Sponsored by Rulon International

1 LU

Celebration of Architecture Event sponsored by ISG
Design Awards jury sponsored by South Dakota State University
AIA SD 75th Anniversary Celebration sponsored by Journey Construction

AIA South Dakota holds an annual Design Awards program to showcase member projects with the purpose of recognizing and advancing good design and promoting architecture in the state. An independent AIA jury panel is commissioned to select the anonymously submitted projects that meet our agreed upon criteria for award status. The juror will present submitted projects, winning projects and the rationale for the AIA SD Design Awards.

JUROR BIO

• Anne Marie Duvall Decker, FAIA, is a founding principal of Duvall Decker, an expanded practice in Jackson, Mississippi that provides architecture, development consulting, and facilities maintenance services. Anne Marie sees architecture as instrument, engaging the material phenomena of our environment and culture to create the potential for education and growth. She leads the studio in creating elusive forms and engaging spaces, no matter the type, size, or budget of projects. She has served the profession in many capacities, as a long-term board member and past president of AIA Mississippi and as a Trustee and 2021 Chair of the AIA Trust. Anne Marie is often invited to share her experience as a lecturer, critic, visiting professor, and design juror. She was appointed to serve the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations as a 2021-2023 Industry Advisory Group peer and was awarded the 2023 Mississippi State University College of Architecture, Art, & Design Alumna of the Year Recipient. In 2023, Anne Marie Duvall Decker was a recipient of Architectural Record’s Women in Architecture Design Leadership Award. Duvall Decker was profoundly honored to be named the 2026 recipient of the AIA Architecture Firm Award.

Check-in/registration desk opens / Breakfast

Breakfast sponsored by TSP, Inc.

CE credits pending

Keynote session sponsored by Emanuelson-Podas

SESSION SPEAKER BIO

• Scott Parsons is an international award-winning artist and professor of art. His art-in-architecture portfolio includes percent-for-art and private commissions in terrazzo, mosaic and art glass for churches, museums, airports, hospitals, research facilities, university buildings and transportation centers across the United States and Canada. Scott's work is reviewed in more than 100 publications, including Architectural Record, Sculpture, Art in America, and Stained Glass Quarterly. His work has received numerous awards, including from Faith & Form, CODAworx, and the National Terrazzo and Mosaic Association.

CE credits pending

Session sponsored by Koch Hazard Architects

In this moderated panel discussion, three designers who share a common architectural education but have taken markedly different professional paths will explore how the critical-thinking and problem-solving tools gained through architectural training continue to shape their work — even far outside traditional practice. Brian Skrovig, architect at CO-OP, formerly at Pickard Chilton, will speak to large-scale commercial design and the rigor needed throughout the design process. Joseph Kenny, currently completing his PhD in the Architecture and Human Augmentation (AHA) Lab at the Institute of Technology in Architecture, ETH Zurich, will discuss how robotics and extended-reality methods are reshaping the tools and processes available to architects. Sara Lum, an architect who transitioned from traditional practice into marketing, will offer a perspective on how design training translates into business strategy and public communication. Together, the panelists will examine the influence of design thinking, teaching, and exposure on their career trajectories, and discuss what a shared architectural foundation makes possible across strikingly different practices.

