The AIA Ohio Foundation: Next Steps in Service to the Profession
Bruce Sekanick, FAIA, President, AIA Ohio Foundation
The AIA Ohio Foundation continues its work to advance the knowledge, awareness and understanding of the profession of architecture. Both traditional and new programs are expanding, built on the momentum of the work of last fall and earlier this spring.
This month saw the Foundation, with funding provided by AIA Ohio, jury and award the winners of the 2025 AIA Ohio/AIA Ohio Foundation Student Design Awards. The submissions were part of an ongoing program that encourages students to submit projects developed over the previous year for consideration by the Student Design Awards jury. This year, 18 projects from three of the five accredited architectural programs in Ohio were juried with five projects recognized for the quality of the design and the presentation provided. Students from all standings within the architectural programs are eligible, including those within the graduate programs.
The jury for the Student Design Awards included members from across the state, representing a variety of firm sizes and career stages. This year’s jurists were, Isabel Souza, Assoc. AIA, PMBA Architects, Perrsyburg, OH, Manuel Granja, AIA, SOL Design + Consulting , Cincinnati, OH, Mark Hensler, AIA, BBCO Columbus, OH, and Michele Schwartz, AIA, Phillips Sekanick Architects, inc., Warren, OH. The Foundation would like to express our thanks to each of the jurists for their time and efforts in reviewing the student submissions.
This year’s winners are:
First Place: Art in Motion – Bailey Nixon and Lauren Perry | University of Cincinnati
Second Place: Celestial Ascension – Carmela Buffone | Kent State University
Honorable Mention: Confluence – Ryan Shaw | Kent State University
Honorable Mention: Kinetic Skin – Garrett Scott | Kent State University
Honorable Mention: Urban Cultivation – Dylan Carson | Bowling Green State University
We would like to congratulate the winners and the programs on the quality of all of the submissions. These projects represent a rich future for the architectural profession in Ohio. The winners will be recognized at the AIA Ohio Design Awards program during the AIA Ohio “Intersect” Conference on September 25, 2025. Please plan to attend the conference to recognize these and other award recipients.
The awards program is only part of the work of the Foundation over the last quarter. On July 15th, the Foundation closed the submission window for the renewed grant applications program. Developed to assist AIA Ohio chapters, AIA members, and allied organizations, the grants program was developed to provide assistance for new initiatives or unique program opportunities related to the AIA Ohio Foundation mission. The grant’s program was placed on hiatus for several years as the Foundation looked at how the grants were being used and how they benefited members. This is the first year for the new program. Seven submissions were received by the deadline, and a special committee of the Board will be reviewing the applications. Recipients will be announced at the AIA Ohio Design Awards program on September 25, 2025.
Finally, the Foundation is in the midst of creating the first of several Legacy Scholarships. With one fully funded and a second in process, the Legacy Scholarships will supplement the AIA Ohio Foundation scholarships that are awarded annually to accredited architectural programs in Ohio. These legacy scholarships or funds are intended to provide additional opportunities to students or other programs within the state that provide awards in support of education and advancement of the profession. The criteria for the first two programs are being developed in a memorandum of understanding, with the expectation that the criteria, along with the submission information, will be released later this year.
The Foundation is grateful for the support of AIA members and firms in helping us fulfill our mission, and we look forward to working with each of you in strengthening the profession in Ohio.