Matthew Szymanski, AIA
Widely recognized as a builder of leaders and a champion of emerging professionals, Matthew Szymanski, AIA, creates transformative opportunities that bridge education, practice, and community engagement. Through his leadership, mentorship, and advocacy, he is shaping a profession where young architects can lead, innovate, and thrive.
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Veritas Digital PhotographyMatthew inspires young leaders to make lasting, positive impacts on their local communities and within the Institute. He champions emerging professionals and connects them with the knowledge and experience of established AIA members. -
Veritas Digital PhotographyMatthew spearheaded a new service project component of the AIA Triangle’s leadership development forum, designed to harness the creativity of young leaders while fostering stronger connections between emerging professionals and local AIA leadership. -
Jenne HomesThis project evokes an assemblage of homes found on post card of a South American village. The materials cladding the home were repurposed from an old house on the site. They echo the same inspiration. (Project completed with BuildSense Inc.) -
Jenne HomesThe interior of this home reflects the courtyards and streetscapes of the client's favorite haunts in Bali. The exposed wood floors, balcony overlooks, hanging plants, and woven baskets were all chosen to tie directly into favorite memories.
Matthew Szymanski, AIA, is a transformative architect, educator, and advocate whose leadership has profoundly shaped the next generation of architecture professionals. Through an extensive career spanning local, regional, and national influence, Matthew has made it his mission to bridge the gap between education, practice, and community engagement, creating new pathways for emerging professionals to succeed and lead.
As the Founding Principal of Arx Design Co., Matthew has cultivated a studio culture intentionally structured to empower young designers, launching initiatives like the Intern Launch Program and integrating partnerships with university programs like NC State’s IPAL and Wake Tech’s Architectural Technology Co-op. His leadership ensures that students, interns, and young architects actively engage in meaningful work from their first day, preparing them for robust and impactful careers.
Beyond his own practice, Matthew’s legacy of innovation includes founding transformative programs such as the AIA Triangle Leadership Forum, the ScaleUP K-12 Architecture Workshop, and leading emerging professional initiatives at AIA Triangle, AIA North Carolina, and across the South Atlantic region. His contributions have earned accolades including the AIA North Carolina Young Architect Award, multiple AIA Presidential Awards, and recognition as a regional and national thought leader for emerging professional development.
Through roles with the National Associates Committee, Young Architects Forum, and the Small Firm Exchange, Matthew shares his tested programs across the country, inspiring broader adoption of leadership pipelines, community design engagement, and educational outreach. His work catalyzes a ripple effect of empowerment, positioning young architects not only to build structures, but to build a stronger, more inclusive, and more resilient profession.
Driven by a deep belief in the potential of the next generation, Matthew Szymanski is forging a future where architects are nurtured as leaders from day one—and where the value of good design is embedded in every community interaction.
The Young Architects Award honors individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to the architecture profession early in their careers.
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