Elizabeth Chu Richter, FAIA, elected 2015 AIA President

Delegates to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) national convention in Denver elected Elizabeth Chu Richter (AIA Corpus Christi) to serve as the 2014 AIA first vice president/president-elect and 2015 AIA president. James Easton Rains, Jr., FAIA, and Thomas V. Vonier, FAIA, will each serve as vice president from 2014 through 2015; and James P. Grounds, AIA, as the Institute’s Treasurer from 2014 through 2015.

Currently a member of the AIA National Board of Directors representing Texas, Richter was president of the Texas Society of Architects in 2007. With the National AIA component, she has taken a strong interest in rewarding design excellence, serving on design juries, as chair of the AIA Gold Medal and Firm Award Advisory jury, a member of the AIA Regional and Urban Design Award jury, and multiple AIA component design awards juries. Her own design contributions were recognized in 2001, when she received an AIA Young Architects Award.

Richter is the CEO of Richter Architects in Corpus Christi, Texas. Her firm offers a wide variety of master planning, programming, design, interior design, construction documents, construction administration, and construction management services. Richter Architects received the 2011 Texas Society of Architects Firm Award.

“I’m hoping that my leadership will help bring the AIA into a more member-focused future, building greater public engagement and understanding, while also refining the Institute’s leadership structure and operation focus, said Richter. “More than ever, the repositioned AIA will be highly valued and globally relevant in its service to society in building a better world.”

James Easton Rains, Jr., FAIA Elected 2014-15 AIA Vice President

Mr. Rains Jr., FAIA, from AIA North Carolina, was elected 2014-2015 AIA Vice President at the AIA National Convention in Denver. Rains was the president of AIA Wilmington in 1996, president of AIA North Carolina in 2006, and became a member of the AIA National Board of Directors in 2010. In 2011, he helped lead the AIA’s national advocacy efforts by chairing the ArchiPAC Steering Committee, which guides the AIA’s bipartisan political action committee.

Thomas V. Vonier, FAIA Elected 2014-15 AIA Vice President

Mr. Vonier, FAIA, from AIA Continental Europe, was elected 2014-2015 AIA Vice President at the AIA National Convention in Denver. The founder and past president of AIA Continental Europe from 1994 to 1995, Vonier served on the AIA Board of Directors representing the AIA International Region from 2010-2012.

John P. Grounds, AIA, Elected 2014-15 AIA Treasurer

Grounds, AIA, from AIA D.C., was elected 2014-2015 AIA Treasurer at the AIA National Convention in Denver. Grounds began his involvement in AIA leadership in California, where he was AIA San Fernando Valley’s president in 2002. With AIA California Council, he became the co-chair for its planning and finance committee from 2006-2008, and eventually its president in 2009. After relocating to Washington, D.C., Grounds continued serving the Institute with financial management leadership as a member of the finance and audit committee from 2010 to 2012 while he was a regional director on the AIA National Board.

About The American Institute of Architects

Founded in 1857, members of the American Institute of Architects consistently work to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings, neighborhoods, and communities. Through nearly 300 state and local chapters, the AIA advocates for public policies that promote economic vitality and public well being. Members adhere to a code of ethics and conduct to ensure the highest professional standards. The AIA provides members with tools and resources to assist them in their careers and business as well as engaging civic and government leaders, and the public to find solutions to pressing issues facing our communities, institutions, nation and world. Visit www.aia.org.

For most of human history, design has mostly considered “typical users” who are fully able-bodied without clinical or emotional disabilities. The problem with this approach is that it offers a limited perspective on how space can positively or negatively influence someone based on their physical, mental, and sensory abilities.

Giants 400 | Jan 2, 2024

Top 120 Hotel Architecture Firms for 2023

Gensler, WATG, HKS, DLR Group, and HBG Design top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest hotel and resort architecture and architecture/engineering (AE) firms for 2023, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report.

Resiliency | Jan 2, 2024

Americans are migrating from areas of high flood risk

Americans are abandoning areas of high flood risk in significant numbers, according to research by the First Street Foundation. Climate Abandonment Areas account for more than 818,000 Census Blocks and lost a total of 3.2 million-plus residents due to flooding from 2000 to 2020, the study found.

MFPRO+ News | Jan 2, 2024

New York City will slash regulations on housing projects

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is expected to cut red tape to make it easier and less costly to build housing projects in the city. Adams would exempt projects with fewer than 175 units in low-density residential areas and those with fewer than 250 units in commercial, manufacturing, and medium- and high-density residential areas from environmental review.

Contractors | Dec 22, 2023

DBIA releases two free DEI resources for AEC firms

The Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) has released two new resources offering guidance and provisions on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) on design-build projects.

MFPRO+ News | Dec 22, 2023

Document offers guidance on heat pump deployment for multifamily housing

ICAST (International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology) has released a resource guide to help multifamily owners and managers, policymakers, utilities, energy efficiency program implementers, and others advance the deployment of VHE heat pump HVAC and water heaters in multifamily housing.

Currently Reading

Elizabeth Chu Richter, FAIA, elected 2015 AIA President

Tags

Roofing | Jan 8, 2024

MFPRO+ News | Jan 4, 2024

MFPRO+ Special Reports | Jan 4, 2024

Giants 400 | Jan 3, 2024

Designers | Jan 3, 2024

Giants 400 | Jan 2, 2024

Resiliency | Jan 2, 2024

MFPRO+ News | Jan 2, 2024

Contractors | Dec 22, 2023

MFPRO+ News | Dec 22, 2023

Most Popular Content

Magazine Subscription

Get our Newsletters

Follow BD+C: