Illya Azaroff has been inaugurated AIA 2026 president. The founding father of +LAB architect and New York Metropolis School of Expertise professor succeeds Evelyn Lee because the AIA’s 102nd president, after getting elected president of the AIA in June 2024.
“Architects are on the forefront of designing buildings and areas that may stand up to nature’s fury,” Azaroff affirmed in his inaugural deal with.
“As AIA President,” he continued, “I’ll work to make sure architects are empowered to create communities which might be higher ready to take care of future disruptions.”
The AIA counseled Azaroff for his multi-hyphenate background in structure, geography, catastrophe response, local weather adaptation, resilient design, and regenerative planning technique the previous 30 years.
The 2026 AIA president holds structure levels from Pratt Institute and College of Nebraska–Lincoln, and was beforehand 2021 AIA New York State president. He served on the AIA’s strategic council from 2016 via 2018, and based the Design for Danger and Reconstruction (DFRR) committee whereas at AIA New York.
Azaroff attended COP30 in Brazil on behalf of the AIA. The 12 months prior, he likewise represented the AIA at COP29 in Azerbaijan and later wrote about his experiences in Baku for AN.
The inauguration comes not lengthy after Carole Wedge was named the AIA’s new government director and CEO.
Outgoing president Evelyn Lee will stay on the AIA Board of Administrators.









