WASHINGTON, D.C. – February 13, 2025 – The AIA College of Fellows honored two Georgia architects with elevation for their exemplary service to the profession, community, and the built environment. Julie J. Kim, FAIA and Garfield Peart, FAIA of Atlanta are the newest additions to a growing number of architects across the state recognized for their high-level work.
Julie J. Kim, FAIA’s work in education transforms the future of design pedagogy by bridging scholarship and practice. She advances the discipline of architecture by empowering future citizen architects and leaders in practice. Born in Kansas to Korean parents, Kim has been a fierce advocate for sharpening the lens on equity through design. Julie pioneers educational programming aimed at celebrating our diverse community, broadening exposure for all students. Her award-winning research and academic lab, Flourishing Communities Collaborative, empowers disadvantaged communities through acts of design. She has built and sustained partnerships with nonprofit and affinity group partners, sharpening the real-world application of creating social solutions in a technologically driven world.
During Julie’s seven-year tenure as the director of the Bachelor of Science in Architecture undergraduate degree program at Georgia Tech, she expanded and nurtured cross-campus relationships, integrating interdisciplinarity in the School of Architecture. She deliberately positions curricular opportunities to advance the expanded role of the architect as a practitioner, strategist, activist, and entrepreneur. Her recent book Interdisciplinary Design Thinking in Architecture Education (Routledge, 2023) offers relevant lessons from global thought leaders in research, education, and practice, presenting a transformative future for design pedagogy. Julie’s commitment to bridging scholarship and practice achieved national impact in 2023 when she was recognized with both the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture Collaborative Practice award (a national accolade recognizing up to four scholars annually) and the AIA Georgia Educator of the Year award.
Garfield Peart, FAIA has been inspired by his military officer experience to continue to serve society to reverse historically inequitable practices through the profession and his community leadership, manifesting his life-long commitment to uplift traditionally under-represented groups and individuals. Through community leadership contributions Garfield has impact beyond the architectural profession. As a member of the Enterprise Communities Rose Architectural Fellowship selection committee, he advocated for young architects to be embedded in community development corporations to serve depressed urban and rural communities nationwide. As a founding board member of the Atlanta-based non-profit SPIKE Studio, Inc., Garfield combines his creativity with his passion engaging over 650 middle and high school under-served students and promote greater diversity in the architecture, engineering, and construction professions.
As NOMA Atlanta president, Garfield’s leadership in commemorating the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington by Atlanta native The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his creation of the Architecture Diversity Project challenging a local and national dialogue about the progress of diversity in the architectural profession earned Garfield the 2013 NOMA Member of the Year honor. Garfield extended this work in his curation of the “In Their Words; Inspirational Stories of Atlanta’s Minority AEC Trailblazers” exhibit and oral history project to promote the transformative impact of people of color to the City of Atlanta’s built environment on a local, regional, and national level. The exhibit debuted at the 2015 AIA National Conference and received widespread attention from National Public Radio, CBS Atlanta, the City of Atlanta, the AIA, NOMA National, and other public entities. Since 2023 as AIA Georgia Representative and EQFA committee member, Garfield leads the Strategic Council Equity Sub-group and actively sponsors new ideas to advance AIA national diversity initiatives.
The annual Fellows awards program is AIA’s highest membership honor. AIA Fellows are recognized for their exceptional work and contributions to architecture and society. Founded in 1952, the AIA College of Fellows seeks to stimulate a sharing of interests among Fellows, promote the purposes of AIA, advance the profession of architecture, mentor young architects, and be of ever-increasing service to society. Less than 3% of AIA members hold the prestigious FAIA designation.
Visit The College of Fellows website to learn more about Fellowship.
About AIA Georgia
Founded in 1896, AIA Georgia consistently works to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings, neighborhoods, and communities. Through 7 local chapters and sections, AIA Georgia advocates for public policies that promote economic vitality and public wellbeing. AIA Georgia 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.
Originally published at aiaga.org