AIA SD Celebration of Architecture/Design Awards Recognition Ceremony & Dinner

Celebration of Architecture Event sponsored by ISG
Design Awards jury sponsored by South Dakota State University

AIA South Dakota holds an annual Design Awards program to showcase member projects with the purpose of recognizing and advancing good design and promoting architecture in the state. An independent AIA jury panel is commissioned to select the anonymously submitted projects that meet our agreed upon criteria for award status. The juror will present submitted projects, winning projects and the rationale for the AIA SD Design Awards. 1 LU

Check-in/registration desk opens / Breakfast

Breakfast sponsored by TSP, Inc.

Keynote sessions sponsored by Raker Rhodes Engineering

Part 1: This presentation will highlight how Substance Architecture’s practice has changed over the past 20 years, culminating with a recent ownership transition and leadership succession planning. Presenters will share insights into the firm’s history and transition to the next phase of owners. They will touch on lessons learned from their recent ownership transition and how their practice continues to evolve. .5 LU

Part 2: Substance Architecture’s collaborative design approach is rooted in the Midwest, and its commitment to listening guides the firm in creating thoughtful, vision-driven solutions that contribute to the health, safety, and wellbeing of its clients and communities. Presenters will share project examples to illustrate how the firm's values support design excellence in these areas and inform its ever-changing work. Each presenter will bring their own insights from their architectural specialties. Joshua Hemberger, AIA, LEED AP, will describe building-performance strategies that translate into more comfortable occupants and the potential for sustainability certification. He’ll also share how he collaborates with clients to ensure their vision for occupant experience and building functionality is embedded from programming all the way through design. Leah Rudophi, AIA, will share project examples in which she drew on her background and degree in psychology and neuroscience. This educational experience contributes to her unique perspective on methods to elevate the wellbeing of building occupants, providing parity across occupant categories whenever possible. Among other examples, she will describe a recent project that brought generous daylight into a manufacturing facility’s factory-assembly floor via skylights as well as views of the surrounding prairie landscape in every direction. This and other changes provide a more pleasant place to work and have resulted in better recruitment and retention for relevant job roles. 1 LU/HSW

SESSION SPEAKER BIOS

• Joshua Hemberger, AIA, LEED AP — Joshua Hemberger, AIA, LEED AP, always has loved creating. And now, as an Associate Principal and Owner of Substance Architecture, he takes the architectural process from a blank canvas to reality. Drawing inspiration from his early fascination with creating and constructing, Joshua uses every detail, material, and space to echo the essence of a place. A believer in collaboration, he values every voice in the design process, ensuring unique designs are shaped through diverse lenses. Joshua is respectful, inquisitive, and ready and able to listen to clients to ensure the built product aligns perfectly with their vision, making their architectural dreams a reality. Since 2019, Joshua has been involved with projects focused on racial justice, wellness, agriculture, and education to create equitable opportunities for Indigenous people through his work with Rapid City-based NDN Collective and Makoce Agriculture Development on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Joshua is a graduate of Iowa State University and a registered Architect in Iowa and Missouri. He began his career in Kansas City where he worked for BNIM, DRAW Architecture + Urban Design, and Dake Wells before he and his family relocated to his home state of Iowa. They now reside in Des Moines.

• Leah Rudolphi, AIA — Over her nearly 20-year career in architecture, Leah Rudolphi, AIA, has learned to integrate her background in psychology and neuroscience into the design process, crafting spaces that resonate deeply with those who inhabit them. These designs go beyond aesthetics and into the multisensory experiences a building can offer. This unique blend of visionary leadership and meticulous attention to detail is evident in her diverse portfolio, from transformative synagogue remodels to state-of-the-art university centers, and as she helps lead the firm as an Associate Principal and Owner. This foundation, coupled with Leah’s genuine curiosity about people, sets her apart, giving clients designs that truly understand and enhance their daily experiences. Her work has garnered national and regional recognition and in 2022, Leah was the recipient of AIA Iowa’s Young Architect Award recognizing her exceptional leadership and significant contributions to the profession of architecture. More recently, she recently led the firm’s pursuit and award of their Just Label. Outside of the office, Leah serves on the City of Des Moines Plan and Zoning Commission and is on the Board of Directors for the Young Women’s Resource Center. Leah received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Iowa and a Master of Architecture from Iowa State University where she also completed post-graduate coursework.

