| |
Classes and Schedule
|
Wednesday, July 15, 2026
|
|
1 - 4 p.m.
|
Annual Meeting
Participate in AIA Florida's Annual Meeting to engage with leadership candidates' speeches, join the tradition of the FAPAC parade of checks, and stay informed about volunteer committee activities. Gain valuable insights into the future of the architecture industry during this informative and dynamic event.
|
Fee: Included in registration
Sponsored by:
|
|
Thursday, July 16, 2026
|
|
7:45 - 8:15
|
Continental Breakfast
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
8:15 - 10 a.m.
|
Session A: Kickoff and Keynote: I Don’t Make Art. I Make Change. Where Risk Becomes Return | 1 LU
Speaker: JEFRË, Artist, studio JEFRË LLC
In this design inspiration keynote, JEFRË reflects on a life-altering moment that reshaped how he defines success, risk, and purpose. Drawing from his journey from urban designer to public artist, he explores how creative courage, collaboration, and human-centered design can transform cities and generate lasting cultural and economic value. This talk challenges designers to move beyond objects and toward work that creates meaningful change and endures.
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
|
Kids Workshops
Presented by Architects in the Making (AIM) and Black Architects in the Making (BAM)
10 – 11:45 a.m.: Introduction to Architecture and Town Planning
This workshop will introduce students to architecture in an interactive and fun manner that sets the stage to understanding the importance of the built environment and the professionals that design it. The workshop explains who are the people that design our communities and how to become one of these professionals. A basic paper folding model building technique will be practiced during this session to create excitement for the afternoon session.
12 – 1 p.m.: Lunch on your own
1:30 - 3:30 p.m.: Hands-on Community Model Building
The group will build a model of a community based on the lessons from the previous session. The final product will be on exhibition for the remainder of the convention.
|
Fee: Included in registration.
|
|
10 - 10:15 a.m.
|
Beverage and Coffee Break
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
10:15 - 11:15 a.m.
|
Session B: Digital Twins for Disaster/Hazard Prevention | 1 HSW
Speaker: Dr. Karla Saldaña Ochoa, assistant professor, University of Florida
Decision support tools such as maps, dashboards, and reports support informed action during uncertain events like natural disasters. This session explores how digital twins connect real-time data with AI prediction models to visualize complex conditions and guide response strategies, with examples ranging from buildings to cities to support safer outcomes for stakeholders.
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
10:15 - 11:15 a.m.
|
Session C: The Architecture of Ownership: Practical Strategies for Equity and Partnership | 1 LU
Speakers: Jeff Huber, FAIA, ASLA, WEDG, NCARB, LEED AP, partner and principal, Brooks Scarpa Huber Architects, Inc., Kelly Wieczorek, AIA, vice president, Goodwyn Mills Cawood
Becoming an equity partner is a major career transition and often poorly understood. Firm leaders share firsthand insights on buying in, negotiating ownership, and stepping into leadership. Attendees gain clarity on financial, legal, cultural, and interpersonal dimensions, including valuation, partnership structures, and building transparent, equitable ownership pathways across generations.
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
|
11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. - Tour: Leedy & Strang in Winter Haven | 3 HSW
Tour the lifelong residence and office of iconic architect Gene Leedy, a founding member of the Sarasota School of Architecture. The tour explores Leedy’s innovative use of open plans, exposed structure, sliding glass walls, and “honest” materials, examining how these design strategies influenced spatial experience, environmental responsiveness, and long-term adaptability. The tour includes a drive-by of the Raingarden Apartments and a stop at the Lake House. Attendees are asked to view the Open Spaces film prior to the tour.
