Ceara M. O'Leary, AIA
Ceara O’Leary, AIA, is a 2026 recipient of the AIA Young Architect Award. She is recognized for her human-centered design approach and dedication to mentoring the next generation of architects.
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Ceara O'Leary8869 Avis Opening Celebration, new home to Inside Southside Detroit. -
Ceara O'LearyLivernois Community Storefront event, activating a formerly vacant storefront for community events with a corridor-wide ripple effect. -
Ceara O'LearyCommunity-engaged design in action, Fitzgerald neighborhood, Detroit.
Ceara O’Leary, AIA, is recognized for her thoughtful, human-centered approach to architecture and her commitment to advancing the profession through both design excellence and mentorship. Her work reflects a deep sensitivity to context, materiality, and the lived experiences of those who inhabit the spaces she creates.
Beyond her practice work at the Detroit Collaborative Design Center, Ceara has demonstrated a strong dedication to supporting emerging professionals and fostering inclusive pathways into architecture. Through her leadership, she has helped cultivate environments where collaboration, curiosity, and purpose-driven design can thrive.
Her contributions exemplify the values of the profession: design that serves, leadership that uplifts, and a sustained commitment to shaping a more equitable and resilient built environment.
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.
Melanie Islam, AIA, is a 2026 recipient of the AIA Young Architect Award. She advances climate action through policy, practice, and collaboration—shaping resilient communities and measurable design
