Singapore Visit by AIA President Kimberly Dowdell
October 29-30, 2024
AIA President Kimberly Dowdell, AIA, NOMAC, recently visited Singapore, accompanied by AIA CEO Lakisha Woods, AIA Chief Strategy Officer Vickie Schneider, and Florence Nyole, AIA International Associate and President of the Architectural Association of Kenya. Kim is the fourth AIA President to visit Singapore, following Elizabeth Chu, FAIA, Carl Elefante, FAIA, and Bill Bates, FAIA.
Evening Reception
The highlight of the visit was a memorable evening reception hosted by RSP SG, providing an opportunity for AIA members in Singapore to connect with the leadership team. It meant a lot, judging by the smiles and sharing. The reception also welcomed leaders from the Board of Architects, Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA), and the local architectural community.
President’s Forum
Another standout moment was the President’s Forum on the State of the Profession, hosted by the Department of Architecture at the National University of Singapore (my alma mater). This symposium invited candid discussions with leaders from AIA, AIA International, and SIA, alongside the head of the department, exploring the forces shaping architectural practice today and envisioning future paths for the profession. The event drew strong attendance and active participation from the architectural community, academics, and students.
Gardens by the Bay
Other high points included a visit to the URA, a meeting and lunch with SIA leadership. A visit to our City in Nature is never complete without a trip to the Gardens by the Bay, with a guided VIP tour, and a building tour to an award-winning mixed use office tower designed by Bjarke Ingels Group and Carlo Ratti Associati.
So happy Kim accepted my invite our little city-state.
Yew Kee Cheong, FAIA, MSIA
2024-2025 President, AIA International
2024 President, AIA Southeast Asia
