Taubman College’s Kathy Velikov has been elevated to the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows, a distinction held by less than 3% of the architecture profession, the AIA announced Thursday.

Velikov, associate dean for research and creative practice and professor of architecture, is one of four members from AIA Michigan to achieve the honor for “exceptional work and contributions to architecture and society.” All four honorees have ties to the University of Michigan.

“I am truly honored to be recognized for my work by the AIA and the distinguished jury of peers,” Velikov said.

The AIA jury recognized Velikov for furthering “the science and art of planning and building by advancing the standards of architectural education and training.” Fellowship in this category is granted to architects who have made notable contributions through their work in education, research, or literature. Work in education may be teaching, research, administration, or writing and should have a lasting impact, be widely recognized, and provide inspiration to others in the field and the profession. 

Velikov is a leader in practice-based design research and education, advancing environmentally responsive, technologically enabled, and climate-positive built environments through speculation, prototyping, and visualization for responsive architectural material assemblies, resilient multifunctional urban infrastructures, and territorial practices for decarbonization. She is a licensed architect, founding partner of the research-based practice RVTR, and former president of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture (ACADIA).

Joining Velikov as AIA Fellows from the Michigan chapter are Laura A. R. Clary, a U-M Dearborn graduate; Karl Daubmann, a former Taubman College faculty member; and Kimberly Montague, the president and CEO of Albert Kahn Associates who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture from U-M.

In addition, Suzanne Klein, M.Arch ’90, was elevated to the AIA College of Fellows by the Washington D.C. chapter, and Deborah Finkelstein Moelis, B.S. ’93, was elevated to the fellowship by AIA New York.

New fellows will be honored at the AIA Conference on Architecture & Design (AIA25) from June 4-6 in Boston.