Stacy Williams
Executive Director
AIA San Francisco and the Center for Architecture + Design
It has been inspiring to witness the resilience of the AIA San Francisco and Center for Architecture + Design community at work these past years. I’m also inspired by the transformative power and positive impact that designers, architects, and building professionals have in our city.
As Executive Director, I have been working closely with the design team to understand and align the vision and goals for the project’s success. This includes engaging in visioning sessions, strategic planning, member & public outreach, drafting new business plans, working with financial advisors, and fundraising capital to fund the project’s construction and program expansion.
This has been a multi-year process, so I’m excited to see all the pieces come together and complete the space. I’m looking forward to welcoming people of all ages into the new space and inspiring them to participate in design dialogue, enjoy a walking tour, and learn about our shared built environment. Our move to the ground floor opens many opportunities for a broader range of people to discover architecture and design. I’m excited for the day when we’re all in the space together, engaged in inspired learning. Working with Aidlin Darling Design and the entire project team has been very rewarding. From the very beginning, we wanted to create an inviting physical space that was visibly compelling and represented transparency, trust, and accessibility. I can’t wait to see it all come together.
Looking to the future, I envision the Center for Architecture + Design to be a cultural destination for architecture and design innovation, education, advocacy, celebration, conversation, collaboration, and, most importantly, community. In 10 years, the Center will be the go-to place for civic and community leaders to create positive change in policies, for designers to grow their craft, for business leaders to connect with their community, for youth to discover the world of design, and for the public to enjoy inspiring programs.
The growth and expanded presence of both AIA San Francisco and the Center for Architecture + Design in the Bay Area. With the opening of the Center at the end of 2022, both organizations are shifting to better serve our members and the community at large. Our city is experiencing housing shortages, impacts from climate change, and continued injustice, and design has an essential role in helping to solve these challenges. AIASF and the Center’s community – architects, designers, civic leaders, business owners, allied professionals, youth, activists, and artists – have the ideas, vision, and skills to implement solutions. I hope that the new Center, and its community, can help make life better in our city.
Stay Williams is the Executive Director of the American Institute of Architects, San Francisco Chapter, and the Center for Architecture + Design. Through leadership and a passion for architecture and design, she advocates for policies and programs that continue to promote a better-built environment in San Francisco. Williams has advanced through multiple positions at AIA San Francisco. She has directed architecture and design initiatives within the Bay Area community, working closely with city agencies, public utilities, and numerous professional groups. Stacy holds a BS in Business Administration and a BFA in Interior Architecture. She is currently the president of the Louisiana State University Alumni Association of Northern California, is active with North Beach Neighbors, and supports efforts to increase public awareness about the Louisiana coastal wetlands.