ABOUT US

Did you know?

Earlier pathways to architectural registration were built around an expectation of continuous practice. Taking an extended leave could mean having to repeat portions of the practical experience required for registration, creating a significant barrier for women balancing architecture with pregnancy, caregiving, and family responsibilities.

Then, in 1991, something happened.

A small group of women gathered at the AIBC, expecting a handful of others to join them in talking about these barriers and what needed to change.

The room overflowed.

What had seemed like an individual struggle was clearly a shared experience. The gathering helped reveal the need for a community where women could connect, advocate, and have a stronger collective voice within the profession. In the years that followed, registration policies evolved and some of these barriers began to disappear.

Women in Architecture grew out of this moment. Today, WIA continues that legacy by creating community and opportunities for women+ to belong, grow, and lead in the built environment.