Session sponsored by EAPC Architects Engineers

Every architect or designer has at least one story about a project that got away: An effort that got deep into the design development process or even secured necessary property or investors before the client pulled the plug. In this panel discussion, we’ll learn the what, the when, the where, and the who. And of course, why these particular projects never got built after countless hours of programming, planning, and design. This session will present three case studies, with each introduced by the lead architect. The projects are varied in scope and purpose. They include a sophisticated renovation of a sound studio at a university with a highly regarded music program; a tribal heritage/community center to house historic artifacts— including some which are now held at the Smithsonian Institution—and serve as a public museum and educational center for Indigenous crafts; and a public-private endeavor that secured a neighboring structure and lease commitments as part of a push to redevelop a highly visible portion of the downtown Sioux Falls riverfront with a new 14-level mixed-use building. Panel participants will engage with the moderator and in conversation with one another about the known and unknown risks going into each project, the design and negotiation considerations among partners, why each project ultimately did not get built, and how the experience has affected their perspective and professional practice. The audience will have an opportunity to ask questions. 1.5 LU/HSW

SESSION SPEAKER BIOS

• Robin Miller, AIA — Robin Miller is a highly respected architect with more than 40 years of experience serving communities across the Upper Midwest. As founder and principal of MSH Architects, Robin built a practice grounded in design excellence, strong client relationships, and a reputation for delivering results. In January 2021, MSH Architects joined Schemmer, expanding a nine-person practice into a 120+ person full-service architecture and engineering firm. This merger combined the attentive, client-focused service of a small firm with the capabilities and resources of a larger one while keeping Robin’s commitment to personal care at the forefront. Robin has led projects as coordinating prime and principal design architect across South Dakota, from Black Hills State University in Spearfish to Central Bank in Sioux Falls, and numerous projects in Mitchell, including the High School, Aquatic Center, Performing Arts Center, and Corn Palace study. His diverse portfolio spans higher education, K-12 schools, sports and recreation facilities, medical and behavioral health centers, commercial developments, federal and National Guard projects, and more. Beyond architecture, Robin is deeply engaged in his church community, where he has served in roles ranging from teaching children and youth to leading adult groups and Bible studies. He also supports broader ministry efforts alongside his daughter, who serves as Upper Midwest Director for the Covenant denomination.

• Chase Kramer, AIA — Chase applies his keen eye for detail to design legacy buildings—facilities that stand the test of time for their clients. He takes his project work personally, striving to put himself in a client’s shoes so he can better understand their needs, making him a valuable partner regardless of project type. At the same time, he’s able to maintain a professional attitude that allows him to advise on issues where his expertise may lead to new ideas or better decisions. Chase has successfully guided several multimillion-dollar projects from design through construction,, and he brings that experience to kick-start and oversee the design and planning efforts for a multitude of projects. Chase is a master integrator, able to work across TSP’s multiple disciplines, and his ability to help an owner cast a vision for a project helps gather buy-in from all stakeholders, ensuring a smooth and thorough design process.

• Shawn Crowley, AIA — Shawn Crowley, EAPC's Director of Higher Education, holds architectural licenses in SD, MN, and ND. With over 19 years in the field, he began his journey as an intern at EAPC and has grown into a seasoned architect committed to enhancing educational environments. Known for his disciplined and innovative approach, Shawn continuously expands his expertise to improve design solutions. Dedicated to every project phase, he ensures all client goals are met, delivering highly effective and value-driven results.

• Jonathan Meendering (Moderator) — Jonathan Meendering has been with South Dakota State University since 2014, serving as the school’s Director of Planning & Design since 2023. He previously worked for designArc architecture + design in Brookings, SD, Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture, in Omaha, NE and PIVOT Architecture, Eugene, OR.

