Professional growth doesn’t happen in isolation – it happens through shared experiences, new perspectives, and meaningful conversations.
This year, Architecture Advantage team members Shane Nies and Deino Wonosikou attended the AIA National Conference in San Diego, joining thousands of architects and design professionals from across the country to explore emerging ideas shaping the future of the profession.
Deino Wonosikou (left) and Shane Nies (right) at AIA26.
For Deino, the experience was especially meaningful as a recipient of an AIA Emerging Professionals Grant, which connected her with a cohort of peers from across the country.
“The week was filled with so much learning, connecting, and an opportunity to explore a new city – my first time out west. It was incredibly valuable to attend sessions alongside other grant recipients, share stories from our professional journeys, and connect with leaders from AIA Minnesota. I’m grateful to Architecture Advantage for the opportunity to attend and their continued investment in my professional career.”
Conversations That Shape Better Projects
Among the many educational sessions, one of Shane’s highlights focused on an increasingly important topic: helping clients understand resilience, climate risk, and long-term project value.
The interactive workshop challenged attendees to think beyond immediate project goals and explore ways to introduce conversations around hazard planning, resilience, and future risk early in the design process. Through real-world scenarios, including discussions relevant to multi-family housing, participants explored strategies for guiding clients through complex decisions using new AIA resources like the Hazard & Climate Risk Acknowledgement and AIA Resilience Design Toolkit. The session reinforced an important takeaway: thoughtful design isn’t just about solving today’s challenges – it’s about preparing clients and communities for tomorrow
Learning Beyond the Classroom
The conference also provided opportunities to experience architecture in ways that extended beyond traditional educational sessions.
Deino toured the mechanical systems serving the San Diego Convention Center – where the conference was held – gaining firsthand insight into how building systems respond to different climates. She also attended a presentation by renowned Japanese architect Shigeru Ban, whose humanitarian work demonstrates how simple, thoughtful design can restore dignity and provide shelter following natural disasters.
“What impressed me most,” Deino reflected, “was how simple materials could create a sense of home and hope for people experiencing trauma.”
These experiences reinforced that innovation often begins with curiosity, whether exploring technical systems behind the scenes or learning how architecture can make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
Strengthening Our Profession
Beyond the educational sessions, both Shane and Deino cited the AIA Annual Meeting as a conference highlight, where members gathered to help shape the future direction of the organization.
The conference also created opportunities to build relationships with fellow emerging professionals, connect with AIA Minnesota leadership, attend the NextGen Mixer, and meet national AIA leaders – all valuable reminders that architecture is strengthened through collaboration and shared learning.
Bringing New Ideas Home
Conferences like AIA aren’t simply about earning continuing education credits – they’re about returning with new perspectives that strengthen our work.
Whether Shane was exploring strategies for resilience planning or Deino was connecting with peers, industry leaders, and architects making a global impact, both returned with ideas that will continue to inform how Architecture Advantage approaches design: thoughtfully, collaboratively, and with an eye toward creating places that serve people well for years to come.