SESSION SPEAKER BIOS

• Brian Skrovig, AIA, is a Partner and Architect at CO-OP Architecture, where he has contributed to various projects over the past four years, including Wurth Electronics Headquarters in Watertown, South Dakota. A graduate of South Dakota State University and a member of the inaugural graduating class of its architecture program, Brian earned a Bachelor of Science in Architecture in 2014 and a Master of Architecture in 2016. Following graduate school, he moved to New Haven, Connecticut, where he spent six years at Pickard Chilton, an internationally renowned design firm, contributing to the design and delivery of several large-scale commercial developments, including the Google Cambridge headquarters for Boston Properties. The combination of his architectural education and work within a design focused practice continues to influence his approach to architecture. Today, Brian helps foster CO-OP Architecture's design culture as a mentor, collaborator, and advocate for design excellence.
• Joseph Kenny, formally trained as an architect, earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Architecture (2020) and a Master of Architecture (2022) from South Dakota State University, followed by a Master of Advanced Studies in Architecture and Digital Fabrication from ETH Zurich in 2023. He later worked as a Research Assistant at Gramazio Kohler Research, where he co-authored COMPAS XR, an augmented reality application for multi-user collaboration in human-robotic assembly. From 2024 to 2026, Joseph pursued doctoral studies in the Extended Augmentation in Architecture (XAIA) Lab at Princeton University’s School of Architecture, earning a master’s degree from Princeton in 2026. Since July 2026, he has continued his doctoral research with the Architecture and Human Augmentation (AHA) Lab at ETH Zurich’s Institute of Technology in Architecture. His research focuses on computational, robotic, and extended-reality methods for design and construction, with an emphasis on human-machine and multi-user collaboration in Augmented Reality.
• Sara Lum, is a licensed architect, marketer, and entrepreneur whose career spans practice, academia, economic development, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit leadership. Today, she serves as COO and Partner at Strategie, a boutique marketing agency that serves clients across the US. In her role, she focuses on developing people, strengthening operations, and building the systems that enable the team to do their best work. Her background in both design and business gives her a unique perspective on the intersection of marketing, creativity, strategy, and organizational growth. Sara holds degrees in architecture from the University of Nebraska and Rice University and an MBA from the University of South Dakota. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, creativity, exercise, and time with friends and family.
  
  
  
• Moderator: Guillermo Cebrian, AIA, is an architect practicing at CO-OP Architecture, where his work ranges across a myriad of project typologies, including the Mapleton Clubhouse. Originally from Monterrey, Mexico, he brings a cross-cultural perspective to his practice, shaped by his architectural education in the United States and his early roots abroad. Guillermo holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Architecture (2017) and a Master of Architecture (2022), both from South Dakota State University. He is also the founder of Darch Books, a design-focused platform that keeps him connected to the cultural pulse of the built environment and designers around the world. He currently serves on the AIA South Dakota Convention Committee.

Mayors and Master Plans: Architecture and the Critical Community Needs of Now — Mitchell Mayor Jordan Hanson, Box Elder Mayor Larry Larson, Brookings Mayor Oepke "Ope" Niemeyer

1.5 LU/HSW

Session sponsored by Architecture Incorporated

Contemporary architects are called to lead and help resolve the critical issues of this time. Architects work to protect the public, advocate for design and transform communities through partnership with a broad group of professionals, including public officials, building owners, other members in the A/E/C community and more. What we build contributes to the economic development of cities and public officials are faced with challenging questions about how to manage growth, how to plan for tomorrow, how to navigate new development, and how to ensure the community continues to thrive. During this panel, South Dakota mayors from across the state will engage in a conversation about the value, priorities and challenges of building for their community’s current needs while planning for a brighter future.

SESSION SPEAKER BIOS

• Mayor Jordan Hanson — is the Mayor for the City of Mitchell, South Dakota.
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
     
• Mayor Oepke "Ope" Niemeyer — is the Mayor for the City of Brookings, South Dakota. Prior to becoming Mayor, Ope was elected to serve as a Council Member for four terms. His priorities on the City Council have included affordable housing, childcare, mental health, workforce, and stormwater management. Owner of Ope Niemeyer Flooring LLC, he has over 40 years of experience running a small business. In addition to volunteering on various boards, he has enjoyed sharing the flooring installation skills he started learning in high school with more than 70 Habitat for Humanity home builds. He has also taken multiple trips to Haiti to teach solar oven cooking through the Rotary Club and the Methodist church. Originally from Iowa, Ope is a huge Jackrabbit fan! Ope and his wife, Beth, both graduated from South Dakota State University. Beth recently retired as a Project Engineer with a local firm. They have two children, two granddaughters and three granddogs.
• Mayor Larry Larson — is the Mayor for the City of Box Elder, South Dakota. He brings a wealth of experience and dedication to his role in leading this dynamic community. Larrys lifelong commitment to education and public service speaks volumes about his dedication to the community. Prior to serving as Mayor, he spent an impressive 36 years on the Douglas School Board and another 34 years on the Black Hills Special Services Board. With a career spanning four decades, he made a significant impact as both a teacher and an administrator before retiring in 2012. Beyond his role as Mayor, Larry is a highly active community leader, contributing his time and expertise to various organizations that make Box Elder thrive. He is actively engaged in the Box Elder Pioneers Civic Club and is involved in the many American Legion community projects. His vision to start a childrens museum in Box Elder is now moving forward. Larry is very involved with the Box Elder Chamber of Commerce, where he encourages businesses in the area to become a part of the Box Elder Community. Larry's commitment extends to his involvement on the BH Council of Local Government board. He is also currently the chair of the Metropolitan Planning Organization Executive Policy Committee. 
• Moderator: Justin Oleson, AIA
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
   
