Career and the profession
Day 2 of AIA26: Padma Lakshmi speaks, College of Fellows welcomes new members, and more
Check out the day in photos. (There is a puppy!)
On Thursday in San Diego, AIA26 attendees explored the expo floor, gained insights from a keynote conversation between television host Padma Lakshmi and 2027 AIA president-elect Yiselle Santos Rivera, and had multiple opportunities to explore seminars and workshops. Three new leaders were also elected to the Board of Directors. See the highlights below!
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Shigeru Ban, Hon. FAIA, received the Gold Medal Award from 2026 AIA president Illya Azaroff, FAIA, and AIA EVP/CEO Carole Wedge, FAIA, during Thursday's mainstage session. -
Ban signed books after his ArchiTalk, a presentation he gave to an at-capacity ballroom. During the ArchiTalk, he walked the audience through decades of his projects, including several humanitarian undertakings. For example, he highlighted his emphasis on partitions in evacuation facilities, saying he considered privacy "the most basic human right." -
San Diego mayor Todd Gloria welcomed attendees to Thursday morning's mainstage session and highlighted the role architects and designers play in helping cities solve problems. -
Sixty-seven new Fellows and 11 new Honorary Fellows were inducted into AIA's prestigious College of Fellows during a Thursday ceremony. -
A quartet from the San Diego Symphony performed before Padma Lakshmi's keynote address. -
Padma Lakshmi (right) spoke with 2027 AIA president-elect Yiselle Santos Rivera, AIA, during her Thursday keynote address. -
The AIA26 Expo, the largest event of its kind in the architecture industry. -
The ever-popular Puppy Park on the expo floor, sponsored by SynLawn, was a hit again this year. -
The NextGen Lounge on the expo floor is designed for students and emerging AEC professionals looking for guidance, mentorship, and career-building resources.