Fee includes transportation and lunch.
|
Fee: $75 per person
|
|
11:15 a.m. - 1 p.m.
|
Networking and Snack Break
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
11:15 a.m. - 1 p.m.
|
Ask an Architect
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
|
Session D: Fit to be Clad | 1 HSW
This session reviews key factors shaping the evaluation, selection, pricing, and installation of architectural metal cladding systems. Topics include roof and wall system types, materials, fasteners, environmental conditions, structural considerations, sustainability impacts, installation challenges, and jobsite best practices to support informed design and delivery decisions.
|
Fee: Included in registration
Sponsored by:
|
|
11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
|
Session E: High-Performance Fenestration for Climate Resilience: Wind, Water and Other Extreme Conditions | 1 HSW
Speaker: Bethany Ollison, director of architect solutions, Euro-Wall
This course explores high-performance, impact-rated fenestration for hurricane-prone and coastal environments, focusing on performance evaluation, common failure points, and resilient design strategies. Participants will learn to integrate fenestration early in the design process to improve life safety, envelope performance, and post-event functionality, emphasizing resilience and climate-adaptive design in coastal markets.
|
Fee: Included in registration
Sponsored by:
|
|
12:30 -3:30 p.m.
|
Guided Tour of Lake Nona by JEFRË | 1.5 HSW
Join internationally acclaimed artist JEFRË for an immersive walking tour of his iconic installations at Lake Nona, including The Beacon, Code Wall, and the sculpture garden. Designed at the intersection of art, architecture, and technology, JEFRË’s work reveals how light, data, and digital media can transform infrastructure into experiential landmarks. Architects will gain insight into his collaborative process with designers, engineers, and developers, and discover strategies for integrating public art as a catalyst for identity, wayfinding, and placemaking in next-generation communities.
|
Fee: $50 (includes transportation)
|
|
1- 5 p.m.
|
Architectural Photography Workshop | 4 LU
Speaker: Steven Brooke, Fellow, American Academy in Rome, Adjunct Professor, UM – School of Architecture, Steven Brooke Studios, Inc.
Led by Steven Brooke, recipient of the AIA National Career Award for Photography, this immersive workshop will elevate how design professionals capture and communicate their work. Building on prior workshops, this updated session introduces mirrorless camera guidance and AI-enhanced digital workflows reflecting recent advances in image processing, along with composition, light, shadow, and timing—including techniques for dramatic night photography. The session covers best practices for photographing interiors, exteriors, landscapes, and black-and-white imagery, giving attendees practical tools to strengthen visual storytelling and professional portfolios.
|
Fee: $65 per person
|
|
1 - 2:30 p.m.
|
Session F: Citizen Architects: Architecture as a Force for Change | 1.5 HSW
Architecture operates within regulatory, environmental, and civic frameworks that can either limit or empower design impact. This panel discussion reframes compliance as a starting point rather than an endpoint, exploring how architects can engage advocacy, collaboration, and public processes to shape stronger outcomes. Through real-world case studies, panelists share experiences influencing policy, advancing resilience initiatives, and addressing social and environmental challenges. There will be strategies attendees can use to strengthen their professional voice and position architecture as a catalyst for positive, community-centered change. This includes how to advocate for change in codes and regulations, environmental and resiliency threats, or the protection of the public from injury through civic engagement.
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
1 - 2:30 p.m.
|
Session G: Architectural Mentorship: Developing Competency, Leadership and Practice Excellence | 1.5 LU
Speaker: Jeffrey Jerrels, AIA, LEED BD+C, VP, Maryland Architecture and Engineering at Prime AE
This course examines structured mentorship within architectural practice as a tool for developing professional competency, supporting emerging professionals, and improving project delivery. Participants will learn how effective mentor–mentee relationships enhance communication, knowledge transfer, ethical decision-making, and firm culture. The session provides practical frameworks and strategies that can be applied within firms or organizations of any size to strengthen professional development and elevate architectural outcomes.
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
2:30 - 2:45 p.m.
|
Beverage Break
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
2:45 - 3:45 p.m.
|
Session H: The Broward Resilience Plan: A Countywide Blueprint for Organized Flood Risk Reduction | 1 HSW
Speaker: Dr. Jennifer Jurado, chief resilience officer, deputy director, Broward County
Changing climate is reshaping the built environment, increasing risks from rising seas, heavier rainfall, and extreme heat. This session presents a systems-based framework for applying future conditions, projections, and economic considerations to infrastructure planning and design, supporting more resilient, sustainable, and community-centered investment decisions.
