This prestigious honor recognizes the AIA’s 100th President’s transformative tenure as AIA National President, her civic engagement, and her dedication to equitable and trailblazing leadership.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: David Chase, (312) 376-2745, dchase@aiachicago.org
December 2, 2025, CHICAGO – AIA Chicago, one of the largest and most influential local chapters of The American Institute of Architects with a membership exceeding 3,500 individuals—including licensed architects, architectural designers, and a broad network of industry partners and students—is proud to announce Kimberly Dowdell, AIA, NOMAC, as the recipient of the 2025 Presidential Citation.
Selected by Jason Golub, AIA, 2025 AIA Chicago Board of Directors Chapter President, this prestigious honor recognizes Dowdell’s historic leadership on the national stage of the Institute and her enduring dedication to the Chicago architectural community.
“Kimberly’s tenure as the 100th President of the AIA was a milestone for our profession, and having a Chicagoan in that seat was a source of immense pride for our chapter,” said Jason Golub, AIA, President of AIA Chicago. “Her career is a testament to the power of representation and service. She has paved the way for future generations while consistently working to improve our built environment.”
Kimberly Dowdell, AIA, NOMAC, is an architect and building industry leader recognized for her ability to bridge the gap between policy, practice, and community needs. In her current role as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships with Amrize, she works to advance innovation in the delivery of critical infrastructure and building solutions in all construction markets.
In 2024, Dowdell made history serving as the 100th President of The American Institute of Architects (AIA). This pivotal leadership role was preceded by her term as President of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) from 2019 to 2020. Her overarching mission is to improve the quality of people’s lives by design—a philosophy rooted in her early life in Detroit, Michigan, where she was driven to use architecture as a tool for urban revitalization.
Beyond her national leadership, Dowdell remains deeply embedded in the civic fabric of Chicago. She serves as a board member for several key civic organizations in the city and is a trustee at Cornell University. In 2005, she co-founded the Social, Economic, Environmental Design (SEED) Network. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University.
The Presidential Citation is awarded annually at the discretion of the AIA Chicago President of the Board of Directors to individuals who have served the members of the organization in an outstanding capacity throughout the president’s tenure and beyond. Recipients exemplify AIA Chicago’s mission to foster a culture of design excellence and equitable, sustainable practices.
The 2025 Presidential Citation honoree will be celebrated at Building Together: Awards Program on Thursday, December 4, 2025 at the Chicago Architecture Center at 111 East Wacker Drive in Chicago. Tickets can be purchased by visiting AIAChicago.org/BuildingTogether.
About AIA Chicago With a membership exceeding 3,500 individuals—including licensed architects, architectural designers, and a broad network of industry partners and students—AIA Chicago is one of the largest and most influential local chapters of The American Institute of Architects in the country. AIA Chicago offers comprehensive support for the architecture profession, including lectures, continuing education courses, award programs, and advocacy. It also fosters community through specialized Knowledge Communities and Affinity Groups, and communicates with both members and the general public via its magazine, Chicago Architect, an electronic newsletter, and social media. With more than 100,000 members nationwide, The American Institute of Architects is the largest, most influential network of architecture professionals in the country. Each AIA Chicago member is also a member of AIA Illinois. Learn more about AIA by visiting www.aia.org.
