Meet the New AIA San Diego President

AIA San Diego’s new president is none other than the co-principal of our firm Sandra Gramley, AIA, NCARB, LEEDap BD+C. We’re proud of Sandy for stepping into this leadership role and for her inspiring leadership platform of increasing diversity and inclusion within the architectural profession and drawing more young people into architecture.

Sandy continues to be instrumental in bringing to life the San Diego Center for Design, San Diego AIA’s effort to develop and operate a gathering space that celebrates architectural design. The multiuse space, located in downtown San Diego’s Civic Center, will be used for public and private programs and is scheduled to open later this year.

The AIA will be collaborating with several organizations, including Urban Land Institute, U.S. Green Building Council, American Society of Landscape Architects and San Diego Architectural Foundation, to develop programs for the Center for Design. Programs will include talks about architecture, design and community, special events and more.

In addition to co-leading our firm (one of the oldest architecture firms in San Diego), Sandy taught interiors and sustainable design at the Design Institute. She’s also a historic preservation architect (as per the Federal Qualifications Standards under the National Park Service) and has won numerous awards for her design of public buildings.

Sandy replaces Katherine Lord as president of AIA San Diego. Other 2020 board directors include Laura Shinn (vice president), Al Whitley (secretary/treasurer), Michael Robinson, Alahe Aldo, Ed Holakiewicz, Maggie Fulton, David Keitel, Scott Bales and Catherine Herbst.

Sandy was inaugurated as president at the JULEP venue on Hancock. Attendees were comprised of AIA and Colegio de Arquitectos de Tijuana (CATAC) members.

Congrats, Sandy!