The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is leading the conversation at several Climate Week NYC events to educate and advocate for architects’ role in creating a more resilient built environment.
Running September 20-28, Climate Week NYC is a global convening of leaders from the private sector, public sector, and NGOs focused on advancing collaborative climate action. While Climate Week NYC highlights climate solutions from many angles, AIA is participating in events during and around the week to spotlight the essential role architects play in shaping communities that are more resilient and regenerative in a changing climate.
“Climate Week NYC showcases how architects are driving meaningful climate action—tackling extreme weather, restoring ecosystems, and expanding housing for the communities we serve,” said 2026 AIA President Illya Azaroff, FAIA. “I’m honored to join other climate action leaders to continue to create impactful solutions.”
Schedule of events
Friday, September 18
Regenerative Metropolis Symposium
Regenerative Metropolis is New York Passive House’s annual symposium exploring the future of regenerative design and the built environment. This year’s theme, “Regenerative Economics,” brings together architects, engineers, developers, policymakers, economists, and sustainability leaders. The symposium is chaired by AIA Board Committee on Climate Action and Design Excellence member Sara Bayer, AIA, with a presentation by Corey Squire, AIA, AIA Strategic Council.
Monday, September 21
Resilient and Regenerative Design—Architects and policymakers on building the future
AIA President Illya Azaroff, FAIA, will share the stage with Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20) to discuss how the built environment can create lasting environmental, social, and economic benefits while helping communities thrive amid increasing climate-related risks.
Wednesday, September 23
Regenerative Design: Embracing a New-Old Mindset
Azaroff will deliver opening remarks for this half-day event. This session explores how regenerative design builds upon enduring lessons from passive design, vernacular architecture, Indigenous knowledge, and systems thinking that have long worked in harmony with local climates, ecosystems, and available resources. This event is being organized by AIANY Committee on the Environment and HKS.
Building Homes that Strengthen Community Resilience
Azaroff will moderate a panel of mayors at the Climate Mayors Leadership Forum. This session will examine concrete, replicable strategies that mayors are deploying to accelerate housing production while integrating climate‑aligned practices. The panel of mayors includes:
- Rex Richardson, Mayor of Long Beach, Calif.
- Quinton Lucas, Mayor of Kansas City, Mo.
- Mayor Eileen Higgins, Mayor of Miami, Fla.
State Game Changers: Making Climate Resilience Easier to Deliver
Amal Mahrouki, from AIA’s Government Affairs & Public Policy team, and Victoria Salinas, Community Resilience Champion and Public Director on AIA’s Board of Directors, will join a panel exploring this question: Which changes to state laws, policies, institutions, and funding systems would have the greatest practical impact on delivering local resilience?
This event features a panel of experts, including Azaroff, discussing how biomimicry can help redesign the built environment to create a better relationship between humans and nature.
Thursday, September 24
The Climate Readiness Imperative for Mission-Critical Facilities
Azaroff will join a panel of leaders from industry, economic development, insurance, and resilience experts to examine how the realities of climate change are reshaping capital planning, infrastructure performance, operational continuity, and long-term asset value. Hosted by HOK.
From Insights to Action: Mainstreaming Nature-Positive Engineering Through Global Collaboration
Azaroff and co-panelists will explore how Nature-Positive Engineering (NPE) goes beyond minimizing environmental harm to proactively protect, restore, and enhance natural ecosystems through engineering practice.
>WATCH: At Climate Week NYC 2025, Azaroff explores how resilience and regenerative design can move us beyond sustainability toward renewal.
About the American Institute of Architects
Founded in 1857, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) consistently works to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings, neighborhoods, and communities. Through more than 200 international, state and local chapters, AIA advocates for public policies that promote economic vitality and public well-being. AIA provides members with tools and resources to assist them in their careers and business as well as engaging civic and government leaders and the public to find solutions to pressing issues facing our communities, institutions, nation, and world. Members adhere to a code of ethics and conduct to ensure the highest professional standards.
 is leading the conversation at several Climate Week NYC events to educate and advocate for architects’ role in creating a more resilient built environment. ){kind=link}