Ifreet Rahima Moderates Regenerative Design Session at AIA 26 National Conference on Architecture

At this year’s AIA Conference on Architecture (AIA26) in San Diego—one of the largest and most influential gatherings in the profession—Ifreet Rahima represented the AIA National Associates Committee, AIA NM and Verdacity as moderator for a national Regenerative Design “Ask Me Anything” session.

With thousands of architects, designers, and industry leaders in attendance, AIA26 serves as a platform for shaping the conversations that influence where architecture is headed. This year, regenerative design—focused on restoring ecological systems, strengthening communities, and creating net‑positive impact—was a central theme.

A Conversation at the National Level

The session, hosted by the AIA National Associates Committee, brought together a distinguished panel that included:

• Illya Azaroff, FAIA, AIA President

• Carole Wedge, FAIA, AIA EVP/CEO

• Paolo Campos, AIA, NOMA, AIA Strategic Council Regenerative Design Workgroup Chair

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Together, this group represents a cross-section of leadership within the profession—spanning practice, policy, and advocacy.

As moderator, Ifreet guided the conversation—shaping questions, facilitating dialogue, and helping translate broad ideas into insights that resonated with both emerging professionals and seasoned practitioners.

A Working Dialogue

Hosted in the Next Gen Lounge, the session created space for open, unscripted conversation. Rather than focusing on prepared talking points, the format encouraged real questions from attendees—many of whom are navigating how regenerative design fits into day‑to‑day practice.

Several questions stood out.

One focused on the role of emerging professionals:

What role can interns and early-career staff play in regenerative design when their responsibilities are often limited?

A common theme from the panel was that influence isn’t limited to scope. While tasks

may be defined, perspective is not. Emerging professionals bring fresh thinking and can help challenge assumptions—often by simply asking why things are done a certain way.

Another question asked for clarity around the regenerative design framework itself:

What does regenerative design actually look like in practice?

The conversation emphasized that it’s less about a checklist and more about a shift in mindset. Rather than optimizing isolated systems, regenerative design considers how buildings, ecosystems, and communities function together—designing for adaptability, long-term performance, and net-positive outcomes.

How do you build a career around regenerative design?

The responses pointed toward curiosity, systems thinking, and a willingness to look beyond the boundaries of individual projects. Understanding how energy, water, carbon, ecology, and community dynamics intersect is increasingly essential.

A Shift in Expectations

One of the more telling insights from the discussion was how quickly expectations are changing.

Panelists noted that financial institutions and funding partners are beginning to ask directly for regenerative strategies as part of project proposals. What was once considered forward-thinking is starting to become part of how projects are evaluated.

That shift signals something important: this work is moving from optional → to expected.

Leadership Through Facilitation

Moderating a session at AIA26—particularly on a topic as complex as regenerative design—is a meaningful leadership role.

It requires:

• Navigating diverse perspectives

• Creating space for discussion

• Connecting big ideas to real-world practice

  
  

Ifreet’s role reflects her ability to operate in that space—helping guide conversations that are still evolving, but increasingly central to the profession.

It also reflects Verdacity’s broader commitment to contributing not just to individual projects, but to the direction of the industry itself.

Aligned with Verdacity’s Work

The themes explored during the session align closely with the work happening at Verdacity.

Across projects, we’re seeing a shift—from focusing on compliance and performance metrics to thinking more holistically about systems, communities, and long-term impact.

Regenerative design builds on that shift, asking not only how buildings perform, but how they contribute to the environments and communities around them. It focuses on the lens of designing not only buildings that perform efficiently but are also resilient in the face of climate change and the changing planet.

Looking Ahead

As conversations around regenerative design continue to evolve, forums like AIA26 play an important role in shaping the path forward.

We’re proud to have Verdacity represented in that space—and proud of Ifreet for helping guide a conversation that reflects both the challenges and opportunities facing the profession today.