AIA Dallas

Holiday Party + Chapter Awards
2025-12-11 18:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | Architecture and Design Exchange, 325 N. St. Paul Street, Suite 150, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
Join AIA Dallas as we celebrate and look back on 2025! Festivities will begin with the chapter awards and the annual presidential passing of the hat. Special recognition will be given to our annual chapter sponsors, committee leadership, and chapter volunteers.
Be prepared to enjoy a specially crafted holiday cocktail, a DJ, and a photo booth!
*AIA Dallas, AIA Northeast Texas & Allied Members are FREE to attend (membership will be verified).
Cocktail Attire
Complimentary valet will be provided

SFRT: Overcoming Structural Floor Squeaks in Wood Frame Construction
2025-12-12 11:30 - 13:30 | Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen, 3520 Oak Lawn Ave, Dallas, TX, 75219, United States
Please RSVP to Brad Russell via email by clicking the red “RSVP” button above and using the subject line “RSVP for December 12″.
The presentation will begin promptly at 12:00 PM and conclude at 1:00 PM.
About

This course explores the causes and remedies for the nagging problem of squeaking floors. We will evaluate the various components of a typical floor and their contribution to squeaking floors. High performance sheathing and adhesives designed to mitigate the risk of floors squeaks will be compared to traditional framing and sheathing systems. Best practices for eliminating structural floor squeaks in wood frame construction will be outlined.

Learning Objectives
After completion of this course, participants will be equipped to:

Identify and recognize the durability and safety characteristics of high-performance wood framed floor systems with superior strength and stiffness attributes
Investigate the multiple components of a wood framed floor system and their contribution to system performance and the elimination of movement and floor squeaks
Assess the functional contributions of engineered wood subflooring as it relates to structural strength, fastener retention, water resistance, and overall stiffnes
Design and specify wood framed floor systems that perform

1.0 LU | HSW

Main Street Architecture Walking Tour
2025-12-13 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-12-27 10:00 - 11:30, 2026-01-10 10:00 - 11:30, 2026-01-24 10:00 - 11:30

Historic Resources Committee Meeting
2025-12-16 12:00 - 13:00 | Architecture and Design Exchange, 325 N. St. Paul Street, Suite 150, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States

Fair Park Tram Tour
2025-12-17 12:00 - 14:00, 2026-01-21 12:00 - 14:00 | Fair Park, 3600 Parry Avenue, Dallas, TX, 75210
Fair Park, a celebration of art, architecture, and industry, is a cultural and historic gem in the heart of Dallas. Join us for a motorized tour of the park while we fill you in on its amazing past and talk about its exciting future.
Architecturally, Fair Park is one of the world’s largest collections of Art Deco buildings with a unique design approach that Chief Architect George Dahl described as “Texanic.” Integral to the buildings and the grounds are numerous works by renowned artists that celebrate the history and achievements of Texas during the first 100 years of independence. First established for the Dallas State Fair in 1886, Fair Park was transformed in 1936 for the Texas Centennial Exposition. It is one of Dallas’ greatest cultural assets, hosting events year-round and exhibitions and serving as home to numerous cultural institutions. In 1986, it was recognized as a National Historic Landmark.
In partnership with Fair Park First, the Dallas Architecture and Design Exchange presents hour-long lunchtime tram tours on the third Wednesday of the month at several times throughout the year. Tickets are $10 for general admission, and $5 for students and seniors.
The tour begins at noon at the Parry Street entrance gate adjacent to the DART stop. Seats are limited – reserve your seat in advance.
NOTE: The duration of the tour ranges from 1.5 to 2 hours. There is some walking (1/4 of a mile or less) to allow participants to get up close to some of the artwork. Please note any mobility challenges at the time of registration so that the tour route can be adjusted to accommodate all guests.

