On September 13, 2023, AIA Virginia announced Erin Young Agdinaoay and Brian Gore as the recipients of the Virginia Emerging Architect Award and the Virginia Associates Award. Join us in celebrating this momentous occasion for our VANOMA family!
The Virginia Emerging Architect Award honors individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to the architecture profession early in their careers, whether through design, service, education, or advancement of social justice, equity, diversity, or inclusion. Awardee Erin Young Agdinaoay, a VANOMA member and recent Spotlight speaker, is an architect and project manager at Work Program Architects in Norfolk, Virginia. She led the creation of the firm’s Summer Internship & Scholarship for Diversity Advancement, which has attracted LBGTQIA+ and racially diverse applicants from a dozen universities. She has shared WPA’s success with improving DEI strategies through hiring practices and pay transparency with other firms.
What truly sets Erin apart is her ability to effect meaningful change. MEL PRICE, PRINCIPAL AT WORK PROGRAM ARCHITECTS
The Virginia Associates Award recognizes the accomplishments of individual Associate AIA members for being outstanding leaders and creative thinkers for significant contributions to their communities and the architecture profession. In its inaugural year, the award is presented to Brian C. Gore, Assoc. AIA. Gore ‒ a staff designer at Quinn Evans in Richmond, Virginia as well as a VANOMA board member and liaison to our local NOMAS chapters ‒ is particularly active in the profession’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, as well as in the mentorship of young people who show interest in architecture. Gore currently serves on AIA Virginia’s J.E.D.I. Committee and was a member of the organization’s 2022 Emerging Leaders in Architecture class.
We have a duty in our profession to grow the next generation of architects. It takes all of us who are currently practicing reaching back to pull others up. BRIAN GORE, ASSOC. AIA
VANOMA extends a warm and ecstatic congratulations to you both!
Agdinaoay and Gore will receive their awards at the Architecture Exchange East (ArchEx) Visions Gala on November 2nd. If you would like to cheer them on, grab a ticket for the event at the Hippodrome Theatre today!
Learn more about Erin Young Agdinaoay and read AIA Virginia's Emerging Architect Award Announcement. Additionally, watch Erin's April 2023 Spotlight!
Learn more about Brian Gore and read AIA Virginia's Virginia Associates Award Announcement.