Evelyn Lee, FAIA, NOMA, inaugurated as AIA’s 101st president

Evelyn Lee, FAIA, NOMA, was inaugurated as the 2025 AIA president on Friday, December 13, in Washington, D.C. She is the 101st person to hold the office and the second Asian American woman to do so. 

“I didn’t get here alone,” she said to an audience at the InterContinental Wharf ballroom. “Every person in this room has played a part in helping me grow and giving me the confidence to follow my passion.” 

Lee, a multi-faceted professional now embedded in the technology industry, acknowledged her nontraditional path through architecture. She stated, “That unconventional journey has given me a unique lens through which to view our profession. I’ve spent two decades immersed in this organization, learning from its rich history while advocating for progress. I’m here to leverage those experiences to bring us together and focus on what lies ahead—not just for the AIA, but for every architect and every practice we represent.” 

Lee now serves as an angel investor, startup advisor, and fractional Chief Operating Officer for small- and medium-sized architecture firms, as well as serving as an Outside Director for the firms Shepley Bullfinch and Luckett & Farley. She is also a founding advisor for Women Defining AI, championing a more inclusive and diverse landscape in artificial intelligence. 

Acknowledging contemporary challenges that impact architects’ work like the climate crisis and the rapid pace of technological change, Lee said, “Moments like this—moments of tension and uncertainty—are also opportunities. They call us to come together, collaborate, and remind ourselves that our strength as architects lies not just in what we build, but also in the communities we foster.” 

THRIVE in ‘25 and beyond 

Lee 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.

“For architects and our profession to thrive, we must not only adapt to the challenges before us but actively shape the future,” she said. “These words are more than aspirational; they’re a framework for what we can achieve together.” 

The mandate of architects, Lee said, is making sure that our built environment performs—not just against climate threats, but also issues like rising energy costs and labor and material shortages, as well as the housing affordability crisis. 

"Addressing the housing crisis requires the same collaborative spirit that drives progress in AI," she said. "We need partnerships—with policymakers, developers, and community leaders, including architects who have taken non-traditional paths into real estate development, finance, and technology. Their diverse insights can bridge gaps and bring creative solutions to the table." 

Lee emphasized the need for architects to “empower” their practices through business acumen and adapting to an evolving marketplace. “This means thinking strategically, managing effectively, and presenting our work in ways that clients understand and value,” she said. “If we can elevate design alongside operational excellence, we’ll create more resilient practices and open new opportunities for growth and impact within our communities.” 

In closing, Lee said, “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.”