National Organization of Minority Architects Announces 2026 Annual Conference in South Florida October 14-18

“The Leading Edge” to Convene Designers, Students, and Community Leaders in a Critical Moment for Equity, Advocacy, and the Future of the Built Environment

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) will convene its 2026 Annual Conference, The Leading Edge, October 14–18, 2026, at the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa in Aventura, Florida, bringing together almost 2,000 architects, designers, students, educators, planners, and industry leaders from across the country for five days of programming focused on design justice, leadership, resilience, and community. 

Hosted in partnership with the South Florida chapter, SoFloNOMA, the conference comes at a pivotal time for the nation as communities continue to grapple with political polarization, attacks on voting rights, gerrymandering, disinvestment, housing inequity, and the enduring impacts of redlining and segregation on the built environment. Attendees can expect workshops, keynotes, student programming, career development opportunities, and networking events that spotlight diverse voices in design and reinforce NOMA’s mission of equity and justice in the built environment. Conference highlights include an inaugural charity golf tournament, as well as a two-day expo; the Legacy Project volunteer event; NOMA Awards Gala Dinner and program featuring The Phil Freelon Professional Design Awards and NOMA Barbara J. Lurie Student Design Competition; Bro’s Arts Ball; and the annual Professionals versus Student basketball game. This year, Gensler joined as NOMA’s first Legacy Sponsor. 

“For more than 50 years, NOMA has created spaces where designers can come together not only to advance the profession, but to confront the systems that shape our communities,” said Tiffany Brown, MBA, Assoc. AIA, NOMA’s Executive Director. “At a moment when many communities are experiencing deep uncertainty and division, gathering together matters more than ever. Our work sits at the intersection of policy, place, equity, and opportunity. The conversations happening in South Florida this October will help define how architects and designers lead with courage, compassion, and accountability in this next chapter of our country.”

The conference theme, The Leading Edge, reflects both the urgency and possibility of the current moment — spotlighting innovative approaches to resilient design, emerging technologies, equitable development, climate adaptation, and community-centered practice.

NOMA selected South Florida as the host region in part to support and celebrate the growth of SoFloNOMA, one of the organization’s newest professional chapters, established in 2019. The region represents a uniquely multicultural and multilingual design landscape where architecture, immigration, climate resilience, and cultural identity intersect daily. 

“SoFloNOMA members embody the future of our profession and navigate the issues at the intersection of challenges in our country,” said Bryan C. Lee Jr., FAIA, NOMA 2025-2026 President. “Their leadership reflects the kind of coalition-building and cultural fluency our industry needs right now. South Florida is a place where the realities of climate migration, immigration challenges, housing affordability, racial inequity, and rapid development are impossible to ignore — and where communities are actively imagining new futures. Bringing NOMA here is both intentional and necessary.”

Recognizing and Honoring NOMA Leadership, Architects, Allies and Partners

The conference will include more than 60 educational sessions for AIA and HSW credits, keynote conversations, workshops, networking events, local tours, student programming, and an industry expo. The conference topics are organized around the following tracks: Design, Technical, Community and Justice, Business Development, and Conference Tours. 

This year, NOMA will support two curated tracks built around the urgent themes of climate resilience and the next generation of design thinking:

• Edge Conditions: Designing for Coastal & Community Resilience – Miami stands at the intersection of culture, climate, and community — where rising tides meet rising voices. This seminar track explores how the architectural community is redefining resilience along our coasts, from environmental justice and adaptive design to community-led policy and place-making in a changing climate.
• Emerging Voices in Design Equity: Research & Innovation Showcase – The Student Thesis Research Showcase invites undergraduate and graduate students in architecture, urban design, and related disciplines to present original research advancing equity, resilience, and innovation in the built environment. 

Conference attendees will have opportunities to experience the cultural richness and complexity of South Florida through tours and programming exploring neighborhoods including Overtown, Little Havana, Wynwood, and other communities shaped by generations of migration, creativity, activism, and resilience. 

Celebrating Milestones: 20th Anniversary of Project Pipeline

Among the major milestones recognized during the conference will be the 20th anniversary of Project Pipeline, NOMA’s nationally recognized youth outreach and mentorship initiative designed to introduce students from underrepresented communities to architecture and design careers.

Founded in 2005, Project Pipeline has impacted thousands of young people across the country through hands-on design education, mentorship, and community engagement. 

Inaugural NOMA Charity Golf outing

In partnership with SoFloNOMA, NOMA will also host its inaugural conference golf outing on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at the Turnberry Isle Country Club’s Softer Course, marking an exciting new addition to the organization’s annual conference programming. Designed as an opportunity for fellowship, networking, mentorship, and community-building, the outing will bring together architects, designers, students, sponsors, and industry partners for a day of connection ahead of the conference’s official programming.

Proceeds from golf registration will go to the Virginia Key Trust Fund and SoFloNOMA Scholarship Initiatives. For details regarding registration and sponsorship opportunities, visit the conference website. 

NOMA’s annual conference has become one of the architecture and design industry’s leading gatherings dedicated to equity, inclusion, professional development, and community impact. The organization currently represents more than 4,000 members through professional and student chapters nationwide. For those interested in NOMA conference sponsorship, information is available on conference.noma.net.

Registration for The Leading Edge is now open: conference.noma.net