On November 13, AIAWA recognized members and firms who are going above and beyond to represent, mentor and advocate for architects in Washington.
2025 Emerging Professional Friendly Firm Certification
This year Washington Council created the Emerging Professional Friendly Firm Certification. This is the inaugural year of this program in the state of Washington, which builds on similar programs as other AIA components across the country, including the former AIA Pacific and Northwest Region.
The AIA Washington Council EP Friendly Firm certification program aims to identify firms with initiatives that promote the advancement of emerging professionals through professional development and personal growth opportunities. This program can attract and retain employees by sending a message to current employees, future employees, and the professional community that the firm has evaluated its policies from an emerging professional lens and supports the future of our profession.
A jury of young professionals from around the country reviewed the submissions and selected (4) firms to receive the designation of AIA Washington Council Certified EP Friendly Firm. Congratulations to these firms!
Integrus
Mithun
Schemata Workshop
The Miller Hull Partnership
Additionally, the jury selected one firm they felt exemplified exceptional effort in this regard and has earned the distinction of Outstanding EP Friendly Firm.
That firm is: DLR Group
The jurors unanimously selected DLR Group to receive the Outstanding EP Friendly Firm Award based on the exceptional policies and programs outlined in their application. As one juror shared, “Based on this application, I would love to work here. Policies seems to have been thoughtfully and intentionally developed for both the benefit of the staff person and the firm.”
Thank you to our amazing jury which included:
Sarah Page, Tennessee YAF; Alex Oetzel, Ohio YAF; Abigail Benjamin, New Jersey YAF; Silvina Lopez- Barrera, Mississippi NAC STAR; Danielle Encela, DC NAC STAR; and Manuel Granja, Ohio NAC STAR.
2025 Emerging Advocate Award
In 2025, AIA Washington Council also created the Emerging Advocate award to recognize the efforts of engagement of professionals early in their careers. This award celebrates professionals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in civic engagement, public policy, and advocacy at the early stages of their careers. These individuals advance the mission of AIA Washington Council by engaging in meaningful policy discussions, mobilizing peers around shared values, and helping shape more equitable, sustainable, and resilient communities through design and civic action.
Congratulations to the first recipient of the Emerging Advocate Award,
Tanya Kataria AIA
Tanya has been an active member of the AIA for many years. She was the 2023-2024 Young Architects Forum Representative for our state and was a Board Associate for AIAWA. Following her term, she was elected to the National Young Architects board as the Advocacy Director where she’s championed initiatives that promote equity, career development, and wellness for Young Architects.
As a foreign-trained architect, Tanya has a passion for assisting young professionals from other countries in navigating the licensure process in the US. She brought that passion to Washington Council, moderating AIAWA’s first Ask NCARB Townhall focused on alternative paths to licensure.
Tanya has been a positive voice advocating for the profession in Olympia at Capitol Connections and in Washington DC at the National Leadership Conference. In her own words, “Advocacy is {my} driving force to be a better architect and a better human.”
2025 Jennie Sue Brown Lifetime Achievement Award
The Jennie Sue Brown Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest honor that can be bestowed by AIA Washington Council.
The award is named in honor of Jennie Sue Brown, FAIA, who was a former Managing Partner of Bumgardner Architects in Seattle and an AIA Washington Council President in 1991. She advocated for and served the profession for several decades.
The 2025 Jennie Sue Brown Award was presented to,
George Shaw FAIA
In his long career as an architect, George has made significant contributions to the profession in both public service and advocacy. Among his many accomplishments, George was AIA Seattle President where he oversaw the expansion of its professional education program in sustainable design, AIA+2030, to a national reach. As AIA president he also played a key role in the start-up of what was then a new non-profit organization called Design in Public.
George was a member of the Capital Projects Advisory Review Board Design Build Best Practices Committee, where he contributed his expertise to improving project delivery methods for public agencies, while preventing the erosion of the architect’s role and responsibilities across these delivery methods.
He was Co-Chair of the State of Washington Architects and Engineers Legislative Committee, where he worked collaboratively with A&E groups across the state to represent the interests of AIAWA, and the broader architectural profession, while advocating for legislative objectives and policies that strengthen the practice of architecture and support responsible design and public interest. Through George’s role on AELC, he was a key AIAWA member working with Washington State’s Office of Financial Management to advocate for fair compensation on public works, and updated state fee standards.
As Osama Quotah AIA shared in his nomination letter, one of his most impactful contributions is George’s dedication to mentorship and to helping younger architects understand the importance of professional advocacy, its impact on practice, and its impact on our work.
This statement from his colleague and friend Walter Schacht FAIA sums it up well:
“George has been at the forefront of the Council’s efforts to maintain and enhance the role of architects as leaders in our society. His thoughtful, clearly articulated understanding of the breadth of architectural practice and hands on experience as an architect enable him to speak convincingly to clients, consultants, legislators and other public officials.”