   
   
   
     

CE credits pending

Keynote session sponsored by West Plains Engineering

SESSION SPEAKER BIO

• Anne Marie Duvall Decker, FAIA — Anne Marie Duvall Decker is a founding principal of Duvall Decker, an expanded practice in Jackson, Mississippi that provides architecture, development consulting, and facilities maintenance services. Anne Marie sees architecture as instrument, engaging the material phenomena of our environment and culture to create the potential for education and growth. She leads the studio in creating elusive forms and engaging spaces, no matter the type, size, or budget of projects. She has served the profession in many capacities, as a long-term board member and past president of AIA Mississippi and as a Trustee and 2021 Chair of the AIA Trust. Anne Marie is often invited to share her experience as a lecturer, critic, visiting professor, and design juror. She was appointed to serve the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations as a 2021-2023 Industry Advisory Group peer and was awarded the 2023 Mississippi State University College of Architecture, Art, & Design Alumna of the Year Recipient. In 2023, Anne Marie Duvall Decker was a recipient of Architectural Record’s Women in Architecture Design Leadership Award. Duvall Decker was profoundly honored to be named the 2026 recipient of the AIA Architecture Firm Award.

AIA SD Exhibit Hall — Mingle with the companies that help make this event possible and play our all new Exhibit Hall Plingo game, combining our traditional Exhibitor Bingo with our all new AIA SD Plinko board, offering tons of chances to win amazing prizes.

Thank you to our Platinum Sponsors: Kline-Johnson, Shermach Sales, Fargo Glass & Paint, McGough Construction, Pella and Emanuelson-Podas,

... our Gold Sponsors: Allegion, Dakota Wall Systems, Daylight Specialists, Diamond Vogel, Fireplace Professionals, Dormakaba, Hebron Brick, Molin-Sioux Falls, Pigott, Schluter Systems and W.L. Hall Co.

... and our Bronze Prize Sponsor: Heyer Engineering.

Sponsored by Associated Consulting Engineering, Inc.

7:30 a.m.

Breakfast

Breakfast sponsored by South Dakota State University

8 a.m.

AIA SD Annual Meeting  for AIA SD Members
Meeting rooms 6-7

Student Engagement Session  for SDSU architecture students
Meeting rooms 8-10

Friday opening panel: Design for All: The power of lived experience

1.5 LU/HSW

This session will focus on expanding beyond the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and will explore the experience of the built environment from the perspective of community leaders who happen to have a disability. The session will detail Universal Design principles to promote equitable experiences, improve usability, and plan for flexibility, health, and human connections. By the end of the course, participants will be equipped with the knowledge and tools to champion inclusivity and accessibility in their projects, leading to the design and creation of adaptable, equitable spaces that are welcoming and accommodating.