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
2:45 - 3:45 p.m.
|
Session I: Adaptive Heritage:Preserving the Past for the Resilient Future | 1 HSW
Speakers: Julia Epstein, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, moderator, project architect, Dasher Hurst Architects, Jennifer Hunter, R.A., AIA, historic preservation officer, City of Orlando, Eric Kleinsteuber, AIA, president, KMF Architects, Ryan Young, AIA, CEO, Interstuct Design + Build
Historic preservation supports public well-being through the adaptive reuse of existing buildings. Panelists discuss code compliance challenges, cultural value, and the resilience of historic districts facing climate and flooding risks. Attendees gain practical insights on protecting life safety, strengthening community identity, and advancing environmental responsibility in Florida’s evolving urban and coastal contexts.
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
3:45 - 4 p.m.
|
Beverage Break
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
4 - 5:30 p.m.
|
Sumi-e and Sake Social Hour
Instructor/Host: Don Yoshino, FAIA
In this very popular sumi-e zen brush painting workshop, discover why less is more. Learn basic strokes, zen philosophy, and timeless techniques while exploring your feelings and experiences. Enjoy a sake tasting and take home your own zen masterpiece, along with a brush and sumi-e ink. The fee includes all materials and fun!
Space is limited.
|
Fee: $60 pers person
|
|
4- 5 p.m.
|
Session J: So You Want to Build a Climate-Minded Architectural Practice? 1 HSW
Speaker: Daniel Stine, AIA, IES, CSI, CDT, Well AP, director of design technology, Lake Flato Architects
As climate risks intensify, architects play a key role in protecting occupants and communities. Drawing from the AIA Climate Action Playbook and Lake Flato research, this course shares practical strategies for climate mitigation and adaptation, linking firm policies to project decisions that improve building performance, resilience, durability, livability, and resource efficiency.
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
4-5 p.m.
|
Session K: How to Protect Your Business from the Increased Risks of Design-Build | 1 LU
Speaker: Ron Ciotti, J.D., attorney, partner, Hinckley Allen
This presentation will focus on how you can protect your business from the increased risks of Design-Build by using informed bidding practices, innovative project management techniques, specialized agreements and appropriate contract terms.
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
4-5 p.m.
|
Session K: How to Protect Your Business from the Increased Risks of Design-Build | 1 LU
Speaker: Ron Ciotti, J.D., attorney, partner, Hinckley Allen
This presentation will focus on how you can protect your business from the increased risks of Design-Build by using informed bidding practices, innovative project management techniques, specialized agreements and appropriate contract terms
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
5:30 - 7 p.m.
|
President's Welcome Reception
The traditional kick-off social event of the convention will be hosted by 2026 President Adam Gayle, AIA. Plan to join friends and colleagues at the reception as Gayle welcomes all attendees to the convention.
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
7-8 p.m.
|
Emerging Professionals Social Hour
Connect and mingle with emerging professionals, associates, and students at this engaging networking event!
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
7-9 p.m.
|
College of Fellows' Dinner (Members of the College of Fellows and their guests only)
|
Fee: $155 per person
|
|
Friday, July 17, 2026
|
|
6:45 - 8:30 a.m.
|
Continental Breakfast
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
7:15 - 10:30 a.m.
|
Tour:Journey of Water at EPCOT
Journey of Water inspired by Moana at EPCOT is an immersive outdoor environment that interprets the global water cycle through integrated landscape, architectural, and special-effects design. Led by members of the Walt Disney Imagineering project team, including the project producer, special effects designer, and show technical production manager, this tour examines how design decisions protect water resources, manage complex public environments, and educate visitors through experiential storytelling. The experience concludes with a moderated Q&A session in the WDI conference room.
