and aspirations of the communities they serve.
Squier’s portfolio reflects a deep commitment to sustainability and resilience. She has advanced zero-carbon and environmentally responsible design across diverse project types, including the City of Des Moines Greenhouse Facility and Solar Field, a LEED Gold-certified, net-zero project that exemplifies innovation in energy performance and climate-responsive design. Her expertise in adaptive reuse and historic preservation further demonstrates her ability to extend the life of existing buildings while enhancing their relevance and performance for contemporary use.
Beyond practice, Squier is a dedicated advocate for the profession. Her leadership within AIA at the local, regional, and national levels—including service on the AIA National Design Awards jury and the AIA Iowa Board of Directors—has helped shape conversations around design excellence and equity in practice. She has also elevated architectural discourse through her editorial leadership of Iowa Architect and extensive writing, championing the value of design to a broad audience.
Committed to mentorship and advancing equity, Squier actively fosters inclusive pathways within the profession, notably through her leadership in Iowa Women in Architecture and her contributions to national conversations on equitable practice. Her work spanning design, advocacy, and communication demonstrates architecture’s capacity to create meaningful, healthy, and inclusive communities.
The Young Architect Award honors individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to the architecture profession early in their careers.
See all the early career architects recognized for exceptional work.


