The 2025 Texas Society of Architects (TxA) Annual Conference and Expo is just around the corner. I will be participating in four sessions with some amazing colleagues, expert consultants, and clients!
The TxA is the state chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and hosts their annual conference in different cities each year. This year, the host city is Dallas. According to my Google AI search, TxA is the largest state AIA conference.
Here are the four sessions I am participating in:
Breaking the Status Quo: Transforming Firm Culture for Sustainable Design Excellence
Date and time
- 10/30/25 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM CT
Speakers
- Ellen Mitchell, LPA
- Daniel Stine, Lake Flato
- Allison Wilson, Ayers Saint Gross
Description
A firm’s culture can be the driving force—or the biggest barrier—to achieving integrated, sustainable, and high-performing design outcomes across an entire portfolio. While select projects may showcase innovation, embedding sustainability as a core value requires a fundamental shift in “business as usual” practices. This session will explore common challenges firms face in moving beyond conventional design processes and share proven strategies from leading firms (including the 2025 AIA Firm of the Year) that have successfully cultivated cultures where sustainability, equity, and resilience are embedded in both their projects and their day-to-day operations. By incorporating perspectives on practice, mentorship, and EDI, this discussion will provide actionable insights into fostering a firm-wide commitment to sustainability, ensuring that design excellence is not an exception, but the norm.
Designing for Ecological Resilience: Texas-Based Strategies for Climate Adaptation
Date and time
- 10/30/25 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CT
Speakers
- Sunnie Diaz, Lake Flato
- Colley Hodges, Houston Zoo
- Frates Seeligson, San Antonio River Foundation
- Daniel Stine, Lake Flato
Description
As climate disruptions intensify in Texas, architects must embrace ecosystem-driven design for long-term resilience. This session features a nationally recognized Texas-based firm—holder of the most AIA COTE Top Ten awards—and two forward-thinking clients advancing sustainable, wildlife-friendly development. Through real-world case studies, including Confluence Park and the Houston Zoo, attendees will gain practical strategies for integrating low-impact development, biodiversity, and climate adaptation, using the AIA Framework for Design Excellence.
Advancing Sustainable Architecture: Tools & Workflows to Achieve WELL Platinum Certification
Date and time
- 10/31/25 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM CT
Speakers
- Miguel Elizardo, Lake Flato
- Mohammad Abbasi, WSP
- Daniel Stine, Lake Flato
Description
Join this dynamic case study and industry talk on sustainable architectural design, where Lake|Flato will share the innovative tools and workflows behind the remodel of their San Antonio office, which achieved WELL Building Platinum certification. Discover how data-driven insights from tools like Rhino + Climate Studio and Autodesk Revit + Forma shaped the firm's approach, from daylight and electric lighting analysis to outdoor thermal comfort and wind pattern studies. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how these strategies drive successful project outcomes and elevate client presentations. The session will also include documented WELL Building results and third-party verification insights.
From Commitment to Action: Integrating Climate Strategies into Your Practice
Date and time
- 11/1/25 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CT
Speakers
- Emilie Hagen, Atelier Ten
- Daniel Stine, Lake Flato
Description
Without a universal client mandate to combat climate change, architectural firms must take the initiative to embed mitigation and adaptation strategies within their own practices. This session will explore how architects can proactively implement climate action by leveraging resources like the AIA Climate Action Business Playbook to identify internal roadblocks and accelerate meaningful change. Attendees will gain insights into how the AIA 2030 Commitment serves as a catalyst for transformation, while an evolving understanding of Absolute Net Zero provides a clear roadmap for reducing both operational and embodied carbon impacts. By aligning with TxA’s focus on sustainability, practice innovation, and community impact, this session will equip architects with practical tools to enhance their policies and embed strong climate action strategies into their firms’ long-term vision.
If you are attending, I look forward to seeing you there!
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