AIA Conference on Architecture and Design 2025

We’re back from an energizing weekend in Boston at the The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Conference. Three days filled with learning, connection, and celebration. It was a joy to reconnect with friends and to honor the remarkable achievements of colleagues.

A heartfelt congratulations to our dear friend and collaborator Michel Rojkind on receiving an Honorary Fellowship along with Tatiana Bilbao and Junya Ishigami and to our friends William Duff, FAIA, Katherine Hogan, FAIA,
Andrea Lamberti, Brian Messana, Joshua Ramus, Suchi Reddy, FAIA, and Georgeen Theodore, FAIA on receiving their FAIA at the College of Fellows Investiture Ceremony - each recognition so well deserved.

Some of the highlights included a very inspiring AIA Gold Medal address from Deborah Berke, followed by a discussion between Deborah and our friends Kim Yao, FAIA and Marlon Blackwell. We enjoyed an insightful panel moderated by Clifford Pearson with Kai-Uwe Bergmann, FAIA, Marlon Blackwell, nader tehrani and Chris Wise, who all contributed to Cliff’s new book “Tips from the Top”. True to form, Pete Buttigieg lived up to his reputation as an eloquent and insightful speaker that left a lasting impression.

We returned feeling energized by the conversations, the work being shared, and the collective momentum within the design community. As we step back into the studio, we’re more excited than ever to embrace new collaborations and explore design strategies that reflect the evolving needs of our clients and communities.

Here’s to the year ahead, rooted in reflection and driven by innovation!

Flight Club NYC Wins the Iconic Project Award from Interior Design Magazine!

We’re thrilled to share that we’ve won the Iconic Project NYCxDESIGN Award, presented by Interior Design Magazine for our work on Flight Club NYC!

Flight Club’s flagship store in NYC redefined sneaker retail,
transforming sneakers into cultural artifacts. More than a store, it became a cultural hub that merged architecture, urban culture, and commerce. Its innovative design continues to influence modern sneaker boutiques and high-end stores worldwide. Flight Club’s legacy endures as a destination for sneaker heads from around the world!

It’s an honor to be recognized among such inspiring projects—huge thank you to our collaborators, clients, and the incredible design community that makes moments like this possible.

Grace Farms Introduces Global Rest House Pilot Project for Tea and Coffee Farmers by Slade Architecture

The Grace Farms Rest House Project aims to provide tea and coffee farmers worldwide with ethically designed, sustainably built rest houses that offer safety, respite, and community spaces. By leveraging open-source design principles, this initiative seeks to create globally adaptable solutions that uphold and demonstrate Design for Freedom principles!

Slade Architecture is proud to support the Grace Farms Rest House Project, a global initiative committed to advancing ethical, sustainable, and transparent design in agricultural communities. These rest houses are being designed for implementation across various coffee and tea farms, with a focus on being locally adaptable while upholding a global standard for dignity and care.

By leveraging open-source design principles, the project aims to inspire collaborative, scalable solutions that can be adopted and reimagined by communities around the world. Each rest house is thoughtfully conceived with sustainably sourced materials and an unwavering commitment to labor transparency — core tenets of the Design for Freedom movement.

Slade Architecture is honored to be part of this important work and to help create spaces that not only serve functional needs, but also promote equity, wellbeing, and human dignity across global supply chains.

Learn more about the project and the broader Design for Freedom initiative here, more to share soon!

Updates at our Ashland Place, Brooklyn Project!

Progress is underway at Ashland Place, and we’re excited to share a glimpse of what’s to come. Stay tuned — we’ll be revealing more in the coming weeks.

Hayes Slade Presents at the Florida Bar Construction Law Conference on Ethical Architecture and Design for Freedom

Last week, Hayes Slade, AIA, had the honor of presenting at the Florida Bar Construction Law Conference, a prestigious gathering of over 450 construction lawyers from across the country. The conference serves as a key forum for legal professionals navigating the complexities of the construction industry, and Hayes' session shed light on a critical yet often overlooked issue: ethical sourcing in architecture and construction.

Representing Slade Architecture, Hayes introduced attendees to Design for Freedom, an initiative spearheaded by Grace Farms Foundation that addresses the presence of forced labor in the global supply chain of building materials. With a legal audience in mind, the presentation emphasized the Design for Freedom Toolkit, a resource designed to help architects, developers, and legal professionals identify and mitigate unethical labor practices in their projects.

As ethical sourcing becomes an increasing priority within the industry, the Toolkit provides actionable steps to promote transparency, accountability, and responsible material procurement. Hayes highlighted how integrating these principles into contracts, procurement strategies, and project oversight can drive meaningful change—ensuring that the built environment reflects not only design excellence but also human dignity.

We are proud to be part of this ongoing conversation and remain committed to advancing ethical construction practices. If you’re interested in learning more about Design for Freedom and how to incorporate these principles into your projects, visit Design for Freedom.

Stay tuned for more updates on how Slade Architecture is championing ethical and sustainable design across our projects!