Jeffrey Pastva, AIA

Demonstrating effective leadership at every level, Jeffrey Pastva, AIA, has elevated the voice of today’s young architects and inserted it deftly into a profession-wide discourse. By continually exploring dynamic pathways for communication, he has bridged generational gaps to deliver a better understanding of the AIA’s membership.

A project architect for Philadelphia’s JDavis Architects, Pastva has had a hand in many of the firm’s complex large-scale projects. Currently he’s leading a team through the redevelopment of Philadelphia’s Royal Theater, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and located on Philadelphia’s celebrated South Street. Navigating the complex approval process required by the city’s historical commission, legislation, and countless community meetings, Pastva and his team have envisioned a 50-unit, 65,000-square-foot mixed-use anchor designed to invigorate a budding commercial corridor.

Prior to joining JDavis, Pastva was one of the first hires at the architectural startup Haley Donovan. During his five years at the firm, he worked on more than 15 affordable housing projects—totaling more than 1,000 units—including critically acclaimed Pentecostal Square, a 70,000-square-foot senior housing development in nearby Chester, Pa.

Outside of his firm, Pastva has played a key role in advancing the impact of emerging professionals. Having held a number of roles in the Young Architects Forum—including local chair, regional director, and communications director—Pastva has envisioned professional development avenues for young architects and seasoned professionals alike. His efforts resulted in a grant from the College of Fellows to provide feedback on oral presentations, a celebration for the winners of AIA Philadelphia’s Young Architect Award, and a three-part lecture series presented in conjunction with Hidden City Philadelphia, a widely read website that reports on issues affecting the built environment. Last year Pastva joined AIA Philadelphia’s board of directors as its AIA Pennsylvania representative, and he has stepped into the state component’s newly announced treasurer position.

A gifted writer and editor, Pastva has since 2012 been involved with Connection, the national YAF publication. As editor in chief in 2015 and 2016, he instilled a journalistic approach and gathered content from high-performing but underrecognized emerging professionals. Under his leadership the publication reached new highs, with increases in both contributions and engagement.

Pastva is fully engaged with his community and a founding member of the South of South Neighborhood Association’s Architectural Review Committee. This board-appointed body, which reviews all development requests for the neighborhood that require variances, is a hyper-local version of Philadelphia’s civic design review process. In the past three years, the committee’s work has been recognized by residents and the city’s zoning board for fostering economic development and revitalizing the neighborhood’s commercial spaces.

Pastva is a sought-after thought leader for a reason. Exhibiting incredible reach and influence at such an early stage of his career, Pastva’s ability to form lasting connections has affected the AIA’s young members in a highly positive way.