
Zaida Basora, FAIA
Zaida Basora, FAIA joined AIA Dallas and the Architecture and Design Foundation as Executive Director in January of 2020. Her experience in both the public and private sectors, as an architect, owner, consultant, and advocate, as well as her engagement and leadership in diverse boards and committees at AIA Dallas, the Texas Society of Architects, and AIA National, and other non-profit organizations bring a unique perspective to the role, and a blend of skills and knowledge that will continue to advance the mission of both organizations for the benefit of the members, the public and the community.
She previously led the architectural practice for the Huitt-Zollars’ Dallas office and was sustainability manager for the firm. Prior to that, she spent over two decades at the City of Dallas, primarily as Assistant Director of Public Works over facilities. She is a registered architect and sustainability advocate with over 35 years of experience in design, construction, contracting and public policy. Under her tenure, over $800 million worth of diverse public facility projects were implemented in Dallas. Zaida directed the implementation of the city’s green building program which has been recognized by the USGBC for instituting Dallas and north Texas sustainable sensibility.
A founding member and 2010 chair of the USGBC North Texas Chapter, she was appointed to GSA’s Office of High Performance Green Building’s Inaugural Advisory Committee from 2011 to 2013. She served on the board of AIA Dallas from 2014 to 2018, and was President in 2016. In 2019, she served as the Architecture and Design Foundation Board President and AIA Dallas Fellows Committee Co-Chair, Texas Architects Committee Executive Trustee, and as VP of Advocacy for the Texas Society of Architects Board of Directors, a role she will continue in 2020. She currently serves as an AIA National Strategic Council At-Large Member, and is a member of the AIA National Board’s Government Advocacy Committee.
Her work championing green building codes in Dallas has been recognized with a BOAT 2008 award of excellence, a 2009 CLIDE Award in public policy; the 2014 CoreNet Global Southwest Chapter and the 2014 CoreNet Global Sustainability Leadership Awards. She received a 2014 Pillar Award and a 2016 Luna Award as Outstanding Professional of the Year from the Hispanic Contractor’s Association. In 2019, Zaida was recognized with the Kessler Lifetime Achievement Award from the Greater Dallas Planning Council at their Urban Design Awards. She was elected to the AIA College of Fellows in January of 2012.