News
/CoAD
/CoAD
Architecture+Design News
News Releases

March 19, 2020
LTU Alum becomes AIA Grand Rapids board president for 2020
Matthew Christie, Ghafari Associates Project Architect, was appointed president of AIA Grand Rapids. Christie has 13 years of experience with a diverse array of domestic and international projects across the aviation, commercial, education, single-family residential, institutional and industrial sectors.Christie says “Our mission is to provide value to membership through continuing education, outreach and engagement within the community, peer to peer connection, and support for our emerging professionals, among other initiatives. This upcoming year is exciting as we strive to further expand AIAGR’s effectiveness and reach.”

March 3, 2020
LTU Alum receives AIA 2020 Associates award
Tiffany Brown, BS Arch 2004 + M Arch 2007 + MBA 2015, has received the American Institute of Architects (AIA) 2020 Associates Award. This honor recognizes outstanding leaders and creative thinkers for significant contributions to their communities and the architecture profession.A project manager and construction administrator at SmithGroup’s Detroit office, Brown has dedicated her career to raising awareness for the social impact that planning and design have on urban communities. As a nationally recognized speaker and panelist, she is widely credited for her action-oriented approach to breaking down barriers and creating access to architecture education for traditionally underserved populations.
An active force within the design community, Brown serves as a member of AIA’s national K-12 Advisory Board, is a founding member of the Detroit Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), and helps to advance NOMA initiatives at the national level.

February 20, 2020