2026: S6 - Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
Session 6 explored Equity, Diversity and Inclusion through three modules that explored individual, firm and practice wide methods, as well as design methods to achieve diverse and equitable spaces for all.
2026: S5 - Emerging Opportunities & Technologies
This session explored the rapidly evolving landscape in architectural practice through a series of engaging and immersive experiences. The day began with a building tour of Virginia Tech Academic One Building, which showed first hand leading technologies creating building form and innovative spaces. The session followed with “Tech Talks” that provided a brief introduction of several emerging technologies and tools that are actively used in practice today. The session ended with a panel that brought together all speakers discussing where they feel the profession is heading and offered advice on the ever-evolving profession.
2026: S4 - Business Development & Entrepreneurship
Session 4 explored the evolving nature of professional development within architecture and related fields, emphasizing the importance of relationship-building, strategic career decisions, and long-term goal setting. Structured across four acts, the session examined how practitioners can leverage connections, reassess career trajectories, and define personal aspirations while grounding insights in real-world examples.
2026: S3 - Tackling Climate Change
Session 3 focused on the expanding leadership role architects play in addressing climate change through inspiration, investment-minded decision-making, and practical implementation. The session was structured around three acts—Inspire, Invest, and Implement —highlighting how design leadership can drive meaningful environmental and social impact.
2026: S2 - Community Engagement
The second session of CKLDP, titled Community Engagement, highlighted the critical role of empathy in the design process. The scholars learned how creating equitable environments requires designers to move beyond a "check-the-box" exercise and truly incorporate the wishes, wants, and needs of a project’s constituents. The speakers presented various strategies for bridging the gap between designers and the public, ensuring long-term stewardship and project success.
2026: S1 - Leading Together
The “Leading Together” session explored leadership through three connected perspectives: self-awareness, creativity, and collaboration. In Leadership Inside, participants examined their own constructive, passive, and aggressive thinking styles using the Lifestyles Inventory to better understand their strengths and areas for growth.
2026 Bootcamp
The Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program (CKLDP) proudly welcomes its 2026 cohort, a distinguished group of 16 scholars from diverse firms and institutions across the DC metro area. These leaders have been selected for their dedication to the profession and their ability to drive meaningful change within the architecture and design industry.
CKLDP Alumni Reunite at Mary Fitch, Honorary AIA Retirement Celebration
CKLDP Alumni Reunite at Mary Fitch, FAIA, Honorary AIA Retirement Celebration
2025: S8 - Practice Reimagined: Integrating and Expanding Our Impact
This session invited scholars to reflect on the future of the architectural profession through a series of roundtable discussions and activities. Guided by diverse leaders, the session examined key themes of community engagement, environmental resiliency, BIM integration, sustainable material sourcing, and advocacy. With an emphasis on collaboration and open dialogue, participants considered how architects can adapt, lead, and innovate to create a more resilient, inclusive, and forward-thinking profession.
2025: S7 - Emerging Issues & the Future of the Practice
Session 7 explored the evolving landscape of architecture through the lenses of economic trends, academia, and artificial intelligence. Three diverse panels provided their unique expertise on the future of architecture. The panels, composed of educators and practitioners, represented a range of firm sizes, backgrounds, and areas of expertise. Each presentation offered insights into the pressing challenges and promising opportunities shaping the future of architectural practice.
2025: S6 - Research and Data
This session explored the capacity of data and research to generate new possibilities for affordable housing, project delivery, and material responsibility. Speakers emphasized the importance of centering data and research on creativity, collaboration and stewardship. Scholars were challenged to widen the scope of their imagination for research and data – from generating creative uses for under-utilized structures, to tracking materials and to inspiring architects and designers to drive change in the AEC industry through their decisions.
2025: S5 - Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion
By approaching diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) with a multiplicity of scale, the goal of this session was to foster profound and enduring commitments to DEI values within the workplace and the architectural profession. During this session, participants were encouraged to increase their awareness of DEI, ultimately enabling them to recognize the systematic barriers that exist in professional settings. Past and present aspects of practice management were compared with the goal of encouraging uplifting, inclusive workplaces. Finally, participants were challenged to identify and implement universal design principles and best practices for creating environments that are accessible to all individuals, regardless of physical or cognitive abilities.
2025: S4 - Professional Practice & the One Day MBA
The 4th session of CKLDP entitled Professional Practice & the One-Day MBA offered a saturated, multi-directional analysis of the business of architecture. Highlighting the importance of firm culture and project management, the session gave scholars a comprehensive overview of key aspects of the business of architecture. Through panel discussions and a workshop, the scholars learned about the many facets of leadership, professional development, and relationship building.
2025: S3 - Tackling Climate Change
Session three of the Christopher Kelley Leadership Development program, titled Tackling Climate Change, outlined architects' role in building community resilience and shaping sustainability policy amidst changing politics. The group heard from a variety of sustainability focused roles from both private and public sectors. The session ended with an impressive building tour of 80M St, the first mass timber construction in Washington, DC.
2025: S2 - The Art of Negotiation
As a foundation to the CKLDP, the first session highlighted the importance of leadership. The scholars learned about how the current architecture profession needs leaders with Emotional Intelligence, who can build up others around them. The session facilitated the group getting to know each other, and the speakers presented different ways that leaders can connect to others. By learning about themselves and about the other leaders alongside them, the scholars gained new skills to help the teams they work with every day.
2025: S1 - Leading Together
As a foundation to the CKLDP, the first session highlighted the importance of leadership. The scholars learned about how the current architecture profession needs leaders with Emotional Intelligence, who can build up others around them. The session facilitated the group getting to know each other, and the speakers presented different ways that leaders can connect to others. By learning about themselves and about the other leaders alongside them, the scholars gained new skills to help the teams they work with every day.
2025 Bootcamp
The Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program (CKLDP) proudly welcomes its 2025 cohort, a distinguished group of 16 scholars from diverse firms and institutions across the DC metro area. These leaders have been selected for their dedication to the profession and their ability to drive meaningful change within the architecture and design industry.
2024 Closing Reception
The closing reception for the Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program, held at the District Architecture Center for the first time since the pandemic, was a fitting end to a remarkable year.
2024:S8 The Art of Negotiation
Ending the year with Session 8, “The Art of Negotiation,” aimed to deepen scholars' understanding of negotiation fundamentals, focusing on practical skills like positive body language, relationship-building, and strategic planning.
2024:S7 Emerging Issues & the Future of Practice
The session delved into future trends and emerging practices in architecture through a series of presentations, interactive workshops, and a panel discussion.
Categories
- 2024 CKLDP 10
- 2025 CKLDP 9
- 2026 CKLDP 7
- Bootcamp 3
- Business Development 1
- Celebration 1
- Community Engagement 2
- EDI 3
- Emerging Issues 2
- Emerging Opportunities 1
- Firm Resilience 1
- Leading Together 3
- Practice Reimagined 1
- Professional Practice 2
- Research & Data 1
- Tackling Climate Change 2
- the Art of Negotiation 3
- the Future of Practice 1