Design Excellence Conference
WHEN/WHERE
August 27-28, 2026
Commons Conference Center
J.J. Pickle Research Campus, UT Austin
10100 Burnet Rd, Building 137
Austin, TX 78758
CE CREDIT
AIA Architect Members must complete 18 LUs each calendar year. 12 must be in Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW) topics.
TBAE To maintain Texas licensure, all registered architects (includes AIA Emeritus) must complete 12 CE hours per calendar year. MORE>>
AIA Austin Design Excellence Conference
Call for Courses is now open! Submit a course
Deadline midnight on May 22
Two full days of educational sessions, keynotes, and the Design Expo. This year the BEC Symposium will be featured as a building science track on Friday! 3+ hours of On-Demand Courses accessible online during the conference through the end of the year. The AIA Austin Design Excellence Conference delivers dynamic content through renowned keynote speakers, inspiring breakout sessions, and local project tours, all focused on sustainability, resiliency, and inclusive design through the lens of AIA’s Framework for Design Excellence.
Conference Theme: Fluid
In an era defined by uncertainty, building design is evolving beyond static forms toward flexible, dynamic systems capable of responding to rapid change. By emphasizing resilience, human-centered design, and meaningful connection in the age of AI, architects today are challenged to create environments that are both adaptable and deeply human; environments that are Fluid.
WATCH THE DEC25 KEYNOTE VIDEOS>>
The AIA Austin Design Excellence Conference delivers dynamic content through renowned keynote speakers and inspiring breakout sessions focused on sustainability, resiliency, and inclusive design through the lens of AIA’s Framework for Design Excellence. Conference attendees can earn 18 LUs over the two-day conference, fulfilling HSW and ADA annual requirements for TBAE licensure and AIA membership.
Sponsors
Gift Sponsor
Keynote Sponsors
Lanyard Sponsor
EXHIBITORS
Learn about being an exhibitor, to sign up or with questions.