Carole Wedge Named New AIA CEO/EVP

Wedge to speak at upcoming Sustainability in Practice conference

Jan. 29, 2026 at 11:31pm

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Carole Wedge, the newly instated American Institute of Architects EVP/CEO, recently joined the DESIGN:ED podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about her vision for the AIA, advocacy and inclusion, climate change, challenges faced by young architects, and her own career journey. Wedge will also be making remarks at RECORD's forthcoming Sustainability in Practice conference on February 25 at MIT.

Why it matters

As the new leader of the AIA, Wedge will play a crucial role in shaping the architecture industry's priorities and initiatives, particularly around sustainability, equity, and supporting the next generation of architects.

The details

Wedge's podcast appearance covered a variety of topics, including her plans to advocate for the architecture profession, her commitment to increasing diversity and inclusion, and her focus on addressing the urgent challenge of climate change. She also discussed her own career path, having started in the mail room at Shepley Bulfinch before eventually becoming the firm's president and CEO.

  • Wedge was recently instated as the new AIA EVP/CEO.
  • The Sustainability in Practice conference will be held on February 25, 2026 at MIT.

The players

Carole Wedge

The newly instated CEO and Executive Vice President of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

American Institute of Architects (AIA)

The professional organization for architects in the United States, which Wedge now leads as CEO and EVP.

DESIGN:ED Podcast

A podcast produced by Architectural Record that features conversations with design leaders.

Sustainability in Practice Conference

An upcoming conference hosted by Architectural Record that will feature remarks from Wedge and other industry experts on sustainability in the built environment.

Shepley Bulfinch

The Boston-based architecture firm where Wedge began her career in the mail room before eventually becoming the firm's president and CEO.

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What’s next

Wedge will be making remarks at the Sustainability in Practice conference on February 25, 2026 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Schwartzman College of Computing.

The takeaway

Carole Wedge's appointment as the new CEO and EVP of the AIA represents an important shift in the architecture industry, as she brings a focus on sustainability, equity, and supporting the next generation of architects to the organization's top leadership role.