Advancement to the AIA College of Fellows is granted for significant achievement in design, preservation, education, literature, and service. It honors architects who have made a significant contribution to architecture and society on a national level.

Individuals who have been Architect level members for 10 or more years are eligible for consideration. Most candidates are nominated to submit a Fellowship application to the AIA College of Fellows Jury by their local chapter.

See the AIANY Fellows Directory here >

Refer to the American Institute of Architects headquarters website for the National Jury’s overview of the College of Fellows, submission guidelines, and links to past recipients.

Learn more at AIA.org

2024 New Fellows

  • Douglass Alligood, FAIA
    BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group
  • Gina L. Bocra, FAIA
    NYC Department of Buildings
  • Erleen K. Hatfield, FAIA, PE
    Hatfield Group
  • Nicole A. Hollant-Denis, FAIA
    AARIS Design Architects
  • Hana Kassem, FAIA
    Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates
  • Jeffrey A. Kenoff, FAIA
    Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates
  • Sameer Kumar, FAIA
    Techne Architectural Design
  • Catherine Seavitt Nordenson, FAIA
    Catherine Seavitt Studio
  • A. James Tinson, FAIA
    Hart Howerton
  • R. John Woelfling, FAIA
    Dattner Architects

2024 Fellows Committee

  • Heidi Blau, FAIA, co-chair
  • Sharon Egretta Sutton, Ph.D., FAIA, co-chair
  • Peter Cavaluzzi, FAIA
  • Stephan W. Jaklitsch, FAIA
  • Annya Ramirez-Jimenez, AIA
  • Magali Regis, AIA
  • Margaret Rietveld, FAIA

How to Become A Fellow

Call for Recommendations Due February 1, 2024

The AIA New York Chapter Fellows Committee accepts recommendations for local nominees for Fellowship at any time, but there is a deadline for each calendar year in February for consideration of submissions to the College of Fellows Jury for that year. Recommendations can be either self-referrals or submitted with the support of another AIA member. A recommendation from a Chapter Fellow is particularly appreciated.

Referrals should be sent to Suzanne Mecs at smecs@aiany.org with Subject Line: Recommendation to AIANY Fellows Committe

Portfolio Submissions Due April 5, 2024

Candidates who are recommended or identified by the Committee by mid-March will receive an invitation to submit a portfolio outlining their achievements for review by the Fellows Committee. Candidates are urged to confirm their eiligibility which includes at least 10 years as an Architect level (AIA) member. 

The requirements for the 2024 portfolio can also be downloaded here; each year's portfolio requst may have modest tweaks to the requirements, but will follow a similar framework.

As a local resource, the seminar What Does it Take to Become FAIA? was held on Wednesday, February 28, 2024; the recording is available at the link below. You may also request the 2024 slide deck for the February 2024 event by emailing Suzanne Mecs at smecs@aiany.org.

Nominees Selected Notified in early May

Committee notifies individuals in mid-May if they have been nominated by the Chapter for that year's submission for College of Fellows Jury consideration. Nominees are asked to identify their sponsors as soon as possible after their selection if it had not been noted in advance. Nominees, their adminstrative support, and sponsors are invited to a submission preparation workshop, which is  held in June, to review the submission requirements and best practices.

The National Honors and Awards department maintains a wealth of information on the Fellows section of their website, including samples of past successfull submissions. These can be accessed via the web or by inquiry to the national archivist. The Chapter also has some electronic copies from individuals elevated between 2007-2023; contact Suzanne Mecs (212-358-6115 or smecs@aiany.org) if you would like to recieve a particular portfolio.

Fellows Workshop May 14, 2024

Each year, the AIA New York Fellows Committee will host a morning workshop for nominees who are working on a Fellows submission to the College of Fellows Jury. We will review the requirements and provide insight based on experience with prior candidates. Details and registration to the event will be taken on the AIA New York Calendar starting about four weeks prior to the event.

Draft Submission Due August 9, 2024

Nominees supported by the Chapter prepare a draft of the 40 page submission following the guidelines from the Honors and Awards Department. The AIANY Fellows Committee will review and comment.

Final Submission Due early October each year

The National submission site is currently closed. However, resources and links are available at the AIA National website Fellowship section. Final instructions for the October submissions are posted by the Honors and Awards Department each June.

Fellows Candidates Notified of Jury Decisions Notification in February each year

Nominees who submitt in October 2024 will be notified by email coming from the Honors and Awards Department in Washington, DC in late February 2025.

New 2024 members of the College of Fellows will be honored at an investiture during the 2024 Conference on Architecture in Washington, DC. They will honored with a local reception on March 20, 2024.

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