The American Institute of Architects celebrates Women’s History Month with its Women’s Leadership Summit exhibit, “Building a Global Infrastructure for Women in Architecture,” showcasing women architects’ historical and international impact and collective efforts in advancing the profession.

The AIA Women’s Leadership Summit (WLS) is the largest gathering of women in architecture in the world. The Summit, which was held biennially starting in 2009 and annually since 2022, was founded to create mentorship opportunities for emerging professionals, which as statistics show play a large role in helping women stay in the profession and advance in their careers. The theme of the 2022 Women’s Leadership Summit exhibit, designed in partnership with AIA Silicon Valley, was “Forming a Global Network.” The idea was to place emphasis on women in the profession of architecture not only in the United States, but all over the world, fostering international connections.  

Of course, women architects were gathering to support each other long before WLS, and that is what this exhibit aims to highlight. From recently-founded groups like African Female Architects, circa 2020, to the International Congress of Women Architects, founded in 1976, the exhibit honors and commemorates the power of women coming together to foster each other’s success in the profession of architecture.

Held at the National Building Museum during Women’s History Month, the display is comprised of 30+ posters that tell the stories of women in architecture groups around the country and the globe. AIA components committees are also featured as a cornerstone of grassroots women in architecture communities.