*Note: This tour is intended for adult participants (18+) whose professional practice or interests align with the tour’s overall content and learning goals.
|
Fee: $50 per person (includes transportation)
18+ only
|
|
7:15 - 8:15 a.m.
|
Session L: Early Bird Session: Designing with Confidence: Fully Tested ACM Wall Panel Systems | 1 HSW
Speaker: Tyler Landry, metal specialist, Compass Sales Group
A comprehensive overview of fully tested ACM and MCM wall panel systems highlights why system-level testing and code compliance matter for performance and durability. Participants review common misconceptions, attachment types, required testing, fire and wind considerations, and best practices for specifying complete, verified assemblies to support code compliance and long-term project success.
|
Fee: Included in registration
Sponsorsed by:
|
|
7:15 - 8:15 a.m.
|
Session M: Early Bird Session: The Architecture of Sound: Acoustics as a Significant Arbiter of Comfort, Aesthetics and Social Responsibility
Speaker: Arthur van der Harten, CEng, lead acoustician, Acoustic Distinctions, TLC Engineering
Sound is shaped early by architectural decisions about form, proportion, adjacency, structure, and massing. This session reframes acoustics as a core design element, showing how early choices drive outcomes and why problems surface after construction. Attendees learn where acoustic risk hides and how sound interacts using visualization and listening techniques.
|
Fee: Included in registration
Sponsorsed by:
|
|
8:30 - 9:45 a.m.
|
Session N: Keynote: Architects & the Economy | 1 LU
Speaker: Michele Russo, LEED AP, vice president research, AIA National
The presentation will give attendees an overview of current economic conditions, how they influence firm operations and project pipelines, and the critical role architects play in driving economic activity and community development. The presentation will also introduce practical sources and forecasting tools that can help professionals at all career stages better evaluate business conditions and plan strategically for the year ahead.
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
|
Tour: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Child of the Sun Campus at Florida Southern College | 2.5 HSW
This in-depth architectural tour explores Frank Lloyd Wright’s Child of the Sun campus at Florida Southern College, offering a comprehensive look at Wright’s only collegiate commission. During this tour, participants will examine Wright’s design philosophy, structural innovations, and material choices while touring six Wright-designed buildings. The tour emphasizes how thoughtful design supports occupant experience, environmental response, and long-term stewardship of historic architecture.
|
Fee: $95 (includes transportation, lunch and entry)
|
|
9:45 - 10 a.m.
|
Beverage and Coffee Break
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
|
Kids Workshop
Presented by Kids Architecture Program (KAP) and Architecture in Education (AIE)
10 – 11:45 a.m.: Fundamentals of Environmental Psychology
This workshop will introduce children to the fundamentals of environmental psychology—the study of the psychological aspects of human interaction with the environment and the influence of material factors on personality and consciousness.
As a result of this session, students will create a quick 3D model of a house using materials they studied during the first part of the workshop.
12 -1 p.m.: Lunch on your own.
1:30 - 3:30 p.m.: Hands-on Architecture and Art Model Building
This workshop explores the deep connection between architecture and art, demonstrating how visual art can inspire architectural innovation.
The final product will be a 3D model of an exhibition space, designed based on abstract art pieces previously created by students.
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
10 - 11 a.m.
|
Session O: Material Strategies for Resilience Design | 1 HSW
Speaker: Larry Flynn, architectural liaison and resource specialist, American Institute of Steel Construction, Chris Bettinger, masonry sales manager, Oldcastle, Anthony Harvey, PE, regional director, WoodWorks
As the built environment continues to evolve, architects are increasingly tasked with selecting materials that enhance the resilience, safety, and sustainability of buildings. This panel will explore the role of steel, wood, and masonry in creating structures that not only withstand environmental pressures but also improve the long-term health, safety, and welfare of building occupants.
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
10 - 11 a.m.
|
Session P: Florida Market Annual State of Fees | 1 LU
Speaker: Will Swearingen, principal, Zweig Group
This session brings the focus to Florida and the realities of architectural fee setting at the state level. Informed by Zweig Group’s 2026 Florida Fees Survey, this session reveals how firms across the state are structuring and negotiating fees today—and how those approaches vary by market conditions and project profile. The session translates survey findings and industry benchmarks into clear context, helping firms move beyond intuition and use data to support more competitive, defensible, and profitable fee strategies in Florida’s current business environment.