SESSION SPEAKER BIOS

• Vicki Stewart — is the Executive Director of Employment Disability Resources in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Vicki has a B.A. in religion with a minor in psychology from Augustana University. She has worked in the field of disabilities for 34 years striving for full inclusion of people with disabilities in employment, community living, and all aspects of society. Vicki is a member of South Dakota RehabACTion, the Sioux Empire Society for Human Resource Management, and the Sioux Falls Downtown Rotary. Vicki's leadership extends beyond her organization through her service on the South Dakota Society of Human Resource Management State Council, the Levitt at the Falls Board of Directors, the ADA Sioux Falls Committee, the Sioux Falls Human Relations Commission, and the Sioux Empire United Way Board, where she contributes her expertise and commitment to strengthening communities and advancing inclusive practices.
• Richard P. Crawford Jr. — has been blind since childhood and has spent a lifetime demonstrating the importance of opportunity, independence and high expectations for people who are blind. The first person in his family to attend college, Richard earned degrees in Business Administration and Business Education from Wartburg College in just three years while working multiple part-time jobs, and later earned his MBA from the University of South Dakota. Richard retired in 2017 following a 41-year career in the investment industry, most recently as a Senior Vice President and Financial Advisor with R.W. Baird & Co. His team managed more than $235 million in assets for clients in over 25 states, with relationships extending through fourth and fifth generations of families. Alongside his professional career, Richard has devoted decades to advocacy and service for people who are blind and visually impaired. His leadership has included serving as President of the Siouxland Chapter and Second Vice President of the Iowa affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind, gubernatorial appointments related to services for blind Iowans and small-business development, and extensive work with blind children and their families.

CE credits pending

1 LU/HSW

Sponsored by Van Buskirk Construction

The built environment is often treated as a neutral container for people and behavior, yet research in environmental psychology, trauma, and neuroscience suggests that spaces can influence stress, emotional regulation, perceived safety, decision-making, and social interaction. Drawing on experiences as a clinical psychologist working inside correctional facilities, this session examines correctional environments as an instructive case study in how people experience stress, safety, autonomy, and connection within the built environment. While correctional settings represent one of the most extreme examples of institutional design, the principles explored have relevance across many environments where human wellbeing, performance, and behavior matter, including healthcare facilities, schools, workplaces, behavioral health settings, shelters, and civic buildings. This session examines how common institutional design conditions, including noise, harsh lighting, overcrowding, monotony, and poor access to daylight or nature, may contribute to dysregulation, aggression, fatigue, hopelessness, and institutional tension. The session also explores the value of interdisciplinary collaboration in design, highlighting how architects, behavioral health professionals, operators, and individuals with lived experience each bring unique insights into how safety, stress, dignity, and connection are experienced within a space. Participants will consider how incorporating these perspectives can strengthen design decisions and improve outcomes for a wide range of occupants. The session will connect design decisions to health, safety, and welfare outcomes, including staff stress, recruitment and retention, use-of-force pressures, rehabilitation goals, and overall facility performance. Attendees will leave with actionable principles for evaluating existing facilities, informing renovations, and advocating for humane, evidence-informed environments that improve safety without relying solely on hardening, control, or institutional austerity.

SESSION SPEAKER BIO

• Dr. Deanna Dwenger is a clinical psychologist turned design advisor who believes the spaces we build shape the lives we live. After more than a decade working inside Indiana’s prison system—first as a clinician, later as the statewide Director of Behavioral Health—she saw firsthand how environments can either heal or harm those who live and work inside. Today, as Chief Behavioral Health Advisor at Elevatus Architecture, she helps weave mental health principles into the design of schools, healthcare spaces, and justice facilities. Her mission: to create places that don’t just function, but foster dignity, recovery, and human connection.

