An Evening with Evelyn Lee, FAIA & 2025 AIA National President

“An Evening with Evelyn Lee, FAIA & 2025 AIA National President”

Please join us for a discussion with Evelyn Lee, FAIA who will share her insights on the evolution of architectural practice, leadership development, diversity in design, and the integration of technology within an ever-evolving world.

THRIVE in 2025 and Beyond: Evelyn outlined her plan for this year via the acronym THRIVE: leading AIA to be an organization that is transparent, human, resilient, intrepid, visionary, and empowering.

“Let’s build a profession that not only designs the world around us but leads it toward a more inclusive, sustainable, and inspiring future… Let’s reimagine what it means to be an architect—not just as a designer of buildings, but as a leader, a collaborator, and a force for good.” – Evelyn Lee

Q&A will follow after the interview.

FEATURED SPEAKER

Evelyn M. Lee, FAIA – 2025 AIA National President

Evelyn M. Lee, FAIA, is a multi-faceted professional who uniquely blends her architectural background with a tech-driven focus. As an architect now immersed in the tech industry, she serves as an angel investor, startup advisor, and fractional COO for SMB Architecture firms, playing a pivotal role in their growth and success. Despite her career transition, Evelyn’s passion for architecture remains unshaken, fueled by a deep admiration for the professionals in the field, their dedication to serving clients, and the indelible impact they imprint on communities.

A sought-after speaker, Evelyn regularly shares her insights on the evolution of architecture practice, leadership and team development, the integration of technology in practice operations, and the exploration of alternative careers. Outside of her architectural pursuits, she is a founding advisor for Women Defining AI, championing a more inclusive and diverse landscape in artificial intelligence. Evelyn Lee’s leadership and forward-thinking approach are not just about innovation and progress, they’re about guiding the architectural profession towards new, uncharted directions.

HOST

Ken Downing, AIA – Light Build Design

Starting as designer in San Francisco for clients including the Getty and Shorenstein families an interest in sustainability led Ken to specialty in panelized construction followed by decade with the first manufacturer in world to develop sound absorbing acoustic lighting.  Now, at Light Build Design, Ken focuses on assisting southern California lighting designers and architects working globally.  He has judged the IES lighting awards three times and his commitment to healthcare and education is deeply personal.  Currently serving as the AIA Los Angeles chair for Architecture in Healthcare Ken advocates for evidence-based design and lighting strategies using new technologies for best practice solutions with improved health.

Learning Objectives

(Pending)