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
|
Snacks Available
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
11:15 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.
|
Tour:4Roots Campus Lunch and Learn. | 1.5 HSW
Explore the 4Roots Farm Campus, a community-centered hub in the heart of Orlando designed to support a thriving, sustainable food system. Through a combined presentation and guided walking tour, participants will examine how regenerative site planning, net-positive building strategies, and flexible educational spaces work together to support environmental stewardship, human well-being, and community collaboration—demonstrating architecture’s role in shaping a healthier and more resilient food future.
|
Fee: $75 (includes transportation and lunch)
|
|
11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
|
Session Q: Beyond the Studio: Women Navigating Career Growth and Life Responsibilities | 1.5 HSW
Speakers: Shadia Jaramillo, AIA, WELL AP project architect, Goodwyn Mills Cawood, moderator, Arlenne Gil, AIA, principal, DLR Group, Brooke Godinez, AIA, project architect, PRIME AE Group, Inc., Amie Calisti, AIA, principal, A Calisti Studio
Women in architecture navigate evolving responsibilities both inside and outside the studio. From managing households to supporting loved ones, building community, and balancing personal commitments with professional growth. This session brings together women at three different stages of their careers: senior leaders, early to mid-career practitioners, and mid-career to senior architects working in firms and in independent practice to share the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Through candid conversation, the panelists will explore how priorities shift over time, how they’ve adapted to changing life circumstances, and what strategies have helped them build fulfilling, resilient careers. Following the discussion, attendees will have the opportunity to connect with peers during a dedicated networking portion designed to spark conversation, mentorship, and community building.
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
1-7 p.m.
|
Trade Show
The trade show's extended hours allow more time to explore the latest products and services from top vendors at the 2026 Trade Show! This annual event offers valuable networking opportunities, enhanced by delicious food, refreshing drinks, and exciting prizes. A big thank you to our sponsors and exhibitors for making this experience possible.
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
5 - 6 p.m.
|
JLI Reunion
Reconnect with graduates of the Jacob Leadership Institute.
|
|
|
7-8 p.m.
|
Schools of Architecture Alumni Receptions
Reconnect with fellow graduates at the Florida Schools of Architecture Alumni Reception. This informal gathering brings alumni together by school to meet, mingle, and strengthen professional connections with peers from across the state.
|
Fee: Included in registration
Sponsored by:
|
|
7-8 p.m.
|
NOMA Reception
Join colleagues at the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) Reception, an informal gathering to connect with fellow NOMA members, allies, and design professionals while strengthening community and shared professional networks.
|
Fee: Included in registration
Sponsored by:
|
|
7-9 p.m.
|
Drink and Draw! with Salsa Dancing
Step into a world where art gets spicy! Don’t miss the unique experience of "Drink & Draw!" paired with salsa dancing. Unleash your artistic flair as attendees sketch away in a lively atmosphere, with opportunities to win exciting prizes, and hit the dance floor and showcase your best salsa dance moves.
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
9-10 p.m.
|
FCPA Dessert Reception
Join The Florida Concrete & Products Association (FCPA) for a dessert reception and enjoy decadent petit fours and dessert cocktails.
|
Sponsored by:
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
Saturday, July 18, 2026
|
|
6:45 - 8:30 a.m.
|
Contiental Breakfast
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
7:15 - 8:15 a.m.
|
Session S: Early Bird Session: Masonry Industry Resources | 1 HSW
Speaker: Danielle Mokris, technical director, Concrete Masonry Checkoff, Block Design Collective
What resources are out there to help when you are developing a design and specification? Your goal is clear… Satisfy code requirements while exceeding your client’s performance expectations of a project. It is hard to be an expert on every material choice you make during design development. When considering masonry there are numerous resources available that will educate you on structural performance, aesthetics opportunities, and lifecycle costs.
|
Fee: Included in registration
Sponsored by:
|
|
7:15 - 8:15 a.m.
|
Session T: Early Bird Session: Structural Hurricane Glazing | 1 HSW
Speaker: Jason Quimby, president, SLIMPACT by Faour Glass Technologies
This course will review structural hurricane glazing options and glazing systems for commercial applications including impact-resistant frameless systems as well as glass fin wall solutions. The course will review design standards, building codes, applications, specifications, and design trends for architectural glazing.
|
Fee: Included in registration
Sponsored by:
|
|
7:30 a.m. - 8:15 a.m.
|
Past Presidents' Breakfast
This year's immediate past president, Elizabeth Camargo, AIA, will host a special breakfast honoring AIA Florida's past presidents and their guests. Former AIA Florida presidents and their guests are invited to this breakfast.
|
AIA Florida past presidents and their guests only.