Discover the Arts District Walking Tour
2025-12-20 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-01-03 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-01-17 10:00 - 12:00

AIA Dallas Office Closed
2025-12-22 - 2026-01-02

Bark + Build Houses on Display at NorthPark
2025-12-22 08:00 - 17:00 | AMC NorthPark 15, 8687 N Central Expy Ste 3000, Dallas, TX 75225
Come check out this year’s Bark + Build houses, on display at NorthPark Center in front of the AMC Theater from November 24 through December 21! Raffle and Voting will open on the 24th. These one-of-a-kind designs showcase the creativity of local architects and builders—all for a great cause supporting our four-legged friends. For more information, visit our website: Bark & Build

Raffle to Win or Donate to Your Favorite Home Today!
Support and follow us on Instagram! #dallasbarknbuild

ARE Success Teams Virtual Information Session
2026-01-06 18:00 - 19:30 | Virtual
Are you eligible to take the ARE? Would you benefit from support in a structured and focused environment? Be a part of the ARE Success Teams program!
Success Teams applications open Monday, November 3, 2025, and are due by Friday, January 9, 2026. A virtual information session will be held on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.
This program will kick off on Tuesday, January 13, 2026.

AIA | TEXO Steering Committee Meeting
2026-01-07 12:00 - 13:00

Community Honors Committee Meeting
2026-01-08 09:00 - 10:00

SFRT: Technical Advances in Structural Insulated Sheathing (SIS)
2026-01-09 11:30 - 13:30 | Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen, 3520 Oak Lawn Ave, Dallas, TX, 75219, United States
Please RSVP to Brad Russell via email by clicking the red “RSVP” button above and using the subject line “RSVP for January 9″.
The presentation will begin promptly at 12:00 PM and conclude at 1:00 PM.
About

This course reviews various hybridized sheathing solutions and shows how the integration of advanced technology has improved performance, capability and sustainability of SIS.

Learning Objectives
After completion of this course, participants will be equipped to:

Identify the characteristics of various hybridized sheathing solutions that contribute to energy efficiency and reduce air loss.
Use SIS systems to assist project teams in meeting green building programs, goals and requirements.
Analyze the benefits of fusion technology versus lamination/gluing.
Describe how fusion-based Magnesium Oxide SIS contributes to sustainability, constructability and versatility.

1.0 LU | HSW

KRob Committee Meeting
2026-01-13 12:00 - 13:00

Bark + Build Awards Ceremony
2026-01-15 08:00 - 10:30 | TEXO Association, 11101 North Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, TX, 75229, United States
Let’s Celebrate!
Bark + Build 2025 Competition invites team members, their families or significant others, sponsors, jurors, and the leadership of the presenting organizations for networking, viewing submitted projects, and announcement of the award winners.
Breakfast and drinks will be served.
Support and follow us on Instagram! #dallasbarknbuild

Columns Magazine: 2026 Kick-Off Meeting
2026-01-16 15:00 - 17:30 | Architecture and Design Exchange, 325 N. St. Paul Street, Suite 150, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
In this annual kick-off meeting, the Columns team will explore upcoming themes, align big picture goals, and introduce new leadership. Food and beverages will be provided. Complimentary parking provided through Republic Center Valet.
If you are interested in joining the Columns Committees, please email Conleigh Bauer for more information about how to get involved.

