EMPOWERING Conference 2026

Name: EMPOWERING Conference 2026
Start: 2026-09-11T08:00:00-05:00
End: 2026-09-11T17:00:00-05:00
Location: Pegasus Park

AIA Dallas Events, Committees + Network Events, Continuing Education, Emerging Professionals, Latinos in Architecture, Women in Architecture

Pegasus Park

September 11, 2026 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Use the code LABORDAY26 to get $20 off your registration, now through September 9!

AIA Dallas is proud to present the Tenth Annual EMPOWERING Conference—a dynamic collaboration between our Women in Architecture, Latinos in Architecture, and Emerging Professionals Networks. Guided by our mission to transform the world around us, this conference is dedicated to equipping attendees with essential tools and knowledge to drive positive change through Design, Practice, and Leadership. We invite you to engage with our outstanding lineup of speakers, each a trailblazer making a meaningful impact in our communities.

EMPOWERING Conference

The EMPOWERING Conference is a dynamic collaboration between our Women in Architecture, Latinos in Architecture, and Emerging Professionals Networks. Guided by our mission to transform the world around us, this conference is dedicated to equipping attendees with essential tools and knowledge to drive positive change through design, practice, and leadership.

What: 2026 EMPOWERING Conference
Where: Pegasus Park, 3000 Pegasus Drive, Dallas, TX 75247
When: Friday, September 11, 2026
Registration Rates: Early-Bird AIA Member $75; Early-Bird General Admission $125.

Event Link: https://www.aiadallas.org/event/empowering-conference-2026/

The AIA Dallas EMPOWERING Conference is an annual, full-day professional development event created to support the growth and leadership of emerging and underrepresented voices within the architecture profession. Launched in 2017, the conference began as an initiative of the Women in Architecture network and has since expanded to include Emerging Professionals and Latinos in Architecture, reflecting a broader commitment to equity, mentorship, and leadership development across the industry.

Centered around the themes of Design, Practice, and Leadership, EMPOWERING features keynote speakers, panel discussions, and educational sessions led by nationally and internationally recognized architects, designers, and industry leaders. Topics often address career advancement, firm culture, ethical leadership, sustainability, and the social impact of design—providing attendees with both practical skills and big-picture perspectives.

Since its inception, the conference has served more than 1,000 participants and continues to grow in scale and influence within the North Texas AEC community.

Individuals in the early stages of their architecture career who want to gain access to mentorship, career guidance, and tools for advancing design, practice, and leadership.
Architects from under-represented groups interested in connecting with peers and leaders who have shared experiences, an hearing from others who have historically lacked visibility in the profession.
Professionals seeking leadership growth, regardless of career stage, to build confidence, develop leadership skills, and broaden their understanding of practice and community impact.
Firm leaders and managers responsible for staff development, mentorship, and organizational culture to gain insights into trends, challenges, and opportunities affecting the next generation of architects.

Join us by helping promote this year’s event to your colleagues, peers, and networks using the information and sample messages below.

Tag AIA Dallas on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

Option A (general):

I’m excited to be a part of AIA Dallas’ 10th annual EMPOWERING Conference on September 11, 2026. This event is an important opportunity to develop your knowledge and leadership skills with speakers that address career advancement, firm culture, ethical leadership, sustainability, and the social impact of design.

Option B (speaker-forward):

I’m excited to be a speaker at AIA Dallas’ EMPOWERING Conference on Friday, September 11,2026! If you are interested in supporting the growth and leadership of emerging and underrepresented voices within the architecture profession, I hope you will join me there.

Option C (sponsor-forward):

We’re proud to support AIA Dallas’ EMPOWERING Conference on Friday, September 11, 2026. This event reflects our commitment to equity, mentorship, and leadership in the architecture field and related industries.

We hope to see you there!

Coming soon!

Registration Coming Soon

Leadership. Practice. Design.

The EMPOWERING conference that began in 2017 tapped into the need for mentorship and support for women in our profession – especially associate members. Under the leadership of the Women in Architecture network, the conference quickly expanded from a half day conference to a full day conference and has served over 1,000 participants to date.

In 2021, the conference broadened its scope to welcome the Emerging Professionals and Latinos in Architecture networks, furthering its commitment to fostering a more inclusive and representative architectural community. The conference provides a platform to support and uplift underrepresented voices within our membership.

Past keynote speakers include Carol Ross Barney, FAIA; Dr. Upali Nanda, Assoc. AIA; Lisa Lamkin, FAIA; Elizabeth Chu Richter, FAIA; Gabrielle Bullock, FAIA; Pete DeLisle, Hon. AIA; Wendy Dunnam Tita, FAIA; Michael Ford, AIA; Kourtny Garrett, Hon. AIA Dallas; Dan Noble, FAIA; Pascale Sablan, FAIA; Shannon Gaffney Murphy, AIA; Shelly Rosenberg; Marlon Blackwell, FAIA; Kim Yao, FAIA and Gabriela Carrillo.

Proceeds of this conference go towards each network’s scholarships and professional development grants, distributed by the Architecture and Design Foundation. These scholarships make college and careers in architecture more accessible and bring diversity and equity to our related professions.

Scholarship funds benefiting from this event include:

Venue

Pegasus Park

3000 Pegasus Park Drive
Dallas, 75247

EMPOWERING Conference 2026

Leadership. Practice. Design.

Venue

Pegasus Park

Presenting Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

EMPOWERING Conference 2026

Leadership. Practice. Design.

Venue

Pegasus Park

Presenting Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

Gold Sponsorship - $3,500

Silver Sponsorship - $2,500

Bronze Sponsorship - $1,000