$55 for guest.
|
|
7:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
|
Tour: Why Design Matters: Orlando Center for Architecture and Design and Orlando Downtown Walking Tour
Join AIA Orlando and the Orlando Foundation for Architecture for a behind-the-scenes look at Phase I of the Orlando Center for Architecture and Design (OCAD), located in the newly renovated Fulcrum Building. Envisioned as a multidisciplinary hub for design professionals, students, and the public, OCAD explores why design matters. Attendees can also take part in a guided walking tour that brings downtown Orlando’s architectural story to life, showcasing everything from 19th century Victorian design to the city’s most contemporary styles.
|
Tour Fee: $75 (includes transportation and lunch)
|
|
8:30 - 9:45 a.m.
|
Session U: Keynote: Generation “Them”: Navigating a Multi-Generational Workforce | 1 LU
Speaker: Kristin Scroggin, genWHY Communications
Embark on a journey with Generation "THEM," a captivating exploration into the 'WHY' behind each American generation's unique perspectives. Discover the key to fostering understanding, strengthening teamwork, and ensuring workplace cohesion. This presentation provides a solid grasp of generational norms. It emphasizes the critical need to attract and retain top young talent for long-term sustainability, all while offering a light-hearted look at the quirks that make us uniquely human.
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
9:45 - 10 a.m.
|
Beverage and Coffee Break
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
10 - 11 a.m.
|
Session V: Pulse Night Club Memorial | 1 LU
This session examines the City of Orlando’s approach to creating a memorial in response to a tragic event that targeted a community simply seeking joy and connection. Participants will learn how families of the victims were engaged in the process, contributing ideas to preserve the memories of their loved ones. We will explore how these contributions informed thoughtful design decisions, artifact stewardship, and spatial planning to honor the 49 angels. The ultimate goal is to provide families with dignified remembrance while creating a space that invites reflection and healing for visitors worldwide.
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
10 - 11 a.m.
|
Session W: Dynamic Spaces: The Role of Sliding Door Systems in Modern Architecture | 1 HSW
Speaker: Kaden Stinger, architect engagement specialist, Special-Lite, Inc.
Explore how contemporary sliding door systems support safer, more resilient building performance across project types. This session examines structural and code considerations, energy-efficient materials, and design strategies that improve spatial flow, ventilation, and accessibility. Attendees will also review emerging innovations that reduce environmental impact while strengthening occupant protection and long-term building performance.
|
Fee: Included in registration
Sponsored by:
|
|
10 - 11 a.m.
|
Session X: The Nuts & Bolts of Starting a Firm | 1 LU
Speakers: Bryce Bounds, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, CGC, construction project management supervisor, Broward County Public Works and Environmental Services Department, moderator, Wesley Kean, AIA, principal, KODA, Stacey Boynton, AIA, NOMA, principal architect, Studio-US Design, Ruffin Rhodes, AIA, NOMA, principal, Rhodes+Brito Architects
During this panel presentation, architects at three stages of their careers will discuss the challenges, opportunities, and pitfalls of starting and running their own practice. Each panelist will touch on business legalities, finding client prospects, overhead & costs, consultant contracts and relationships, staffing and labor, varied income opportunities, technology uses and applications, contract laws and legal aspects, and how each addressed the issues they face as a business owner.
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
|
ARE Training and Lunch
Speakers: Seth Yeslow, AIA
Attendees will be introduced to the licensure requirements and practice questions from all six divisions of the ARE exam and learn how to identify key elements in each question. Participants will also learn some test-taking strategies to help on their licensure journey.
