Capping an eventful year for the architectural profession in New Jersey, the New Jersey chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA-NJ) gathered with friends and family on Friday night to celebrate the year’s architectural successes. At AIA-NJ’s annual awards gala, held at the Moorestown Community House, the organization installed its slate of officers for 2015, providing a glimpse into who will be steering the organizational ship in the coming year. The 2015 officers include:

• Kimberly Bunn, AIA, of Moorestown, N.J., was sworn in to the role of AIA-NJ president in 2015. Owner and principal of Moorestown-based Bunn Architecture, Bunn has been a member of AIA for 16 years, and has served in a leadership capacity for more than a decade. Bunn currently sits on the Board of Trustees and chairs the Communications Committee; she is still active in her local West Jersey section where she was president in 2006.

• Justin A. Mihalik, AIA, of Essex Fells, N.J., will serve as president elect. A principal at Essex Fells, N.J.-based J.A. Mihalik Architect LLC, Mihalik has been a member of AIA-NJ for the past 15 years, and previously served the organization as first vice president and treasurer.

• Ben Lee, AIA, of Morristown, N.J., will serve as the organization’s first vice president. Managing principal and chief financial officer of Morristown-based NK Architects, Lee has more than 35 years of experience in architecture. He was previously AIA-NJ’s treasurer, and was also the 2011 president for Architects League of Northern New Jersey, one of AIA-NJ’s six local sections.

• Verity Frizzell, AIA, of Bay Head, N.J. will serve as AIA-NJ’s second vice president. A principal at Point Pleasant, N.J.-based Feltz & Frizzell Architects LLC, Frizzell has over two decades of experience in commercial and residential architecture. She has served as president of the Jersey Shore section of AIA-NJ, and received the 2011 AIA-NJ Distinguished Service Award and 2003 AIA Jersey Shore Young Architect of the Year service award.

• Steven Lazarus, AIA, of Englewood, N.J., will serve as treasurer. A founding principal of Englewood-based Axis Architectural Studio, Lazarus has been a registered architect and member of AIA since 1986 and is a former second vice president of AIA-NJ.

• Judy Donnelly, AIA, of Hackettstown, N.J., will continue her two-year term as secretary. The principal owner of Hackettstown-based Donnelly Architecture, LLC, Donnelly has been an active member of AIA for more than 10 years, and has served the organization in many capacities including secretary, first vice president and president-elect of AIA Newark and Suburban Architects.

• Robert Cozzarelli, AIA, of Belleville N.J., will continue as the organization’s regional director. A principal of Rutherford, N.J.-based Cozzarelli-Cirminiello Architects, Cozzarelli is a 28-year member of AIA. He has served the organization in many capacities including 2004 president. A 1979 graduate of the New Jersey Institute of Technology School of Architecture, Robert is a Licensed Registered Architect in four states and a past winner of the AIA-NJ Architect of the Year award.

• Nicholas Caravella Associate AIA, of Morristown N.J., will assume the post of Regional Associate Director. Currently employed at Gensler, Caravella has also served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Architects League of Northern NJ, where he was engaged in various projects supporting emerging professionals and young architects.

• Kurt M Kalafsky, AIA, of Howell, N.J., will serve as past president. A founding principal and chief technology officer of Iselin, N.J.-based The Aztec Corporation and Aztec Architects LLC, Kalafsky has been an AIA-NJ member for 22 years and has served in several other positions, including, most recently, president, and was also secretary and chair of the Bylaws and Codes and Standards committees. Kurt will also chair the AIA National Resolutions Committee in 2015.

“In 2014, the architecture profession continued to play an integral role in the state of New Jersey as we continue our recovery from Superstorm Sandy and move toward more innovative and sustainable infrastructure,” Bunn said.  “We saw successful passage of legislation that will help the state better respond to natural disasters, brought together industry and community leaders for discussion on resiliency, and helped our local communities continue to rebuild.  Looking forward to 2015, we plan to maintain this focus.  At the same time we will continue our traditional initiatives – mentoring tomorrow’s architects, hosting educational seminars, and participating in community service projects.   I am excited to be assuming the office of president and look forward to helping to lead this organization along this path”.
In addition to the officer installation, the dinner honored the winners of its annual design competition. A total of 13 projects were recognized for their originality and advancement of the field. Additionally, AIA-NJ honored the six recipients of its service awards, which are bestowed upon individuals and firms that have demonstrated exceptional service to the profession, and presented its annual scholarship to Saif Haobsh, a New Jersey Institute of Technology architecture student.
About AIA and AIA New Jersey: The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is the professional organization that helps architects serve the public’s needs and builds awareness of the role of architects and architecture in American society. The organization, which was founded in 1857, recently celebrated its 150^th anniversary. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., its 300 plus local chapters represent 86,000 licensed architects and associated professionals. AIA New Jersey, based in Trenton, is the local chapter of AIA. In 2000, it celebrated its 100th anniversary. AIA New Jersey has about 2,000 members in six regional sections. For more information, please visit www.aia-nj.org.