Session sponsored by Van Buskirk Construction

SESSION SPEAKER BIO

• James Cramer, Hon. AIA, Hon. IIDA — James Cramer is a native of Aberdeen, South Dakota. He now resides in Dunwoody, Georgia and teaches at Georgia Institute of Technology in the Program on Entrepreneurship. He is Hon. Distinguished Professor at the Savannah College of Art and Design. He has long been active in the AIA. He was Executive Director of the AIA Minnesota (1978-1982), President of the Council of Architectural Component Executives, President of the AIA Service Corporation (Publisher of Architecture Magazine), CEO of The American Institute of Architects (1988-1994), Chairman of the Design Futures Council. He is an Honorary Member of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects, Hong Kong Institute of Architects and others. He is the founder of DesignIntelligence. He received the Presidential Medal from NCARB Cramer is the author of six books including the best seller, How Firms Succeed. In addition he wrote Design Plus Enterprise, Seeking a New Reality in Architecture; Lessons From The Future, and Small Firm Success, How Small Firms Can Thrive in an Age of Acceleration. Today Cramer is the Honorary Chairman of the Cramer Center for Design and Innovation at Northern State University, his alma mater
• Tom Hurlbert, Principal Architect, CO-OP Architecture — Tom is co-founder/owner of CO-OP Architecture, a 32 person firm with offices in Sioux Falls, Aberdeen, and Rapid City (www.co-oparch.com). Tom is a registered architect with over twenty years of design, project management and construction administration experience. As an award-winning architect, Tom has experience in master planning, government, civic, commercial, historic, education, religious, mixed-use, urbanism/community architecture. A community builder, Tom is co-founder of DART, which revitalizes core communities. He also co-founded Friends & Citizens, which provides students with a premier summer studio experience in partnership with a community need. As a developer of several built projects, he is interested in hands-on solutions to planning. He serves on numerous boards, generally dealing with preservation, planning, design, or the built environment. He co-hosts a show about gardening and rock and roll.

Keynote session ponsored by West Plains Engineering

We are living through an era of extraordinary disruption—where our communities, businesses, and families are under increasing stress from social, economic, and climate-driven challenges. In this century, the role of the architect must expand beyond buildings to address resilience, adaptation, regeneration and the health of entire communities. Architects are needed now more than ever—to lead, to design for disruption, and to secure a thriving future for the next seven generations. We must be the change we need to see in the world today. This session explores how architects can expand their practice to play a vital role in DRR - disaster risk reduction, adaptation, and community co-design, positioning the profession at the forefront of shaping resilient futures. 1 LU/HSW

SESSION SPEAKER BIO

• lllya Azaroff, FAIA — Illya Azaroff, FAIA, the 2026 AIA President, is an architect, geographer, and professor at New York City College of Technology (CUNY), a minority-serving institution. He is the founding principal of +lab Architect, with offices in New York and Los Angeles, dedicated to uplifting underserved communities globally. An expert in disaster mitigation, resilient adaptation, and regenerative design, Azaroff is a co-founder of the Kalinago Institute for Global Resilience and Regeneration in Dominica. Honored as a 2023 Star of Oceana for his regenerative design work in the Pacific and Caribbean, he advises on climate adaptation worldwide, including recent efforts in Moldova and Türkiye. Azaroff has contributed to New York’s Hazard Mitigation Plan, the state’s Climate Impact Assessment, and HUD’s “Designing for Natural Hazards.” He has advised NGOs, governing bodies, and think tanks, including the White House. Past engagements include Rockefeller Foundation’s 100 Resilient Cities and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ disaster recovery framework. A leader in the AIA, Azaroff has served as a chair to COP-28 and COP-29 and is honored to be the 2025 AIA President-Elect, incoming 2026 president. With more than 30 years of experience in the U.S. and Europe, Azaroff continues to shape global strategies for resilience and sustainability, leveraging design excellence to foster equitable and regenerative communities worldwide.

AIA SD Exhibit Hall — Mingle with the companies that help make this event possible and play our all new Exhibit Hall Plingo game, combining our traditional Exhibitor Bingo with our all new AIA SD Plinko board, offering tons of chances to win amazing prizes.

Thank you to our Platinum Sponsors: Kline-Johnson, Shermach Sales, Fargo Glass & Paint, McGough Construction and Pella

... and our Gold Sponsors: Combined Building Specialties, Diamond Vogel, Dormakaba, Gage Brothers, Hadrian Inc., Hebron Brick, KONE, Pigott, Schluter Systems, Smartt Interior Construction, Wausau Tile, and W.L. Hall Co.

AIA SD Exhibitor Party —

Sponsored by Associated Consulting Engineering, Inc. and McGough Construction.