Attendees will hear from associates and recently licensed architects about their journeys to licensure. They will share tips and tricks, study schedules, time management strategies, and how to ask for support from their firm.
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
11 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.
|
Snacks Available.
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
11 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.
|
Coordinated by Design: Engineer Meet and Greet
Join fellow convention attendees for a dedicated opportunity to meet with leading engineering firms and explore future project partnerships. This informal yet intentional networking event invites architects and design professionals to discuss services, align expertise, and identify collaboration opportunities. Stop by the Networking Lounge to start the conversation and build lasting professional relationships.
Participating Firms
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
|
Session Y: Masonry Game Show 2026 1.5 HSW
Speaker: Chris Bettinger, masonry sales manager, Oldcastle
This course examines 3D concrete printing and innovative design strategies through case studies, equipping architects with tools for code-compliant, high-performance buildings.
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
12 - 1:15 p.m.
|
Session Z: Designing Visually Dynamic Facades with Coil and Extrusion Coatings | 1 HSW
Speaker: Todd Hakenjos, enterprise account executive, Sherwin Williams
Color and coil and extrusion coated metal products can elevate facade design while supporting occupant well-being and sustainability. Attendees learn how coatings contribute to performance and durability, and how color influences emotion, celebrates culture, and supports wayfinding, helping create safer, more engaging building environments.
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
1 - 1:15 p.m.
|
Beverage Break
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
1:15 - 2: 15 p.m.
|
Session AA: Florida's Missing Middle Housing: From Case Study Review to Policy Solutions | 1 HSW
This session examines Florida’s Missing Middle Housing case studies and how small-scale infill design can expand attainable housing options. In addition to reviewing samples from the Missing Middle Case Study, panelists will discuss how design, zoning, and policy alignment can support walkable neighborhoods and benefit communities such as Orlando and Orange County.
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
1:15 - 2:25 p.m.
|
Session BB: How to Use Data & Facts to Make Your Pitch Stronger | 1 LU
Speaker: Bret Hood, CFE, MBA, director, 21st Century Learning & Consulting, LLC.
Persuasive pitches succeed when data connects with how leaders decide. Drawing from Cialdini’s principles of influence and the SUCCES model, this session shows how to build trust, appeal to emotion, and craft simple, concrete messages. Attendees learn to combine evidence with storytelling so insights resonate and leave a lasting impression.
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
1:15 - 2:15 p.m.
|
Session CC: Educational Panel: Co-Designing the Space Between Academia and Application | 1 LU
This collaborative session brings educators, practitioners, and industry partners together to explore opportunities for better alignment between architectural education and professional practice. Participants will explore aligned curricula, experiential learning models, and shared accountability strategies to better prepare students for licensure, practice readiness, and the evolving demands of the profession. their workflows.
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
2:15 - 2:45 p.m.
|
Beverage Break and Foundation Raffle
All proceeds from the raffle will support the Florida Foundation for Architecture's scholarship fund, helping Florida architecture students pursue their education. Don't miss your chance to contribute and win. Grab your raffle tickets at the AIA Florida Logo Store or the registration desk before the drawing!
|
Fee: Included in registration
Sponsored by:
|
|
2:45 - 4:45 p.m.
|
Session DD: 2023 Advanced Training: Designing the Accessible Means of Egress | 2 HSW/FBC
Speaker: John Farinelli, CBD, MCP, CDC, LEED AP, vice president, JC Code & Construction Consultants, Inc.
This advanced course is designed to provide participants with a review of the technical provisions applicable to the design of an accessible means of egress as required under the Florida Building Code, Accessibility volume.
|
Fee: Included in registration
|
|
6:15 -10 p.m.
|
AIA Florida Design & Honor Awards Reception and Presentation
Celebrate excellence in architecture and the architects whose work enriches our communities at the AIA Florida 2026 Design & Honor Awards Reception and Presentation. Guests will enjoy hors d’oeuvres and drinks during the reception. The awards presentation will feature the 2026 Design & Honor Award recipients and the announcement of the 2023 People’s Choice winner.
|
Sponsored by:
$95 per person ($65 per student/$45 per child 17 and under)
|
|
|
|