Message from the President
ALEXANDRA KOVENAT
AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C
Chroma Architecture
MAY 2025
Greetings! It is hard to believe that we are about halfway through the year!
We are coming off an incredibly successful golf outing last month. Not only did the rain miraculously stay away that day, but we were able to raise more than $30,000 for our annual scholarship fund! I’d like to thank the golf committee made up of present and past members of our Foundation and Chapter Board, especially our co-chairs Steve Abbattista, PE and Rick Torres, AIA (pictured speaking below).
I especially enjoyed meeting the scholarship winners and their families. Seeing their enthusiasm and energy for our profession is a reminder of many of our shared beginnings down the path of architecture. Pictured below are some of our winners and members of our Chapter & Foundation Board.
I distinctly remember my first day walking into Goldsmith Hall at The University of Texas at Austin as a very energetic eighteen-year-old. I was the first in my family to pursue architecture and did not know a single person in my major, even though many of my high school classmates were pursuing other degrees.
In our studios, we had these large movable raw homasote barriers that the students could use to form low cubicles between our drafting tables. I distinctly remember seeing graffiti on one of the boards that read, “Much was decided before you were born.” Although I took this as an ominous message at the time, fast forward a few decades of life experience and I am grateful for many of the foundations laid before me.
Our chapter is turning 90 years old next year in 2026 and I am so proud to represent this large group of over 770 members this year. The work that we do collectively to advance the profession while supporting our up-and-coming leaders fills me with a great sense of pride. These young people know that they are supported by their local AIA chapter and my hope is that they flourish in school and return the support to their future local AIA chapters, wherever they land after graduation.
Join us!
Soon we will be sending out an email to join our Board for 2026. We would love to speak with you, hear your ideas and how you can contribute to our vibrant organization. The rewards of volunteering are numerous, but the connections made are what really bind us together.
Warm wishes,
Alexandra Kovenat