Concluding the conference will be remarks from Thomas Phifer, founder of Thomas Phifer and Partners. A past Innovation speaker, Phifer returns this year to accept the inaugural Architect of RECORD Award. The distinction, announced late last month, recognizes Phifer for a lifetime of achievement in the profession and exceptional work published in the pages of the magazine.

The celebration of Phifer’s work will continue after the 2025 Innovation Conference concludes with the Architectural Record Awards ceremony, also held at the Museum of Jewish Heritage. In addition to Phifer, the other recipients of our first awards program will be recognized during the event, which includes a cocktail reception and honors presentation. Caitlin Mueller, associate professor at MIT, will accept the Innovator of the Year Award, while Carlos Cerezo Davila, Global Director of Sustainability at KPF, will be honored with the Rising Professional Award. In addition to these three individual awards, RECORD’s editors will announce the year’s best built and unbuilt projects across a variety of categories. Those winners will be formally revealed in a special Architectural Record Awards section in the November issue of the magazine.

Those attending the Innovation Conference can earn up to 6.5 AIA LU/HSW. Upon registration, students, young professionals, and AIA members can receive a discounted rate. A special group rate for firms purchasing five or more tickets is also available. Registration for the Architectural Record Awards reception and ceremony, which immediately follows the Innovation Conference, is included as part of the conference without additional fees. However, those wishing to attend just the evening awards reception and ceremony, and not the daytime conference, can do so at a separate rate. Further registration details can be found here. 

We look forward to seeing you on October 30!