2025 has been an incredible year, filled with many firsts for the Council as well as the continuation of essential work from 2024. We held a virtual Big Think in September 2024, inviting all AIA members to help inform our areas of study. In October 2024,we finalized study group topics and group members, enabling us to start our work before arriving at Governance Week in December. This early coordination and collaboration enabled us to start digging into meaningful details of each area of study during our time together in person.
Additional ‘firsts’ this year include incorporating AI imagery into our Monthly Council Reports and publishing the Climate Responsive Design & Leadership’s monthly Climate Corner communications aimed at providing easily digestible climate resources to AIA members. Our internal Equity Task Force worked with AIA Staff to advance previous recommendations from the 2024 Equity study group. Our areas of study looked outward to society but also investigated inwardly by focusing on the AIA and the Council itself. This included the ratification of a new internal Council leadership structure and will ensure continuity of leadership in the years ahead.
We continued improving our communication channels through broader distribution of our monthly Council reports throughout the AIA ecosystem. We renewed our intentional collaborations with the Young Architects Forum (YAF), National Associates Committee(NAC), and the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) by inviting representatives to participate in each Council study group.
The Council championed the AIA Artificial Intelligence Policy Resolution to help prepare AIA members for the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) by establishing clear policies and promoting responsible adoption of AI technologies. This Resolution was overwhelmingly approved by the delegates at the AIA25 Annual Business meeting.
We are proud of the work of the 2025 Council and know it will continue to drive meaningful progress within the AIA. We are deeply appreciative of the dedicated Councilors and liaisons who offered their insights and invested their time. Together, these collective efforts reflect a year of innovation, collaboration, and forward momentum that position the Council as a catalyst for meaningful change across the Institute and the profession.
by Moderator Jessica O’Donnell, AIA and Vice-Moderator Abigail Brown, FAIA