NEW APPOINTMENTS AT CONNECTICUT AIA

The Connecticut Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Connecticut) recently announced the appointment of four new members to its 2024 Board of Directors and elected Officers.

“I am thrilled to welcome the dynamic individuals joining our 2024 Board of Directors,” said Gina Calabro, Hon. AIACT, executive director and CEO. “Their expertise and passion for architecture promise to enrich our chapter’s vision….” 

The 2024 Officers:

Susan Wyeth, AIA, NOMA

Centerbrook Architects and Planners; Centerbrook

2024 President  

A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Wyeth earned her fine arts and architecture degrees from RISD, finishing the five-year program in three. After working for a Cambridge architect, she joined Centerbrook in 1983 and has amassed a substantial portfolio on design teams for academic clients, she was named senior director in 2014. She is a charter member of NOMAct, Connecticut’s state chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects.

 Marc Andre, AIA

Marc G. Andre Architects; Fairfield

2025 President-Elect

Andre is a licensed architect in Connecticut and New York. He often participates as a guest design critic at the University of Hartford and Pratt Institute Schools of Architecture. In 1999, he earned his Bachelor of Architecture degree from City College School of Architecture and Environmental Studies in New York City. His community involvement includes serving on the town of Fairfield Human Services Commission, the Roger Ludlowe High School building committee, and the Fairfield Strategic Planning Committee. He is dedicated to outreach initiatives for aspiring architects, offering information and support to guide them on the journey to becoming licensed professionals.

 F. Michael Ayles, FAIA

Antinozzi Associates; Bridgeport 

Treasurer

Ayles is principal/president of Antinozzi Associates and oversees the firm’s business development strategies, staff recruitment and operations. For 30 years, he has been an invited panelist, moderator and keynote presenter at numerous local, regional and national professional conferences regarding the practice of architecture, business development, leadership and mentoring. An elected official in his hometown, Ayles’ civic, community and professional service has earned him numerous honors.

Amy Samuelson, AIA

BL Companies Inc.; Meriden

Secretary

Samuelson is the executive director of Architecture & Building Engineering at BL Companies Inc., an employee-owned, multidisciplinary architecture, engineering, environmental and land surveying firm. A graduate of the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., Samuelson has more than 25 years of experience as a project architect and manager with a portfolio that includes notable public, independent, and higher education projects.

 Elected to a three-year term (2024-2026):

 Brian Baril, AIA

A/Z Corporation; Hartford

Baril is a preconstruction manager with A/Z Corporation in North Stonington, Connecticut. Trained in architecture at Norwich University, he has lent his architectural expertise to preconstruction efforts over a wide variety of project sizes and sectors, including multifamily housing, health care, science and technology, manufacturing, education, hospitality, places of worship, municipal, and nonprofit. He is active in volunteer groups, is passionate about sustainability and building science. Brian is just completing his tenure as the 2022-2023 AIA National Young Architect Representative for AIA Connecticut.

 Dov Feinmesser, AIA

Newman Architects; New Haven

Feinmesser is an associate at Newman Architects, in New Haven, where he has worked since 2016. Previously he worked for Partisans in Toronto and Coop Himmelb(l)au in Vienna before completing his graduate studies at the Yale School of Architecture in 2016. He has been an instructor in Professional Practice since 2016. A LEED Accredited professional since 2009, he is engaged in the intersection of architectural design, Building Information Modelling and sustainable design.

Robert Orr, FAIA

Robert Orr & Associates LLC; New Haven 

Orr is an award-winning architect at the forefront of leveraging places aimed to empower people. His multidisciplinary practice ranges from commercial, residential and mixed-use building types to landscape to town design, planning and zoning. He received his master’s degree in architecture from the Yale School of Art and Architecture and his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Vermont and State Agriculture College. A practitioner, adjunct professor, business entrepreneur, real estate manager and avuncular writer/commentator, Orr was elevated to AIA Fellowship in 2008. 

Elected to a one-year term:

Leen Hariri, Associate AIA

Patriquin Architects; New Haven

Hariri is an architectural designer at Patriquin Architects in New Haven, where she works on a wide range of projects, including commercial, educational and multifamily developments. Before joining Patriquin, she gained valuable experience at Briburn in Maine, where her focus was on designing single-family passive houses. While in Maine, she also expanded her expertise by becoming a Certified Passive House Consultant and a LEED Green Associate. Her deep-rooted passion for sustainability and high-performance buildings was nurtured during her academic journey, which took her from the Lebanese University in her home country Lebanon to Virginia Tech. Currently, she is actively working toward obtaining her architectural license.

 Jennifer Huestis, AIA, NOMA (Huestis Tucker Architects LLC, Woodbridge); Julia Su Jack, AIA, NOMA (City of Hartford); Jeremy Jamilkowski, AIA (Amenta Emma Architects, Hartford); Thomas Haskell, AIA (University of Connecticut, Storrs); and Thaddeus Stewart, AIA, NOMA (Integrated Design & Construction LLC, New Haven) will continue to fulfill their terms as directors on the Board. 

Paolo Campos, AIA, NOMA (Patriquin Architects, New Haven) remains on the board as past president.