The American Institute of Architects Names Two AIA New Jersey Women In Architecture to the Inaugural Next To Lead Program

Along with her notable AIA volunteer resume credentials, Lauren also makes time to give back to the surrounding communities and proactively reaches out to local schools and students. She championed her office’s participation in the 2018 CANstruction Pennsauken event benefitting the Food Bank of South Jersey and has supported both local and state-wide STEAM initiatives for the past two years. Through her STEAM involvement, Lauren combines several of her passions and showcases the diverse knowledge of an architect by mentoring children of all ages. Lauren provides guidance on a variety of potential inventions from aquaponic farms to tiny homes, encouraging the children to think bigger and bolder. She serves annually as a mentor and judge on the NJ School Board Association STEAM TANK Competition. 

Lauren graduated from the New Jersey Institute of Technology as an Albert Dorman Honors Scholar, Cum Laude, with a Bachelor’s of Architecture degree, and a minor in Environmental and Sustainable Studies. Lauren’s research in Bio-Enabled Facade Engineering, which proposes to mitigate carbon emissions and generate bio lipids for on-site energy production within the building facade, has received first place in the 2015 Dana Knox Research Showcase and was presented at the eCADDe conference in Finland. Her work in Soft Robotics and Emerging Architectural Materials appeared in Architectural Digest, January 2016 issue. 

Levitta Lawrence-Gathers, Associate AIA, is an architectural graduate from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. While completing her studies, she won a design competition for Habitat for Humanity for the design of a single-family home that was affordable, sustainable and innovative. Through this honor, she was featured in the Star Ledger and received a paid internship with Inglese Architecture and Engineering.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Levitta has also contributed to the PCI design studio that inspired the publication of the book Design for Resilience, which documents student ideas toward more efficient building techniques for coastal towns. Levitta is currently pursuing architectural licensure and is working with NK to explore her passion for developing educational facilities. 

Levitta enjoys all things art and design, whether it’s film, photography, graphic design, music or fashion. She also enjoys travel, food and lots of coffee. But most of all, Levitta hopes to help disadvantaged communities, inspire others that come from where she comes from, and shatter every glass ceiling set above her. (From https://www.nkarchitects.com/levitta-lawrence)

Next to Lead is a two-phase program, launching Oct. 15, which will be followed by an online curriculum and monthly virtual sessions focusing on association leadership during 2022. In the second phase, participants will work on a collaborative project developed with a local or state component or a knowledge-based group within the AIA.

The program was created as a result of a member-driven resolution sponsored by AIA Georgia in 2018, which was intended to ensure AIA is developing education, systems, and processes that are inclusive for the short and long term. AIA is working to create a pathway to local, state, and national leadership through experiential learning on association leadership, management, knowledge, and experience.