Historic Resources Committee Meeting
2026-01-20 12:00 - 13:00

Urban Design Committee Meeting
2026-01-21 12:00 - 13:00

LBGTQIA + Alliance General Meeting
2026-01-22 17:30 - 19:00

City Hall and its Future: A Public Conversation
2026-01-22 18:30 - 20:00 | J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
A special program presented by The Dallas Architecture Forum and The Dallas Institute for Humanities and Culture at SMU.
FREE and open to the public. No reservations required.
Located in O’Hara Hall on the 7th Floor of the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library.
Join The Forum and The Dallas Institute for an important and extremely time-sensitive program about the importance of Dallas City Hall. Hear from civic leaders including Cullum Clark, Bob Meckfessel, and Seemee Ali about why we must save or transform both City Hall and the surrounding plaza.
About the Speakers:
Seemee Ali
Seemee Ali, Ph.D., proudly serves as Director of the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture at SMU. For more than forty-five years, the Institute’s “What Makes a City” conferences have convened thoughtful people to consider questions about the soul of the city and its wellbeing. Dr. Ali has earned numerous accolades for her work in the humanities both within and outside academe. She has lived and led study tours in Rome, Italy, and has lectured and presented scholarly papers across the United States and abroad – on figures as varied as Toni Morrison, Mark Rothko, Salman Rushdie, W.E.B. DuBois, Aeschylus, and Homer.
Cullum Clark
Cullum Clark is Director of the Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative and Adjunct Economics Professor at SMU. Cullum’s work focuses on creating prosperous, high-opportunity cities as a path to improving economic mobility in America and advancing the Bush Institute principle of private markets humanized by compassionate government. He co-authored the book The Texas Triangle: An Emerging Power in the Global Economy. Cullum’s work has appeared in City Journal, Real Clear Policy, and numerous other publications, plus the Freakonomics Radio podcast. He recently published an extensive report on the role of universities and academic medical centers in local and regional economies and is currently working on a report on housing supply and affordability in U.S. cities.
Cullum worked in investments for 25 years, founding two firms. He serves on the Board of the Texas charter school network Uplift Education and on several foundation and endowment boards. He earned a B.A. in History from Yale, a Master’s Degree in Political Science from Harvard, and a Ph.D. in Economics from SMU.
Bob Meckfessel, FAIA
Robert Meckfessel brings over 40 years of experience in the planning and design of institutional, residential, and commercial projects in North America, Europe, and Asia. Many of these projects have been recognized for innovation and excellence in urban design, architecture, sustainability, and preservation from professional and industry organizations, including AIA Dallas, the Texas Society of Architects (TxA), Docomomo US, Preservation Dallas, and Preservation Texas. He has served as President of leading organizations involved with the quality of the built environment, including Docomomo US, The Dallas Architecture Forum, the Trinity Commons Foundation, AIA Dallas, and Preservation Dallas. He speaks often at professional conferences, political forums, and educational events.
He is Founding Principal of DSGN Associates, recipient of the TxA Architecture Firm Award in 2020, and AIA Dallas Firm of the Year in 1999 and 2018. In 2007 Meckfessel was elevated to Fellowship in the American Institute of Architects for his service to his profession and community.

Build Your City!
2026-01-24 12:00 - 14:00

AIA Dallas Committee Fair
2026-01-26 17:30 - 19:00 | Architecture and Design Exchange, 325 N. St. Paul Street, Suite 150, Dallas, TX, 75201, United States
Have you always wanted to volunteer, be involved in a committee, or learn more about an AIA Dallas network but haven’t known where to start? Join us for our committee fair and meet current committee chairs and members. You will have an opportunity to learn how you can get involved in any of our 20+ committees and networks. We can help you find the perfect fit based on your interests, expertise, and goals. We have a place for you!
After a short introduction presentation looking back on 2025 and ahead to what’s in store for 2026, you will have the opportunity to visit with each committee you are interested in and talk to a committee representative about that particular committee’s mission and activities.
To learn more and get involved in an AIA Dallas committee or network, click the button below!

Get Involved

Public Policy Committee Meeting
2026-01-27 08:30 - 10:00

Architecture on Tap: Crossing Borders
2026-02-02 18:00 - 20:00 | Craft & Growler, 3601 Parry Ave, Dallas, TX, 75226, United States
Presented by Blackson Brick, Hosted by the Latinos in Architecture Network
Join the Latinos in Architecture Network to hear about the experiences of international architects navigating the pathway to licensure in the U.S., from licensing exams and visas to adapting design identity across cultures. Through stories, shared strategies, and a moderated discussion, attendees will gain insight into the practical and emotional realities of starting a career or re-establishing professional life in a new country.
Architecture on Tap is free for AIA Dallas and Allied Members. $30 for General Admission.
Grab a beer, make a friend, and learn something new!

Design Awards Committee Meeting
2026-02-03 12:00 - 13:00