CE credits pending

Session sponsored by Trane

SESSION SPEAKER BIOS

• Brian Fox is Director of Digital Sales for Trane Commercial at Trane Technologies, where he leads digital transformation initiatives that enhance customer engagement and drive growth across the commercial HVAC industry. He brings more than 20 years of experience in building technologies, energy solutions, and operational leadership, and has held several key roles at Trane Technologies, including Area General Manager, Regional Controls Sales Leader, and District Intelligent Services Leader, consistently driving innovation and business performance. Before joining Trane, Brian served as a Captain in the U.S. Army and began his civilian career as a Controls Technician, later advancing through a range of operations leadership roles. He is passionate about shaping the future of the built environment by combining innovative technology, industry expertise, and strong field leadership to deliver smarter, more sustainable solutions.
• Brent Tjeerdsma is the Area General Manager of the Trane commercial sales offices in North and South Dakota. He and his team of highly skilled sales, controls, services and fulfillment professionals have successfully designed and installed numerous systems focused on energy efficiency and sustainability. Specifically, they have developed an expertise in applying central geothermal and thermal storage technologies at over seventy locations in the upper Midwest. Brent graduated with a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from Dordt College and attended the Trane Graduate Training Program. During his 33 year career at Trane, he has served in various sales and leadership roles within the Dakotas and partnered with Trane’s enterprise applications and engineering teams in the design/development of sustainable systems nationwide.

Facility Tour – Avera Pavilion 2 (Gastroenterology)

1 LU/HSW

Tour sponsored by Olsson

A tour of the completed 128,000-square-foot three-story standalone building designed specifically for Avera McKennan’s Gastroenterology department. This project showcases an efficient, purpose-built model for ambulatory procedural care. The tour highlights innovative mechanical systems, including one of the first uses of storage source heat pumps in the state of South Dakota, combining electric heat pumps with ice storage to provide efficient heating and cooling to the building. The building’s state-of-the-art automation system gives Facilities staff advanced, real-time monitoring capability supporting mechanical systems longevity and faster response to on-site issues. Together, these design and engineering decisions demonstrate how a purpose-built ambulatory facility can deliver efficient, patient-centered procedural care while advancing sustainable forward-thinking building systems integral to the design process.

• Allison Dvorak, AIA is an architect and the Facility Development Director for Avera Health. She is an active member of AIA South Dakota, serving as the 2022-2023 President. She received her M.Arch from NDSU in Fargo, ND and has continues to build upon her design research to leverage "other-focused" design principles to provide dignified and inclusive design for all. She leads community development through meaningful design engagement and advocates for the value of architecture through local, national and international speaking engagements.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Dave Van Nieuwenhuizen, AIA is the Vice President of Business Development for Journey Group. He is a licensed architect in seven states and has experience in both the architectural and construction sides of the industry, having worked for 16 years in Design-Build construction and eight years in architecture. Business Development has been at the core of his career experience. Dave received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from North Dakota State University as well as a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design. He enjoys building relationships based on trust, authenticity, and respect. He also enjoys spending time with family, hanging out at the lake, and traveling. Dave and his wife, Dawn, have three children and live in Sioux Falls. Dave served as AIA SD's President from 2014-2015.
  
  
  
• Eric Granzow, PE, FPE, HFDP, CEM, LEED AP is a Lead Engineer with Olsson and a nationally recognized healthcare engineering professional with more than 25 years of experience designing and improving healthcare facilities. He is a licensed Mechanical and Fire Protection Engineer and a Certified Healthcare Facility Design Professional (HFDP), specializing in complex healthcare environments ranging from renovation projects to large hospital campuses. Eric is an active leader within both ASHRAE and ASHE. His industry involvement includes service on ASHRAE Standard 170 – Ventilation of Health Care Facilities, ASHRAE Technical Committee 9.6 – Healthcare, the ASHRAE Handbook Committee, the HFDP Certification Committee, and the ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force Healthcare Subcommittee. He has also holds leadership roles within ASHRAE healthcare committees including serving as chair of the 2029 edition of ASHRAE Standard 170 and vice chair of ASHRAE Technical Committee 9.6 for 2025-2027 and is a Senior Member of the American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE). A frequent speaker and educator, Eric has presented for AIA, ASHE, ASHRAE, healthcare engineering societies, universities, and healthcare organizations across the country. He is a contributing author to multiple editions of the ASHRAE Handbook, ASHRAE Standard 170, ASHRAE healthcare guidance documents, and the ASPE Plumbing Engineering Design Handbook. His work is focused on advancing healthcare facility performance, indoor environmental quality, energy efficiency, and patient safety through practical, evidence-based engineering solutions.